About the author
Clive Barker is a British writer, filmmaker, and visual artist. He came to prominence in the 1980s with a series of short stories collectively named the Books of Blood, which established him as a leading horror author. His work has been adapted into films, notably the Hellraiser series and the Candyman series. Horror readers value his fiction for these foundational contributions and cinematic adaptations that helped shape the genre. For a new reader exploring his stocked works, good starting points include the Books of Blood: Volume One (Movie Tie-In), Cabal, The Damnation Game, and Imajica. These selections offer a direct entry into the stories and novels that defined his career as a leading voice in horror and dark fiction.
📖 Where to start with Clive Barker
💬 What our editors say about Clive Barker's books
“The narrative does not shy away from the physical consequences of seeking forbidden knowledge, making it unsuitable for anyone preferring light entertainment or avoiding visceral imagery. While it successfully examines the…”
Horror Reads editorial team, Horror desk · on The Hellbound Heart
“This work is not for those seeking lighthearted entertainment or straightforward action without philosophical weight. Barker avoids easy resolutions, presenting a world where consequences are inescapable and morally gray. The…”
Horror Reads editorial team, Horror desk · on The Damnation Game
“Clive Barker presents an epic work of dark fantasy that explores the surreal magic hidden within ordinary life. The narrative centers on a mysterious carpet in Liverpool, where magical beings reside. As humans compete for…”
Horror Reads editorial team, Horror desk · on Weaveworld
📋 Editions by Clive Barker in the catalog
| Edition | Year | Publisher | Pages | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Hellbound Heart | 2007 | Harper Perennial | 176 | 9780061452888 |
| The Damnation Game | 2021 | Penguin Publishing Group | 496 | 9780593334973 |
| Weaveworld | 2021 | Gallery Books | 672 | 9781982158095 |
| The Thief of Always: Fable, a | 2008 | Harper Perennial | 239 | 9780061684265 |
| Absolute Midnight | 2013 | HarperCollins | 640 | 9780064409339 |
| The Thief of Always: A Fable (Revised) | 1993 | HarperCollins | 240 | 9780006473114 |
| Imajica | 2002 | Harper Perennial | 880 | 9780060937263 |
| Mister B. Gone | 2008 | Harper Perennial | — | 9780061562495 |
| The Inhuman Condition | 2001 | Gallery Books | 192 | 9780743417341 |
| The Great and Secret Show | 1999 | Harper Perennial | 672 | 9780060933166 |
| Clive Barker's Books of Blood: Volume One (Movie Tie-In) | 2020 | Berkley / Nal | 304 | 9780593201053 |
| Everville | 1999 | Harper Perennial | 704 | 9780060933159 |
| Clive Barker's Books of Blood: Volume One (Movie Tie-In) | 2020 | Berkley Books | 304 | 9780593201046 |
| Thief of Always: A Fable | 2024 | Harper Perennial | — | 9780063413054 |
| Hellbound Hearts | 2009 | Gallery Books | 326 | 9781439140901 |
| Clive Barker's Next Testament Complete Collection | 2025 | Boom! Studios | — | 9798892155380 |
| It's Alive: Bringing Your Nightmares to Life | 2018 | Crystal Lake Publishing | 508 | 9781684545452 |
| Behold!: Oddities, Curiosities and Undefinable Wonders | 2017 | Crystal Lake Publishing | 404 | 9781640074736 |
| Spook City | 2024 | Encyclopocalypse Publicati | — | 9781960721846 |
| Out of the Ruins: The Apocalyptic Anthology | 2021 | Titan Books (UK) | 320 | 9781789097399 |
| Clive Barker's Next Testament Vol. 1 | 2014 | Boom! Studios | — | 9781608863679 |
| Sacrament (Revised) | 1997 | Voyager | 608 | 9780006482642 |
| Galilee (Revised) | 1999 | Voyager | 816 | 9780006178057 |
| Everville (Revised) | 1995 | Voyager | 600 | 9780006472254 |
| Where Nightmares Come From: The Art of Storytelling in the Horro | 2017 | Crystal Lake Publishing | 368 | 9781640074682 |
| Galilee: A Novel of the Fantastic | 2009 | Harper Perennial | — | 9780061684272 |
| Multiverses: An Anthology of Alternate Realities | 2023 | Titan Books (UK) | 320 | 9781803362328 |
| Abarat 2: Days of Magic, Nights of War | 2006 | Voyager | 576 | 9780007227723 |
| Cabal | 2001 | Gallery Books | 368 | 9780743417327 |
| Abarat | 2004 | HarperCollins | — | 9780060596378 |
