Promotional Information

* Clive Barker's first novel.

About the Author

Born in Liverpool in 1952, Clive Barker writes, directs and produces for the screen. His films include Hellraiser and Nightbreed.

Reviews

'Touches of sheer brillance throughout' - James Herbert

``I have seen the future of the horror genre, and his name is Clive Barker,'' Stephen King has written. Fortunately, this first novel (Barker has published short story collections) more than bears the weight of King's praise. Barker is a better writer than King, and his characters are just as interesting. Set in modern Britain, the story thrusts a flawed ``innocent''parolee Marty Straussinto an epic conflict between wealthy Joseph Whitehead and Mamoulian the Cardplayer, a centuries-old creature with whom Whitehead had struck a bargain to obtain his wealth and power. Whitehead reneges, and the resulting struggle is played out primarily on his fortress-like estate. Barker's excellent writing makes the graphic, grotesque imagery endemic to current horror fiction very effective. Highly recommended anywhere horror fiction is popular. A.J. Wright, Anesthesiology Dept., Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham