Abarat: Absolute Midnight

You may think it's a long wait between George RR Martin books, but let me tell you, poor ol' Clive Barker took seven years to make this one, the third in the Abarat series. Now that's a long time between books and it's hardly surprising if the plot details of the previous volumes are lost to memory, but Barker's world is as immersive as it is distinctive and after only a few pages we're back again in the world if the twenty-five hours, the great archipeligo of islands, one for each hour of the day, and an extra one for timelessness. Candy Quackenbush, refugee from Chickentown, has defeated the dreadful Mater Motley and her grandson Christopher Carrion, flooding our world in the process. But Mater Motley is only getting started, show more Christopher isn't as dead as he seems and Candy has a Princess stuck in her head and she wants out.

While Candy looks for the magic necessary to free Princess Boa, a deeply unpleasant person, it turns out, Mater Motley sets her plans in motion. Dark days for poor old Abarat. Literally, as a dreadful scheme to block out the sky entirely unfolds, unleashing a host of hidden horrors on the world, and nasty horribles from behind the stars are involved, just to keep everything interesting.

Barker ups the apocalyptic scale here. The last book had the Reliquax, monstrosities hiding at the bottom of the sea, now we have god-like cosmic evils lending our villainess a massive death-ship with which to lay waste to Abarat. How can Candy and her motley crew of friends stand up to such horrible horrors?

Pure brilliant. I've read Barker since I was a horror fanboy in my teens, and this series is without a doubt his masterwork. He seems to thrive under the limitations set by working for a YA audience in terms of gore and grue, his formidable imagination producing a host of incredible sights and sounds and creatures and people and places. He doesn't stint on the darkness, though. Mater Motley's Empire of Night is an atrocious place full of evil and violence, and through it all, of course, Barker's incredible series of painted illustrations, bright and colourful and grotesque, making this book a beautiful, gorgeous object in its own right. It's probably obligatory to end this review with a line about hoping we don't have to wait as long for the next one, but heck, however long it takes, it'll be worth it. show less

This is not a 4 star book. It is a 2-3 star 2/3rds of a book and a 5 star 1/3rd (at the end, which gives it more weight). The first bunch of it is really not all that great - very uneven time/chapters ratio, Barker’s total lack of exposition, and no unique story arc just leave it hard to get through - yes, it’s the third in a larger saga, but even the obvious story arc was poorly structured and collected.

In my opinion, at least, the final third makes up for that - things smooth out, Barker’s style works, and focus appears. Some very good things drop into place. I’m definitely interested in reading more, but I had higher hopes for this.

I was so anxious for Absolute Midnight's release after so many years of waiting. I won't be so anxious for the next volume Oh, I'll get hold of it when it comes out, but the whole story's started to pall on me and the illustrations are starting to look like more of the same. I think the problem is that Absolute Midnight has reached the point where magic can do anything -- just think "Abarataraba" -- and when that happens there just isn't even any more cause-and-effect, which in the end means there's really no plot worth following.

I cant give an Abarat book any less than 4 stars. You could argue that really this is a self contained chapter in the Abarat series. Once Absolute Midnight is here nothing will be the same again - except it sort of really is. For 5 stars I would really like some significant movement of the story and progression of the history of the Abarat. But really this is about the exquisite beauty of Barker's prose - the unparalleled fecundity of his imagination and the sumptuous display of insane characters and sights.

I cant give an Abarat book any less than 4 stars. You could argue that really this is a self contained chapter in the Abarat series. Once Absolute Midnight is here nothing will be the same again - except it sort of really is. For 5 stars I would really like some significant movement of the story and progression of the history of the Abarat. But really this is about the exquisite beauty of Barker's prose - the unparalleled fecundity of his imagination and the sumptuous display of insane characters and sights.

It's been about 4 years since I read the secong book in the Abarat series. True fans have been waiting seven years for Clive Barker's latest tale of the Abarat, Absolute Midnight. The original Abarat appeared in 2002, with the second in the series showing up two years later in 2004. Since then, nothing. Nothing but rumors - two more books! no, three books - A movie! - no, no movie ...

But now, after 7 years of rumors and waiting, book 3 of a planned 5 book series is here, and it is as massive a project (582 pages and a hundred paintings, or thereabouts) as the first two books in the series. With the fate of Christopher Carrion in question (did he perish in Chickentown?) and Mater Motley poised to deliver darkness to all of the Hours, show more Candy returns to the Abarat to meet her destiny, which, though cloudy at first, becomes clearer with each passing day. Candy Quackenbush, of Chickentown, Minnesota has a role to play in determining the fate of the Abarat. With her devoted and trusting companion, Malingo, the geshrat, Candy will follow her destiny wherever it leads - even to Gargossium, midnight, the 24th hour.

Although this book may be darker in tone, the reader never has the feeling that the politely indomitable Candy will fail. In fact, while other readers may revel in the Abarat's more horrific and macabre characters, it is Candy (and Malingo) that have ensured my return. Coming from a sadly dysfunctional home in a boring Midwest town, traveling to the Abarat, and then back to Chickentown in a showdown between the two worlds, Candy emerges not broken, but steady, independent and resourceful - sure of her convictions, whatever the cost. Malingo senses this in Candy, as well as the magic that resides in her. She may not understand or see her true potential, but Malingo sees it, protects it, and relies upon it. Together they are a perfect pair. It remains to be seen how Candy's newest admirer will change the dynamics in this touching human/geshrat friendship.

The fate of the Abarat still hangs in the balance. Perhaps all of the answers may be found on the 25th hour, Odom's Spire. Based on past history, we may have to wait some time to find out!
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What an amazingly creative author! Not only does he create a magical other world but he creates his own artwork! It's simply amazing that he has created such a wonderful novel. The characters are developing well, the landscape is expanding and changing, and the conflicts are becoming more complicated and lifelike as each character's past and flaws catch up with the underlying struggle. I don't think I would have enjoyed this book as much if it had not been illustrated. There are many pieces of this novel that words simply cannot convey and his images do just that. I ate this book up and I cannot wait for the next book release.