The Damnation game has it's merits, the mystery and buildup are engrossing and dangerously tantalizing, the release however needs some work and heavy editing, considering that this was the authors first long novel all is forgiven because this is a good read, I'm glad I got to experience it even though it dragged a bit and was too light and relied on too many reader interpretations to rise to the top.
I had the pleasure of reading the newest reprint of this with a new introduction by the author himself which was very nice, whatever critique I give to the book is nothing in comparison to what it takes to write a book, this is his baby, his work of art and I'm happy to say I got to read it even if it wasn't perfect to my taste.
It's still more than I could pull out at my first attempt, I liked the mystery, you have an ex-con taken out of jail to be a bodyguard, you get to like him and care for him until you find out what he has gotten himself into, a place where death and bizarre behavior are step in step with his daily activities, a place where death is noting in comparison to what can await at the end of the riddle.
The tale itself is very interesting even if the delivery could have provided an extra punch; you have the rich millionaire hidden in a mansion surrounded by state of the art lighting and top breeds of dogs, a man who is afraid of something that comes with the dark. He hides in his sauna with his bottle of vodka to forget his troubles, he relies on Marty Strauss, a gambling addict, to keep him safe in the most important game of his live, a game of life and death and a game of endurance, which opponent can outlive the other.
There is incest, cannibalism and all sorts of demented things happening, along with gruesome monstrosities that arise even though they should be dead. The nemesis lets us know that everything is due to chance, fortune belongs to the one who is willing to risk everything on a single throw of the dice.
The more there is the stake the easier to throw that dice, so close your eyes and hope for the best, win big or go home. The three start status is because of the pace and the lack of editing, it felt like I was reading the book forever. I'm usually a speedy reader, I can read a book in a day or stretch it over five days, but this felt like a slow tango, I wish it took me faster though the actual story, but I'm glad I got to experience it, I don't think that anyone should say no to it just because of the rating, what we get out of stories goes beyond star ratings and sales, it's all the good bits that settle down and pull our memory every once in a while, Clive Barker is a serious contender in the horror world of storytelling and he should not be overlooked.
Kasia S. May 20, Lou rated it really liked it. Clive Barker is a talented storyteller who writes with some of the darkest creativity. This is a good story of a game where some characters get into people's minds and see their thoughts and can control them. There is a man set on revenge and the power of resurrecting the dead.
Barker has created characters that perpetrate the most henious acts. He brings to the table a unique writing style where he immerses us into to other dimensions of fear. Jun 27, Joyce Jellison rated it it was amazing. And arguably it was his most Our unnamed POV character, the thief, is seeking a gambler he has heard of, Mamoulian, who never loses, which sounds an irresistable challenge. And is the sort of thing that never, ever, ever goes wrong, isn't it? Fade to several decades later.
Marty Strauss, currently in prison in the UK, is offered a chance for early, highly supervised release to work in the employ of one Joseph Whitehead, exceedingly rich and somewhat reclusive. And Marty takes the job because, well, he's currently in prison.
And this is the sort of thing that never, ever, ever goes wrong, isn't it? And we, as readers, are also privy to a parallel set of events where The Last European rescues one Anthony Breer an altogether unpleasant fellow at the beginning of things; and he only grows more unpleasant, in any number of ways, as the story progresses from suicide by hanging and impresses him to his service as he maneuvers towards a long-delayed confrontation with Whitehead.
And because this is a Clive Barker book, by the end things have gotten truly horrific, and we've had more than our share of viscera and excreta and nightmarish imagery on the pages. Definitely worth checking out if you're a horror fan; and arguably more approachable than some of his later novels.
Feb 13, Tessa rated it it was ok. I've started this review several times now, and can't quite decide on it. I have a long standing love hate relationship with Mr Barker, I have learned, through long experience that he is either astounding or awful, and there doesn't appear to be a middle ground, but even when his stories are awful his prose is beautiful, it's worth it just for the language.
So, the damnation game, his first novel, published just after the Books of Blood but before the hellbound heart. Chronologically that puts it i I've started this review several times now, and can't quite decide on it. Chronologically that puts it in between a lot of his best work, and this is his most "pure" horror novel.
However I can't help but feel he wrote it before the Books of Blood. It has a sort of naivete that is present in some of those stories, a sort of careful navigation of someone not yet comfortable in his craft, something completely missing from the Hellbound heart where he makes very few mis-steps.
Perhaps the problem with this book is simply that, that he wanted to be a horror writer but he's a fantasist and hadn't found his niche yet. The language lacks the lushness, things are done purely for shock value Bella's reappearance in the white room! The story is one of a thief taken out of prison to serve an old man with a plan if Neil Gaiman didn't have this in mind when he wrote American Gods I'll eat both books and finds himself in this "Sanctuary" where the old man, Whitehead ; Joe; Papa is trying to get out of a covenant he doesn't believe he made with the Last European Mamoulian.
It's the con, that's what this book is about, again if American Gods does not owe a huge debt to this book I'm a monkey's uncle, the risen dead slowly rotting, the twisting of it, the cypher like main character caught in the machinations of other people, tricked into death etc I do like Barker's work, even when his stories bore me his prose excites me, I can hold some of his images to my heart like children not necessarily the skinning images or the sadomasochistic wtfery but things like "the sun rose like a stripper" and this book lacked that.
I couldn't help but see parallels with American Gods which I know came much later but I read first and well, I didn't really care what happened to the characters. This was no Aaron Boone, or Cal. I saw foetal forms of things and characters he used later and better. I don't think for an instant that this book came between The books of blood and the hellbound heart, it came earlier, much earlier.
I think this was one of those juvenalia all authors write and never intend to do anything about, but with the publisher knocking on his door he shared the idea is brilliant, but the book itself doesn't really carry it.
Jeeeeeez, did this book need a better editor. I was completely and totally bored for the first pages; I would rather watch dust collect than read that waste again. Almost half of this novel is a total chore to get through, and that's why I'm giving this thing three stars. What kept me reading was Clive Barker's lovely prose The Damnation Game is, from a technical standpoint, very well written and the knowledge that this story's pay off would probably be worth my trudging onward.
And I was Jeeeeeez, did this book need a better editor. And I was mostly right. I think the problem with this book is it feels too small and cramped for Barker's imagination.
Prior to this, I read the first four volumes in the Books of Blood series. If the man hadn't written anything else after those, he would almost certainly still be considered a horror legend. Those stories push boundaries: they're abundantly sensual, erotic, horrific. The sheer creativity that is infused in those tales blew me away as I read them.
By comparison, The Damnation Game feels tragically ho-hum and predictable. I know Barker's later novels are more expansive and fantastical, and I'm super eager to get to them.
I'd rather read a novel in which Barker fully employs the potential of his imagination, instead of trying to scare me and I must admit this book did chill me a time or two. In essence, this is a modern retelling of the story of Faust: man sells his soul for success, and horror ensues when the seller comes after his payment. As I said, this novel is very predictable which is so frustrating — I know Clive Barker is better than this!
There was exactly one twist that shocked me, and it came late in the game — near the end, in fact. I won't spoil it, of course. I appreciate this book pulling the rug out from under me at all. This is a beautifully written novel that bore the pants off me until, finally, the puzzle pieces fell into place and a clear grip on the major characters could be had. I can't wait to read later Barker novels such as Weaveworld and The Great and Secret Show — novels that, from what I've heard and read, find Barker showing off the full extent of his capabilities.
I don't regret reading this one, but it left almost no impression on me. Totally average. Nov 16, Siobhan rated it liked it.
I have my mother to thank for this read. After annoying her to the point where she went on a book hunting rampage she suddenly decided to lumber me with many of her old books. Needless to say, the books will be devoured. For a while there have been a couple of Barker books on my to-read list but this was never one of them. Still I have my mother to thank for this read. Still, when my mother handed it to me I decided I may as well jump in with what I have to hand.
After reading this it seems as though I have found another author to eat up my money. Whilst the story itself was not quite what I had been expecting, once I got into it I came to really love where things were going. Dark and gritty, it turned into something beautifully unexpected. Events seemed to spiral out of control, more and more unexpected turns being taken. To put it simply I loved the way the story played out. Also the prose! Barker, however, has a combination of wonderful writing style and brilliant imagination.
Overall, I really enjoyed this. Thank you mother! View all 4 comments. I have to say, I am not a fan of the mass market cover. I thought it would make more sense as the book progressed, of what it is. Sadly, no such luck. As for the story, learning after the fact that this is Clive Barker's first novel, I must say I am impressed. I would not have guessed that. His way with prose and imagination are flawless here.
I was disappointed in Marty's I have to say, I am not a fan of the mass market cover. I was disappointed in Marty's or was it Martin? So much time spent on him, knowing his boxer background and yet it's mostly useless.
He's kind of a whimp. The rest of the characters are fantastic. I loved Whitehead's vulnerability and Creys' power yet dependency. For a story built around duality and life over death, or death over life, I feel the conclusion came to a satisfying end.
May 16, Natasa rated it really liked it Shelves: audio-books , horror-s-best-books-challenge , horror. This was an interesting audio book, I don't know who the narrators were but they were excellent, they performed each character and I loved it as well as the background music. Maybe I would have perceived the book differently had I read it, I don't really know, but it was a very entertaining read.
This was my first Clive Barker book and I'm already listening the next one: Cabal and I find this one begins even better! I think I have found a new favorite author to explore in my future reads. Depressing and gross and long, oh so long. Rambling on for ages with seemingly no point, as if the author wanted to prove he could write but got too wrapped up in his own illusion. Jul 15, Chris rated it really liked it. This is one of the good ones though. Barker has an uncanny ability to fuse the horrendous with the ethereal, the sublime and the profane.
Jun 02, Allyn Nichols rated it really liked it. Not Clive Barker's best novel however his style is matured with this novel and it acts as a keystone for all of the terrible wonders that are to follow in his later books. Dec 26, Reginas.. Library rated it really liked it Shelves: horror , weird.
A Dantesque journey into the depths of hell, Barker's ambitious, first full-length novel is beautifully written and includes some of the grossest descriptions I have ever read. Whereas many of Barker's stories fly off the rails when his intense imagination starts firing on all cylinders, this narrative remains fully under the master storyteller's control.
The build is slow and steady until the gory climax that left me stunned, shaken, and extremely grossed out. I loved it!
Hell is reimagined by each generation. Its terrain is surveyed for absurdities and remade in a fresher mold; its terrors are scrutinized and, if necessary, reinvented to suit the current climate of atrocity; its architecture is redesigned to appall the eye of the modern damned. In an earlier age Pandemonium - the first city of Hell - stood on a lava mountain while lighting tore the clouds above it and beacons burned on its walls to summon the fallen angels.
Now, such a spectacle belongs to Holly Hell is reimagined by each generation. Now, such a spectacle belongs to Hollywood.
Hell stands transposed. No lightning, no pits of fire -Clive Barker- The Damnation Game is brilliant literature; dark and crowded with gut-wrenching visuals that will chill you to the bone. Some might feel the beginning is slow, and I would agree, but the greatest creations are those that took longer to build. The characters are all engaging and believable and the plot flows very well, I was never bored with the novel. I am eager to jump into the relentless mind of Clive Barker and explore the depths of his dark imagination.
Oct 11, Leon rated it it was amazing. What a smart, dazzling, gleefully obscene work of horror fiction! I've slowly grown bored with most contemporary "literary" novels, and so have been slumming it up with authors like Clive Barker -- his Books of Blood is so good I don't ever want it to end -- and Clark Ashton Smith. This stuff is just plain fun. In this novel, Barker manages to create interesting and mightily flawed characters who are described so well you'd think they were autobiographical Christ I hope not , and then puts them What a smart, dazzling, gleefully obscene work of horror fiction!
In this novel, Barker manages to create interesting and mightily flawed characters who are described so well you'd think they were autobiographical Christ I hope not , and then puts them in the most INSANE gut-raveling situations imaginable. I swear, the last third of this book had some of the most riveting action I've read in a long time.
How a writer can make hallucinated shit-monsters emerging from a gaping toilet poetic is beyond me. Barker writes gorgeous Grand Guignol set-pieces that make most of today's horror authors look mild.
Aug 11, J. Brennan rated it it was amazing Shelves: horror. The mind is its own place and in itself, can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven. Some think he is the Messiah other believe him to be the devil. Will you be drawn to his gifts or see them for what they truly are? This story is compelling, frightening The mind is its own place and in itself, can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven. This story is compelling, frightening, and reinvents an idea of hell, one that only the mind of Clive Barker can create.
If you have read it and it has been a while, you should reread it. Pleasantly surprised at how entertaining and well written this was. I had read the Hellbound Heart a few years ago, and can't remember being too impressed by it. Going into this one, I didn't have very high expectations, was just hoping for something fast, fun and decently written.
Check to all of those! I was a little worried, as the Faustian tale has been done and redone, but this was interesting enough to not be boring. I especially liked Mamoulian's backstory and the subtle shock of his tru Pleasantly surprised at how entertaining and well written this was. I especially liked Mamoulian's backstory and the subtle shock of his true origins. Nice amount of adult-level sexiness and gore, of which I appreciate. The ending I mean the last few pages of the book was a tad bit disappointing, only because at that point, I had really gotten to like those last two characters, and would have liked to know more I will definitely be reading more Clive Barker!
Mar 26, Joshua Jorgensen rated it really liked it. Clive Barker's mind is a terrifying, brilliant place. This is a very dark book, but the visions are engrossing. It unfolds slowly, and then, as only Clive Barker can do, it descends into dark fantasy and grotesque horror. It is a masterclass in horror, and for me, a nostalgic nod to old school horror, and great, childlike storytelling--around a campfire. This book reads like watching a movie you shouldn't watch so young. And then, in the same space, remembering the time you watched the movie.
St Clive Barker's mind is a terrifying, brilliant place. Stunning darkness. Feb 06, Adrian Vlad rated it did not like it. Clive Barker was just a few descriptions of maggot-infested flesh away from writing a horror masterpiece.
Oh, there are many scenes resplendent with rotting, flayed flesh almost always with a vague sexual undertone , but one or two more would have definitely done wonders for "the horror". The worst thing about The Damnation Game is that it's not uninteresting or bad enough to warrant quitting in the beginning. Readers with misguided principles like me of not abandoning a book after a certain nu Clive Barker was just a few descriptions of maggot-infested flesh away from writing a horror masterpiece.
Readers with misguided principles like me of not abandoning a book after a certain number of pages turned will be kept in literary limbo. Apr 10, Patrick Greene rated it it was amazing. By far my favorite of Barker's novels, this Faustian tale of a man caught in a battle between evil and more evil is just begging for a screen adaptation.
Scary and thoughtful, The Damnation Game will stay with you a long time. Readers also enjoyed. About Clive Barker. Clive Barker. It was in Liverpool in that he met his first partner, John Gregson, with whom he lived until Barker's second long-term relationship, with photographer David Armstrong, ended in This award is presented "to an openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender individual who has made a significant difference in promoting equal rights for any of those communities".
While Barker is critical of organized religion, he has stated that he is a believer in both God and the afterlife, and that the Bible influences his work. Fans have noticed of late that Barker's voice has become gravelly and coarse. He says in a December online interview that this is due to polyps in his throat which were so severe that a doctor told him he was taking in ten percent of the air he was supposed to have been getting.
He has had two surgeries to remove them and believes his resultant voice is an improvement over how it was prior to the surgeries. He said he did not have cancer and has given up cigars. On August 27, , Barker underwent surgery yet again to remove new polyp growths from his throat. In early February Barker fell into a coma after a dentist visit led to blood poisoning.
Barker remained in a coma for eleven days but eventually came out of it. Cut to present-day Britain: Marty Strauss, imprisoned thief, is granted conditional parole; he must serve as bodyguard for reclusive billionaire Joseph Whitehead.
At the tycoon's rural estate, Marty witnesses a train of bizarre occurrences: Whitehead's mortal terror of intruders; attack dogs savaging a man who glows with unearthly energy; the subsequent massacre of the dogs, who come back to life as canine zombies; the erratic, drug-based behavior of Whitehead's daughter, Carys, with whom Marty has a sexy, graphically depicted affair.
Meanwhile, through chapters set in London, Barker introduces Breer ""the Razor-Eater"" he does, too and his lord, Mamoulian, the mysterious cardplayer from Warsaw, a fantastic, demonesque figure who lives life vicariously and telepathically through Whitehead. Seems that Whitehead's success is due to Mamoulian's devilish blessing; now Whitehead has spurned his benefactor, and Mamoulian wants revenge.
And revenge he takes, in a series of gruesome scenes involving tortures and slashings and sexual perversions, maggots and shuffling beasts and slimy things--the whole panoply of supernatural grand guignol.
This frightening novel boasts Barker's usual scalpel-clean prose and wild inventiveness. But lacking the formal control dictated by the story form, here Barker appears as a naughty boy hidden in a giant candy store, stuffing himself on nasty, offensive sweets.
This study in excess may win Barker new readers, but not a better reputation. Already have an account? Log in. Trouble signing in? Retrieve credentials. Sign Up.
0コメント