Horror Book Reviews
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Title: Imajica |
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Review of Imajica: Featuring New Illustrations and an Appendix
From master storyteller Clive Barker comes an epic tale of myth, magic, and forbidden passionâcomplete with new illustrations and a new Appendix.
Imajica is an epic beyond compare: vast in conception, obsessively detailed in execution, and apocalyptic in its resolution. At its heart lies the sensualist and master art forger, Gentle, whose life unravels when he encounters Judith Odell, whose power to influence the destinies of men is vaster than she knows, and Pie 'oh' pah, an alien assassin who comes from a hidden dimension.
That dimension is one of five in the great system called Imajica. They are worlds that are utterly unlike our own, but are ruled, peopled, and haunted by species whose lives are intricately connected with ours. As Gentle, Judith, and Pie 'oh' pah travel the Imajica, they uncover a trail of crimes and intimate betrayals, leading them to a revelation so startling that it changes reality forever.
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Comments for Imajica
- Posted on 2008-06-11
Barker's best work
I own most of Clive Barker's work, this one is by far my favorite, and the one I most often loaned out. It seemed like the Lord of the Rings of horror books, styled similarly to Weaveworld. It's not for everyone and does take some time to get through, but worth every second invested. I'll be buying another copy since mine got lost on a loan ;(
Score: 5
- Posted on 2007-08-06
830 pages of nothing
I like Clive Barker even though he veers from great to great stinker. The Imajica characters act in unimaginable ways. They seem driven by an unrealistic soul that is impractical and childish. The plot is driven by the characters' need for drama when none is needed. They become tedious and fastidious. The book is melodramatic and everyone is a drama queen looking for attention.
Score: 1
- Posted on 2007-06-19
Gorgeous!
This book made me want to start reading again. Don't be turned off by the length of this book, it is so epically beautiful and magical that it is a true page turner. I fell in love with the main characters Gentle and Pie-oh-pah. I didn't want the book to end. The only exposure I had to Clive Barker before this book was watching Hellraiser. After reading this book I am now hooked and I'm going to check out Thief of Always next.
The writing style is definitely British, but not pretentious. The fantasy aspect is dark and twisted and I really bought in to the five dominion premise. I really love books that create their own mythology like this one. I can't recommend this book enough, I can't believe how long it took me to discover this treasure!
Score: 5 - Posted on 2007-04-23
Imajica - A feast for the senses
Having read almost everything that Clive Barker has written thus far, I will admit that Imajica contains many elements that seem to echo in several of his books; Weaveworld,The Great and Secret Show/Everville,and most recently the Abarat series. However, this does not detract in any way from the intricately woven story of Imajica. In fact, I think it is in this book that the author finally finds the scope to perfect the "genre" that can only be described as Clive Barker - the mix of the mundane, the fantastical, the horrific and the surreal, blended seamlessly together to create a captivating story that resonates within the soul of the reader. Imajica isn't the easiest to read for many people, mainly because there are so many characters and sub-plots intertwined that it is easy for the reader to lose sight of the story's core and get lost in the minutiae. But I promise you that if you go into the book with an open mind and without preconcieved notions of what a "Clive Barker" novel should be like, you will be rewarded with a most excellent reading experience. I have read the book at least 3 times now and each time find a new gem hidden in plain sight, and have discovered new levels of depth with each reading. It is fantasy, horror, philosophy, theology, theosophy all rolled into one, and John "Gentle" Furie Zacharias is one of the most memorable characters in Barker's worlds.
I take issue with those people who complain about the book being "aimless" or "meandering" - as in any story, there is a time for action and a time for reflection. If you are the type of reader who needs the action to be non-stop and in your face in order to keep your attention, you may be missing many opportunities to discover a truly magical and engaging reading experience. Give it the chance it deserves!!
Score: 5 - Posted on 2007-03-01
Fantastic Imagination at Work
Although Imajica is a tome of a novel, the story itself is as good as almost any I have ever read. With magnificent settings and all sorts of bizarre creatures, it was definitely an enjoyable read. Clive Barker does tend to play up a theme of love and libido quite a bit too much for my liking, which at times I thought took away from some of the story.
This edition comes with a glossary of pictures and sketches in the back which added a bit more culture and mystery to its story. I also noticed a similarity between this novel and Roger Zelazny's Amber series, which is another enormous epic written about 15 years prior to Imajica and probably a good bet if you are looking for a similar style of story.
Good for any age-group I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and am definitely interested in reading more by Barker in the future.
Score: 4