Helpful Score: 4
Excellent and thrilling tale, the basis for the "Hellraiser" films.
Helpful Score: 2
A lot creepier than its bastard movie offspring, Hellraiser.
Helpful Score: 2
Excellent absolutely excellent.
Helpful Score: 1
Classic Clive Barker
Helpful Score: 1
One of Barkers best short novel.
Whoa.
The choice of title is interesting in this famous early, career-starting and DVD-spawning novella in which the characters and the reader, all at different speeds, descend into an unspeakable abyss, word by word ... word by word. The blurb on the book goes on about all the aspects of the heart captured by the work, and this is fair enough, especially given the last paragraph or so, where "other" inter-dimensional artifacts are optimistically imagined by a character, as these would lead to paradise, and not the realm of the Cenobites, the Order of the Gash, which does not lend itself to a direct analogy with the judeo-christian concept of "hell", although the Cenobites out-horrify even the medieval Christian hell paintings of Hieronymus Bosch.
There are characters, and they do what characters do in these horror novellas. But the most fascinating, and least-explained, concept in the story is: what about these Cenobites? This Order of the Gash? Obviously Frank Cotton misunderstood them, crucially (and incorrectly) assuming, that their concept of "pleasure" was in any way related to his own, basically human concept of pleasure. As in the Law, it all comes down to definitions. We get glimpses of these fascinating Cenobite characters, we know they are alien to the concept of empathy, that they are polite, that they are (in their way) fair, that they appear dedicated to eternal torture of themselves and others, and that there is an "Engineer" who designs torments and mysteriously appears at the end of the novella.
All in all, a shudder-inducing, sinking experience of a read, which whets one's appetite for more knowledge about the Cenobites (and the same time, an instinctive urge to purge them from one's mind and never remember them again).
The choice of title is interesting in this famous early, career-starting and DVD-spawning novella in which the characters and the reader, all at different speeds, descend into an unspeakable abyss, word by word ... word by word. The blurb on the book goes on about all the aspects of the heart captured by the work, and this is fair enough, especially given the last paragraph or so, where "other" inter-dimensional artifacts are optimistically imagined by a character, as these would lead to paradise, and not the realm of the Cenobites, the Order of the Gash, which does not lend itself to a direct analogy with the judeo-christian concept of "hell", although the Cenobites out-horrify even the medieval Christian hell paintings of Hieronymus Bosch.
There are characters, and they do what characters do in these horror novellas. But the most fascinating, and least-explained, concept in the story is: what about these Cenobites? This Order of the Gash? Obviously Frank Cotton misunderstood them, crucially (and incorrectly) assuming, that their concept of "pleasure" was in any way related to his own, basically human concept of pleasure. As in the Law, it all comes down to definitions. We get glimpses of these fascinating Cenobite characters, we know they are alien to the concept of empathy, that they are polite, that they are (in their way) fair, that they appear dedicated to eternal torture of themselves and others, and that there is an "Engineer" who designs torments and mysteriously appears at the end of the novella.
All in all, a shudder-inducing, sinking experience of a read, which whets one's appetite for more knowledge about the Cenobites (and the same time, an instinctive urge to purge them from one's mind and never remember them again).
Helpful Score: 1
Gross, scary and disturbing. I've always wanted to read this particular novel for the fact that I am a fan of Hellraiser and a fan of anything with S&M elements, especially horror. I wanted the literary experience of the Cenobites. Rather than pictures on a screen, I wanted my own imagination. This book was great. Gorey imagery, lots of horror, crazy people doing crazy things, and sadistic Cenobites promising a realm of sensation and pleasure beyond belief. It was chilling and I had nightmares when I went to bed after finishing... a sign of a good horror novel.
A short but thrilling read; the first Hellraiser movie in novella form. Barker is a master storyteller of horror, so imaginative and fresh. Even if you've seen the movie this book is worth reading and owning. Fantastic horror.
Most people will be familiar with this short story from the popular film franchise "Hellraiser." The first in the film series premiered in 1987, but, on account of its rather unexpected success, a succession of sequels quickly followed. The original film follows the curious novella quite faithfully, with the exception of the location. Barker's admittedly unique concept spawned not only a whole host of additional films, but a comic series which provided much more detail about the characters in the short novel.
Both the original novella and the films feature an odd mixture of nightmarish elements, involving a troupe of inter-dimensional beings, most of whom were apparently once humans themselves. The films have an atmospheric, surrealist nature, which is a primary aspect of their appeal. These Cenobites, also known as the Order of the Gash, are summoned into the earthly realm by the solving of a puzzle box, called the LeMarchand (Lament) Configuration in the book.
In the comic series, Philip LeMarchand is described as a cruel and perverted mass murderer, who crafted an entire series of puzzle boxes, reportedly some 270 of them, with some utilizing human fat and bones. Another version suggests LeMarchand, a toymaker, was commissioned by a French aristocrat to craft a puzzle box, which involved killing a woman and using the box as a black magic conduit in order to enslave a demon, Angelique, which resulted in a curse being placed upon LeMarchand's entire bloodline to time indefinite.
Far from resulting in a reward, however, the solving of the puzzle box opens an inter-dimensional doorway, thereby unleashing the Cenobites, who then claim the flesh of the unwitting victim. If they determine that the individual has potential, they transform the person into one of their number. If not, the person is imprisoned in the nether realm of Hell, under the auspices of a being known as "Leviathan."
The seeming leader of the troupe - it's unclear whether the entities are demons in the traditional sense, or otherworldly beings from an unknown realm - is "Pinhead," who, like many of the others, was once human. His backstory features prominently in the second film, where it is revealed that he was once Captain Elliot Spencer, a former British Army officer, who, in 1921, likewise solved one of the LeMarchand puzzle boxes and is subsequently transformed into the "Hell Priest" by Leviathan. It appears that, despite his capability for compassion and mercy as a human being, possesses the necessary qualifications for cruelty and depravity, due to his horrific experiences and resulting PTSD from his time in combat during WWI.
Despite their popularity, the Cenobites are little seen in the initial offerings. Both the first novel and the movie feature the Cenobites as little other than bookends, but they become more important in the subsequent films. Instead, as faithfully reproduced in the film, the novel recounts the story of a fractured family: Rory (later known as Larry), a hapless husband, his wife, Julia, Rory's daughter, Kirstie, and his brother Frank Cotton, who has had a tryst with Julia, who has become bored with her vanilla life and unsatisfying relationship with his brother, Rory.
It appears that Frank purchased one of the LeMarchand puzzle boxes at a flea market, and, upon opening it, was consumed by the Cenobites, but was considered unworthy of joining their ranks. He apparently escapes them, and returns to the earthly realm, and to Julia, whom he coerces into serving him up male victims so that he can consume their bodies to regenerate his own, in order to become human again. When Kirstie also solves the box, she makes a deal with the Cenobites to deliver her uncle Frank back to them in exchange for her own life. The Cenobites still attempt to take her soul, but she defeats them by solving the box again, thereby sending them back to Hell.
Clive Barker is a fascinating figure in his own right. He is an author and filmmaker, who initially created surrealist art movies which were critically acclaimed. Although his subsequent films didn't enjoy much commercial success, he served as an executive producer of "Gods and Monsters," featuring Sir Ian McKellen and Brendan Fraser, which was highly praised. Barker is also a visual artist who illustrated several of his own novels. His paintings have also graced the covers of his fan club magazine and his playbills.
Despite his impressive body of work, none of his material has been so successful as the "Hellraiser" franchise. Barker reportedly sold the story and character rights before the release of the first film, unfortunately, not imagining how successful the series would become. He therefore lost much of the creative control over his own material. The eleventh film was released in 2022. Due to the success of the series over the past near-forty years, it is likely that Hellraiser material will continue to be recycled for the foreseeable future.
As for the novel, it's fair at best. It's a good short story, but it had the potential to be so much more, especially considering what the franchise became. The fever-dream aspects of the novel make it interesting, but it's just excessively superficial and lacking in substance to make it worthy of anything other than a passing mention. The characters are generally flat and one-dimensional, and most of the action takes place within the house.
There is also very little substance to the relationships between the characters, although there is the potential for so much more. Full marks for creativity, but I fear that this would have been a totally forgettable novel if not for the film series. It's interesting to think that this rather mediocre albeit at least creative novel could have spawned such an enormous and enduring legacy.
Both the original novella and the films feature an odd mixture of nightmarish elements, involving a troupe of inter-dimensional beings, most of whom were apparently once humans themselves. The films have an atmospheric, surrealist nature, which is a primary aspect of their appeal. These Cenobites, also known as the Order of the Gash, are summoned into the earthly realm by the solving of a puzzle box, called the LeMarchand (Lament) Configuration in the book.
In the comic series, Philip LeMarchand is described as a cruel and perverted mass murderer, who crafted an entire series of puzzle boxes, reportedly some 270 of them, with some utilizing human fat and bones. Another version suggests LeMarchand, a toymaker, was commissioned by a French aristocrat to craft a puzzle box, which involved killing a woman and using the box as a black magic conduit in order to enslave a demon, Angelique, which resulted in a curse being placed upon LeMarchand's entire bloodline to time indefinite.
Far from resulting in a reward, however, the solving of the puzzle box opens an inter-dimensional doorway, thereby unleashing the Cenobites, who then claim the flesh of the unwitting victim. If they determine that the individual has potential, they transform the person into one of their number. If not, the person is imprisoned in the nether realm of Hell, under the auspices of a being known as "Leviathan."
The seeming leader of the troupe - it's unclear whether the entities are demons in the traditional sense, or otherworldly beings from an unknown realm - is "Pinhead," who, like many of the others, was once human. His backstory features prominently in the second film, where it is revealed that he was once Captain Elliot Spencer, a former British Army officer, who, in 1921, likewise solved one of the LeMarchand puzzle boxes and is subsequently transformed into the "Hell Priest" by Leviathan. It appears that, despite his capability for compassion and mercy as a human being, possesses the necessary qualifications for cruelty and depravity, due to his horrific experiences and resulting PTSD from his time in combat during WWI.
Despite their popularity, the Cenobites are little seen in the initial offerings. Both the first novel and the movie feature the Cenobites as little other than bookends, but they become more important in the subsequent films. Instead, as faithfully reproduced in the film, the novel recounts the story of a fractured family: Rory (later known as Larry), a hapless husband, his wife, Julia, Rory's daughter, Kirstie, and his brother Frank Cotton, who has had a tryst with Julia, who has become bored with her vanilla life and unsatisfying relationship with his brother, Rory.
It appears that Frank purchased one of the LeMarchand puzzle boxes at a flea market, and, upon opening it, was consumed by the Cenobites, but was considered unworthy of joining their ranks. He apparently escapes them, and returns to the earthly realm, and to Julia, whom he coerces into serving him up male victims so that he can consume their bodies to regenerate his own, in order to become human again. When Kirstie also solves the box, she makes a deal with the Cenobites to deliver her uncle Frank back to them in exchange for her own life. The Cenobites still attempt to take her soul, but she defeats them by solving the box again, thereby sending them back to Hell.
Clive Barker is a fascinating figure in his own right. He is an author and filmmaker, who initially created surrealist art movies which were critically acclaimed. Although his subsequent films didn't enjoy much commercial success, he served as an executive producer of "Gods and Monsters," featuring Sir Ian McKellen and Brendan Fraser, which was highly praised. Barker is also a visual artist who illustrated several of his own novels. His paintings have also graced the covers of his fan club magazine and his playbills.
Despite his impressive body of work, none of his material has been so successful as the "Hellraiser" franchise. Barker reportedly sold the story and character rights before the release of the first film, unfortunately, not imagining how successful the series would become. He therefore lost much of the creative control over his own material. The eleventh film was released in 2022. Due to the success of the series over the past near-forty years, it is likely that Hellraiser material will continue to be recycled for the foreseeable future.
As for the novel, it's fair at best. It's a good short story, but it had the potential to be so much more, especially considering what the franchise became. The fever-dream aspects of the novel make it interesting, but it's just excessively superficial and lacking in substance to make it worthy of anything other than a passing mention. The characters are generally flat and one-dimensional, and most of the action takes place within the house.
There is also very little substance to the relationships between the characters, although there is the potential for so much more. Full marks for creativity, but I fear that this would have been a totally forgettable novel if not for the film series. It's interesting to think that this rather mediocre albeit at least creative novel could have spawned such an enormous and enduring legacy.
Excellent absolutely excellent.
No tears, please. Its a waste of good suffering.
My boyfriend made the mistake of allowing me to pick out the movie on one of our earliest dates way back in the late 80s. I chose Hellraiser which was based upon this novella. I didnt know he had never seen a horror movie and couldnt figure out why he was so pale and quiet when we left the theater. The poor boy married me and his movie going experiences have never been the same and Ill always have fond feelings for Hellraiser. Recently I realized I had never read the novella it was based upon and decided to check it out.
When Frank solves a puzzle box revealing a door to another world promising great pleasure he gets more than he bargained for. He thought he had prepared well, observing every ritual to welcome the Cenobites, experimenters in the higher reaches of pleasure. He was expecting oiled up women, eager for him to use as he wished to slake his lust but instead four scarred beings arrive and alter him in unimaginable ways.
Meanwhile Franks brother Rory and his wife Julia are moving into a decrepit old house. The house was willed to both Rory and Frank but since Frank is missing Rory assumes possession. Julia and Frank had something going on way back when, if you know what I mean, and Rory ignores her misgivings about the house and remains blissfully ignorant while reveling in Julias beauty. Kirsty, a friend of Rorys who appears desperately in love with the man, drops by to help with the move and annoy Julia. I see a big, bloody love triangle in the making. Ive also seen Hellraiser so I think know where some of this is going. Though I dont remember Kirsty being a love interest, I thought she was the husbands kid?
Julia starts to settle in but theres one room with sealed blinds that unnerves but attracts her. She begins to spend time in the room alone. The room seems to demand it. One day Rory has an accident and bleeds on the rooms floorboards and soon after Julia is reunited with Frank and the blood bath begins.
This book is pretty cold and brutal, especially in its portrayal of super-bitch Julia, but theres a very dark thread of humor running through it too. Imagine a slim beautiful woman chasing a flabby naked man around an empty room, sticking him with a knife as he flails away, refusing to keel over quickly. I dont know about you but this image struck me as ridiculously humorous.
Kirsty, who is a home-wrecker sort in this book, stumbles upon Julia and Frank doing bad things (thats what you get Miss Nosey-pants) and takes off running with The Box in her hands. Of course, she cant leave well enough alone and has to fiddle with it. Now theyre all going to experience their fair share of suffering.
The cenobites are only in the story briefly early on and again at the end. Most of the grisly horror happens at the hands of Julia and Frank which makes all uglier. I vaguely remember the cenobites being a larger part of the movie but I prefer this version of the story better.
My boyfriend made the mistake of allowing me to pick out the movie on one of our earliest dates way back in the late 80s. I chose Hellraiser which was based upon this novella. I didnt know he had never seen a horror movie and couldnt figure out why he was so pale and quiet when we left the theater. The poor boy married me and his movie going experiences have never been the same and Ill always have fond feelings for Hellraiser. Recently I realized I had never read the novella it was based upon and decided to check it out.
When Frank solves a puzzle box revealing a door to another world promising great pleasure he gets more than he bargained for. He thought he had prepared well, observing every ritual to welcome the Cenobites, experimenters in the higher reaches of pleasure. He was expecting oiled up women, eager for him to use as he wished to slake his lust but instead four scarred beings arrive and alter him in unimaginable ways.
Meanwhile Franks brother Rory and his wife Julia are moving into a decrepit old house. The house was willed to both Rory and Frank but since Frank is missing Rory assumes possession. Julia and Frank had something going on way back when, if you know what I mean, and Rory ignores her misgivings about the house and remains blissfully ignorant while reveling in Julias beauty. Kirsty, a friend of Rorys who appears desperately in love with the man, drops by to help with the move and annoy Julia. I see a big, bloody love triangle in the making. Ive also seen Hellraiser so I think know where some of this is going. Though I dont remember Kirsty being a love interest, I thought she was the husbands kid?
Julia starts to settle in but theres one room with sealed blinds that unnerves but attracts her. She begins to spend time in the room alone. The room seems to demand it. One day Rory has an accident and bleeds on the rooms floorboards and soon after Julia is reunited with Frank and the blood bath begins.
This book is pretty cold and brutal, especially in its portrayal of super-bitch Julia, but theres a very dark thread of humor running through it too. Imagine a slim beautiful woman chasing a flabby naked man around an empty room, sticking him with a knife as he flails away, refusing to keel over quickly. I dont know about you but this image struck me as ridiculously humorous.
Kirsty, who is a home-wrecker sort in this book, stumbles upon Julia and Frank doing bad things (thats what you get Miss Nosey-pants) and takes off running with The Box in her hands. Of course, she cant leave well enough alone and has to fiddle with it. Now theyre all going to experience their fair share of suffering.
The cenobites are only in the story briefly early on and again at the end. Most of the grisly horror happens at the hands of Julia and Frank which makes all uglier. I vaguely remember the cenobites being a larger part of the movie but I prefer this version of the story better.
A little gory, a tiny bit erotic, but if you tend to sympathize with the bad guys it gets really boring, really fast.
The inside covers are a little yellow but the book is in good shape.
1991 edition. Near mint except for light tanning on inside of cover.
Cover wear and creasing. Edgemark running lightly on pages up to page 19. Still good to read.
