Books of Blood, Vol. 2

Hace algunos meses tuve mi primer acercamiento a Barker, he de confesar que fue bastante desafortunado y pensé que me tomaría mucho agarrar el ritmo al autor, de hecho, Libros de sangre estuvo mucho tiempo en el listado de pendientes y sin muchas ganas de librarme de él. Pero finalmente lo hice y creo que ha sido la mejor forma de conocer verdaderamente la obra de Barker, la más inquietante y perturbadora, la que, entre pinceladas de terror sobrenatural nos habla de un terror y decadencia humanos. Conforme iba pasando las historias pensaba que había finalizado la que sería la favorita; sin embargo, ahora que he terminado el libro me doy cuenta que cada historia que compone este volumen brilla con luz propia o, para entrar en el show more ambiente Libros de sangre, cada historia es oscura por sí sola.

En definitiva quiero seguir leyendo más del autor y, quizá, vuelva a leer con una mirada distinta el libro con el que me acerqué a Barker. show less

Me quedo con:
1) EL TREN DE LA CARNE DE MEDIANOCHE: La imágenes atroces percibidas, trasmiten el simbolismo y el lado más profundo de Barker. Una historia de apariencia sencilla pero donde la carne adquiere significados casi divinos.
2) EN LAS COLINAS, LAS CIUDADES: Entre la fantasía inexplicable y el terror indescriptible, uno de los mejores trabajos de imaginación de Clive Barker. Una historia cuyo demoledor apartado visual describe escenas y secuencias que superan cualquier sensación descrita en la lectura de un relato y lo eleva a la categoría de experiencia que se vive, se sufre y se adora.
3) SEXO, MUERTE Y BRILLO DE ESTRELLAS: Barker cambia sutilmente de registro, ofreciéndonos, en un aparente homenaje y amor al teatro, una show more historia que bien podría representar el perfil de cuento gótico de terror más clásico, donde la vida y la muerte unen lazos en una representación que se torna bella sobre el escenario, pero macabra en las mentes de los espectadores.
4) TERROR: Explora la mente humana en busca de los límites a los que puede ser expuesta al miedo antes de romperse. Una historia ficticia que invita a reflexionar ante un tema muy real expuesto por personajes vivos, creíbles y altas dosis de terror psicológico. show less

Five more tales that show a master in the making...though, for me, while there is brilliance here, it feels quite often that Barker's characters are just grist for the mill. Yes, some of it is the limitations of the shorter story format, and it absolutely does not apply in all cases, but in many, the characters just seem...there.

In many of the stories, I didn't necessarily see the motivations for what the main characters ended up doing. It doesn't make the stories bad, but when finishing many of these stories, I felt like I hadn't gotten the full story, that I'd missed a chunk.

Still, the story ideas themselves are phenomenal. I don't think anyone is Barker's equal when it comes to imagination. And these collections are essential to show more anyone wanting to see those first stabs at the themes that would become Barker's trademark in years to come. show less

Ahh, 3.5? It's really dragged down by the last story, which is deeply stupid in similar ways to the story it's named after (Murders in the Rue Morgue). It defuses any tension by following the original so closely, even stating the plot early on so you can't possibly miss it. The horror relies on the particular bizarre fear of the virility of monkeys over men, which it's hard to sympathise with - again, the whole thing just feels stupid. It's slightly funny but not enough.

Otherwise there's no story that stands out as much as In the Hills, the Cities from the last one. The closest is Jacqueline Ess, which has a fantastic concept but is still full of male insistence a woman needs a man to be complete. There's a lot to love still - the body show more horror is beautiful - but it's held back a little by that. The other stories are enjoyable but it feels like none have the depth of the best stories in vol 1. show less

Ante was a bit upped here, don't let the shorter volume fool you. One story in particular had me in reading through spread fingers whilst fetal curling my body.

Well written as always with some really interesting concepts, like Hell betting on an Earth runners and a sorta sequel to a Poe story.

My favourite here was the final story, 'New Murders in the Rue Morgue', although I've not read the original Poe story, something I shall have to rectify soon I think. 'Dread' was also very good but a little too depressing for my liking.

Again, not really a bad story amongst them and only just missed out on a 5 star, more because of how fantastic the first volume was rather than because of any failings on the part of this collection. If I were to pick fault, one of the stories seemed a little slow to unwind if I'm brutally honest, but that really would be picking fault so I'll not do that...