Cabal

As a Canadian who's lived in every southern province from BC to Ontario, it's certainly fun actually knowing the details about the places an author is describing for once. Is this what you US East/West Coast people feel like every time you read a popular story? Beyond the location names the book doesn't feel terribly Canadian though.

Overall I didn't love or hate the book and feel very neutrally about it. It was really short, so I was never bored of it, but it just didn't grip me the same way as the growing, unreasonable horror of Barker's "In the Hills, the Cities". This book feels like an atypical urban fantasy thriller rather than horror-fantasy.

My biggest gripe is that the underworld aspect of Midian was basically a side-element. The hellish catacombs and fantastical, grotesque denizens of Midian were the most interesting parts of the story but I feel like there was a missed opportunity to dwell there, given how short the story was.

Also, I feel that Lori was actually the main character. A large slice of the novel is from her viewpoint, and most of the story seems to be about her coming to terms with the monstrous world she's been pulled into and the love she has for it deep inside. Boone's parts were more about not wanting to let Lori down the way he thought he always had in the past, as well as his revenge on the psycho psychiatrist. ( )

A decent tale, but this was not up to the usual standard that I expected from Clive Barker. The lead story feels rushed and I feel that it could have been expanded upon and taken more slowly to allow it to resonate with the reader. This detracted from the overall impression and momentum, scope, and effect that the story had. The short stories were passable, but barely.

Not what expected, but still worth reading: 3 stars. ( )

Llevaba años con este libro pendiente -tras haber visto su versión cinematográfica en los 90-, y al fin lo leí.

¿Impresiones? Que siendo una buena obra del fantástico, con diferentes momentos de interés y tensión, no acaba de ser todo lo redonda que podría haber sido. Me faltó que consiguiese cautivarme y hacerme creer lo que me contaba.

¿La recomiendo? Sí, creo que merece el tiempo de lectura que le inviertas, pero más como entretenimiento oscuro que como libro que haya que leer sí o sí (eso lo dejaremos para los Libros de Sangre de Mr. Baker).

Mi reseña completa aquí. ( )

Muy buena historia... y una fatalmente mala traducción a cargo de Plaza ( )

*note to self.copy from Al.