Imajica

By Clive Barker

Since I read a lot at work, it was only a matter of time before I started to get recommendations from coworkers.  My boss recommended “Weave World” or “Damnation Game” by Clive Barker.  Unable to find either of these books at a library book sale, I opted for “Imajica.”

This book was quite different from anything else I have read in the past.  The book begins in England where we are introduced to the main characters: Judith and Gentle.  Gentle is a womanizer, and he has been romantically involved with Judith in the past.  Judith has broken up with her most recent lover, Charlie Estabrook, and he’s not taking it well.  In fact, Charlie has decided that if he can’t have her, nobody can.  He hires Pie “oh” Pah as the assassin to do the deed.  Soon, he’s having second thoughts and asks Gentle to help him stop Judith’s murder. 

Gentle tracks down Judith, and has his own run in with Pie “oh” Pah.  As everyone’s complex relationships develop, we are slowly introduced to the fact that there are other “dominions” besides the one in which we live.  Earth and our reality is the fifth dominion, and is unreconciled from the others.  Later, Judith and Gentle are separately escorted into the other dominions where they learn more about their past and their positions in the Great Reconciliation. 

We follow Gentle as he works his way from the Fourth Dominion, to Yzordderrex.  Yzordderrex is a city founded by the Autarch, a cruel dictator who rules with his queen Quaisoir.  During the journey, we learn of the many Goddesses who have been persecuted and imprisoned by “The Unbeheld.”  “The Unbeheld” is one of many names for their God, a ruler who resides beyond the Erasure in the first dominion (I realize I’ve thrown a lot of terms at you, but be prepared for more if you decide to read this book).  As the story progresses; we learn more about “The Unbeheld,” the Autarch, his queen, and their connection to Gentle and Judith as we build towards the Great Reconciliation.

Clive Barker may be a fantastic storyteller, but this was a hard novel to start with.  There were many unearthly creatures introduced, as well as strong supernatural themes to the book which made some of the story difficult to follow.  There were gods, goddesses, foreign lands, along with the rules that govern these foreign places.  It’s hard to remember who characters are, let alone what species they are.  And it is especially difficult when they are introduced, disappear, and then reappear later.  I couldn’t help but notice the undertone of gender roles or gender identity that existed in this book, as well.  This is an idea that I have struggled to articulate, but this is the best way I can put it.  What really made me think this were discussions which took place between Judith and the Goddesses, Judith and Quaisoir (I think that’s who it was, it was near the middle of the book), male imprisonment of the female goddesses, and also the inclusion of the Mystif character.  A mystif is an androgynous character which has the capacity to love both men and women.  I also can’t decide whether Barker is pretentious, or really smart.  I’ve got a decent vocabulary, but I felt like Barker wrote this book with one hand on the keyboard and the other grasping a thesaurus.  And maybe it’s just a personal issue, but I got to the point where if Barker used the word “din” one more time, I would have to stop reading the book.  While I have read a bunch of books involving other dimensions or worlds, this one was especially difficult.  The end was somewhat predictable, and only satisfying in its lack of ambiguity.  To summarize how I felt about this read, I would say it was more a tour de force to get through it, rather than something I longed to pick up at every opportunity.  This detracted from my enjoyment, but I don’t want it to ruin anyone’s impression of the novel.  In (final) summary, it was good, but be prepared to think a little bit and stretch your mind to get through it.

Rating: 3.25 out of 5 Bunsen Burners

Up Next: Phantom Nights by John Farris

Everything's Eventual

By Stephen King

            At this point, I have read most of Stephen King’s body of work.  This includes a few of his compilations of short stories such as: Just After Sunset, Full Dark No Stars.  I have enjoyed his short stories in the past and was excited to crack open Everything’s Eventual; especially because of the story “Little Sisters of Eluria.”

            The way I feel about short stories is that they are pretty much hit or miss.  There is always something of value in each story, but in the end I usually liked it or didn’t like it.  The same can be said about Everything’s Eventual.  I won’t go through the good and bad of each, but I’ll hit the ones that had an impact worth mentioning.  The “Man in the Black Suit” was a suspenseful little thriller told from the perspective of a young boy.  The merit of the story resides in the exaggeration and runaway imagination of children and the way they can freak themselves out over nothing.  But is it all in his head?  Not surprisingly, the “Little Sisters of Eluria” is the most developed story of them all.  It was good to catch back up with Roland, and only made me excited to read “The Wind Through the Keyhole.”  I’d say it was my favorite story, but that is almost a meaningless statement due to my inherent bias.  “Everything’s Eventual” was in the typical sci-fi paranormal vein of so many of King’s novels.  Told from the perspective of an unnamed (if he was named I don’t remember it) narrator, who is in a unique living arrangement.  All of his expenses are taken care of, and he is given a salary.  However, he cannot save any money, and must dispose of any extra.  We soon find out that his living situation is guided by the exploitation of his psychic powers.  “The Road Virus Heads North” was just a creepy and tense story.  “Lunch at the Gotham Café” was very odd, and there are some scenes/mental images that have stuck with me.  “That Feeling, You Can Only Say What It Is In French.”  I liked the premise of the story, but wasn’t blown away by the story itself.

            This collection of short stories was definitely worth the read, but I wouldn’t go and insist that anyone pick this up immediately.  If you do check it out, appreciate it for what it is, but don’t have high expectations.  Also, I apologize if this wasn’t a very good review but reviewing short stories is rather difficult.  I have a huge backlog of books I have read, and this one was really slowing my progress.

Rating: 2.75 out of 5 Bunsen Burners

Up Next: Imajica by Cliver Barker