3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Second Book of the Art, 29 April 2007
'Everville' is a direct sequel to 'The Great and Secret Show' and as such if you enjoyed that book then you will find plenty here to get your teeth into. While an excellent novel it is perhaps not quite as stunning as the previous volume as, perhaps inevitably, the sequel route of 'more of the same' means there is less nto suprise the reader: once again the novel deals with an attempt by a magician to harness the mysterious power of 'the Art', while evil shaman Kissoon attempts to call forth the nightmarish Iad Uroborus from beyond the dream-sea of Quiddity to invade our world, and a small American town becomes the site of an apocalytpic battle. Practically all of the major characters from 'The Great and Secret Show' return (including some who seemingly died at the end of that novel), but Barker does introduce a new couple - Phoebe Cobb and her lover Joe Flicker to provide the emotional core of the novel: interestingly having spend the majority of the previous novel detailing the trials and ultimate triumph of lovers Howard and Jo-Beth, Barker callously disposes of the couple in a virtual cameo to repeat this emotional journey with this new pair. Still, despite a certain familiarity this time round 'Everville' does move the grand narrative forward, and crucially providing a background story for series 'bad guy' Kissoon.
The novel's main weakness is the fact that this is the second book in an unfinished trilogy, and as such will inevitably leave the reader somewhat frustrated, as plots are set in motion for the final, and thus far unpublished Third Book of the Art. As far as the journey goes, both 'The Great and Secret Show' and 'Everville' are enjoyable reads, but it will be up to the prospective reader as to whether they wish to invest the time and energy on a story with, as yet, no ending: at the time of writing it is fully 13 years since this book was published and the chances of Barker finally getting round to writing the concluding volume (especially considering the number of other unfinished sequels and ongoing multimedia projects he has 'on the go') are looking increasingly slim...
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect blend of the magic and mystery in our lives., 14 Oct 1997
By A Customer
I found this book kept me riveted throughout. the many plot twists and surprise events made the spectacular writing of Clive Barker alive with freshness and vitality that some of the best writers put foward. the many vivid characters that Barker created, such as Tesla Bombeck, a self-made woman, add a whole new dimension to horror/mystery writing. Tesla's wit and inner beauty make you genuinely feel for the problems Tesla faces. Overall, I found this book to be one of my all-time favorites. -Keith Jacobson
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4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A truly outstanding sequel to 'The Great And Secret Show'., 8 Mar 2006
On a mountain peak, high above the city of Everville, a door stands open: a door that lets onto the shores of the dream-sea Quiddity. And there's not a soul below who'll not be changed by that fact.
Phoebe Cobb, once a doctor's receptionist, is about to forget her old life and go looking for her lost lover, Joe Flicker, in the world on the other side of that door, a strange, sensual wonderland the likes of which only Barker could make real.
Tesla Bombeck, who knows what horrors lurk on the far side of Quiddity, must solve the mysteries of the city's past if she is to keep those horrors from crossing the threshold.
Harry D'Amour, who has tracked the ultimate evil across America, will find it conjuring atrocities in the sunlit streets of Everville.
The year of 1994 saw the first publication of Everville - The second Book of The Art. Following on from the awesome novel 'The Great And Secret Show' (1989), 'Everville' is the second installment into the proposed trilogy. The novel is a spectacular escape into the limitless world of Clive Barker's imagination. The story of Everville stands well as a story on its own, and can indeed be read without having read the first book, but it does work best as a sequel.
Everville finds itself exploring and expanding more upon the characters that appear in the first novel. The storyline becomes more intense and fast-paced, with the complex ideas and principals of the novels forming a powerful underlying basis to the book.
This sequel is nothing short of genius, delivering a gripping and involved storyline that will set your imagination alive. This is a book that you will truly treasure for the rest of your life. Please, if you haven't already done so...go out and read this book.
Running for a total of 640 pages, the book doesn't once lose it's interest or it's hold over you. A true masterpiece in every sense of the word.
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