This book has the overall feel of an epic good-vs.-evil in small-town America story, which is pretty familiar in the horror genre. The boundaries between what--and who--is good and evil are blurred a lot in this book, though, and that is refreshing. Characters with bad traits have their roles to play in the fight against evil, and the main force on the good side is a mescaline freak. Also, while the struggle is rooted in small-town America, with some of the cliches that go with any suburban setting, it becomes clear as the story progresses that Powers outside of our normal realm are at play, Cthulu-like beings who have agents in our world, and that there are some in our world who make it their job to stand up to those creatures. That sort of idea interests me, and the hook of that kept me reading to the end of The Great and Secret Show to find out what happens next. I am hoping that the sequel, Everville, delves even more into the story of the agents who are fighting against the evil on the other side of reality. ( )

I love Clive Barkers brain. He is amazing. It is deeply philosophical underneath the main story. I love him. ( )

"The Great and Secret Show" begins well enough. Randolph Jaffe feels put upon by life, wonders if this is all there is, and what the meaning of it all is. While working in the Omaha, NE, dead letter office, he discovers letters referencing the Art. From there, he strives to master the Art at any cost, recruiting Fletcher and creating the Nuncio, and tearing our reality apart in the process.

"The Great and Secret Show" had great potential. The first third was interesting, but it devolved into a potboiler with an anticlimactic ending. "Imajica" and "Sacrament" explore similar themes with a much better story and characters. ( )

Two men come into contact with some arcane information, and end up on opposite sides of a battle to gain control and power. The battle continues through the next generation, when their children and others become involved. It is just not as interesting as some of his other work, I think, despite the horror and magic themes that abound.

http://superprose.blogspot.com/2006/1... ( )