Mister B. Gone [Paperback]

 

 

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Clive Barker took a break from horror for a while. He wrote some awesome fantasy novels, including Weaveworld and Imajica, which are profoundly effective in what they set out to accomplish. He wrote two volumes in a series of books for younger adults with three more on the way, and a couple of films. For a Master of Horror, there were a few years there where he rarely touched the visceral darkness that made his name with publications like "The Hellbound Heart" and the "Books of Blood".

"Mister B. Gone" is marketed as a triumphant return to Barker's particular style of uneasy, bloody horror. The premise is simple: within the pages of the neat little hardback the readers holds, a demon is imprisoned and talking to them. You, as the reader, are alternately coerced, seduced and threatened by the demon. Its sole concern? That you burn the book and forget it ever existed.

It's a compelling idea and certainly makes the first ten pages entertaining and refreshingly original. Not since Mark Z Danielewski's "This is not for you" has a reader been so determined to read further. On this occasion, you merely want to learn a bit more about this silver-tongued devil trapped between the pages. He reveals his name - Jakabok Botch - and that he was once chased by his abusive father right out of the highest level of hell and to the "Surface World", where he isn't well received by 14th Century humanity. He reluctantly provides pieces of his story, which is in turn humorous and repulsive - he is a demon, after all. Eventually his tale leads to a clash of events involving the creation of a wonderful new machine, and the conflict between demonic and celestial beings to decide who should control it.

Although the novel is an amusing, brief diversion, it unfortunately fails on a number of points. The primary hook of the story - that of Mister B. compelling the reader to end its life by burning the book that holds him - soon becomes a tiresome repetition of phrases and part of a predictable structure that really serves only to slow down the true story. It never really stops being amusing, but the reader will quite likely feel like using the book's nifty little bookmark-ribbon and taking a break every time Mister B. abruptly halts the story to once again complain about the reader's stubbornness.

That's another problem. It's amusing, perhaps too amusing. That's the big problem with marketing a novel as being of the horror genre: if it's not scary, or at least gruesome, then you're going to get a lot of pissed-off horror fans. Sadly this is the case this time. There are brief moments of bloodiness, but the protagonist deals with them in such a flippant manner - why should a denizen of Hell give a stuff if he fill his bath with the blood of babies? - that any glimpses of horrific acts fail to register. The tone of the novel is simply too light, and although the quality and style of the narrative is smooth and of a high standard, the tone lets the book down.

The characters and their relationships suffer from the brevity of the book, resulting in the reader caring little, if at all, about the actors in the story. Even the protagonist, who eventually describes his childhood and every emotional, significant or traumatic event since, is not quite three-dimensional and rarely manages to elicit any kind of emotional response from the reader. The characters intermingle in uncertain, sexually-ambiguous relationships that are reminiscent of Anne Rice's work, but even though Barker has established himself as a strong emotive writer, he still never quite succeeds in getting the point across with this one.

The fact that I read the book in three sittings means that there must be something decent there, something that retains interest, but I can't put my finger on it. The conclusion to Mister B.'s story is much built up, but is only satisfactory compared to the type of staggering denouements we're used to in such works as "Imajica". Are we expecting too much? Or is it just too much to ask to get at least a little fright from our horror fiction? It's not a bad novel, and it's very well presented. It's only a shame that it doesn't live up to expectations.

I am disappointed in this book. I am a huge Clive Barker fan and have all his books, I was a bit hesitant to buy this one after reading previous reviews and brought it to add to my collection. I must admist I could not finish - it was not captivating but I will still buy his books and looking forward to Abarat 3.

A posessed book talking directly to a reader is such an interesting idea that I read this novel based only on knowing that. I really enjoyed the concept, it's doubtless a really innovative idea, and the reader being involved in the book is fun too.

Unfortunately, there is not much to back it up. The story of how the demon protagonist escapes from Hell (the World Below, as he names it) is intriguing, and then his first few days on Earth promise a gripping read. Then he meets Quitoon. The latter character is cardboard, making it impossible for the reader to generate any feeling towards him (same, in fact, is pertinent to the other characters). The two of them voyage together, murdering, raping, and commiting other disturbing acts which are briefly mentioned.

They argue and are separated but then the protagonist decides he needs to search for his lost love (who is on his way to discover a Machine which will change the World. Everything else is monotonous and futile, and that's counting the messages about good and evil.

Most of the characters have no involvement at all. Cawley and his group are promising, but then they're instantly gone and we have nothing more to do with them. Quitoon promises the same, but once again, he's cardboard.

Alongside this the book threatens the reader, and attempts to persuade them to BURN THE DAMN BOOK!! and reads into their thoughts and feelings and describes how it's going to kill you, and if I weren't so analytical about things, I probably would have believed it. That part is fun too.

Entertaining, albeit a forgettable lazy Sunday.

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3.0 out of 5 stars Not up to his normal standard
I have read many Clive Barker books over the years I have always found them a good read. but this one was a bit of a drag the story over all was o. Read more

Published 7 months ago by Dark Stranger

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good read
I loved this book and I wanted to get it on hard back just because I like hard back books better. Buy this book, but don't actually burn it.

Published 7 months ago by Robert George

4.0 out of 5 stars Not his best but entertaining
I picked up this book as I have all of Clive's work and was looking forward to more of his vivid imagination stamped on every page. Read more

Published on 28 Dec 2009 by The Cainster

4.0 out of 5 stars Enchanted by a captive, flawed demon
Fantasy and horror isn't my thing, in fact this is my first foray in that genre, but I was captivated and intrigued after reading the first three mini-chapters of this book in the... Read more

Published on 30 July 2009 by Seisyll ap Person

1.0 out of 5 stars Mister B Gone
Please follow the instructions at the beginning of the book & burn it, not read it. You have already wasted money on it ( you've a chance to get this back by selling it) but do... Read more

Published on 19 July 2009 by Mr. P. Kettlestring

1.0 out of 5 stars Unimaginative drivel
I've always liked Clive Barker because he creates worlds of peculiar imagination. He also creates characters that have power, guts and intelligence. Read more

Published on 13 July 2009 by Shelley Dawson

5.0 out of 5 stars Imaginative and cunning in its delivery. A dark & truly unique tale.
First published back in 2007, Clive Barker unleashes once again another dark and devious piece of adult fiction, after the recent releases of the first two youngster friendly... Read more

Published on 13 May 2009 by Chris Hall

5.0 out of 5 stars Barker at his best
It`s good to see that Clive Barker is back on track. That`s how his fans love him. The story is full of everything we like about him.

Published on 25 Feb 2009 by Wolfgang Muellner

4.0 out of 5 stars My Honest Opinion of a Strange Little Book...
Let's face it Mr. Barker has never been one to follow typical story arcs and this is definitely one of his more way out efforts. Read more

Published on 21 Jan 2009 by Haunted Nostril

2.0 out of 5 stars No !
Very Poor.. Just burn the book!!! I just want to put it all behind me. I thought Clive would turn out something worthwhile but was very disappointed.

Published on 21 Nov 2008 by M. Ras

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