The Great and Secret Show: the First Book of Art (Hardcover)

This is a brilliant Clive Barker fantasy novel, which like his other books,shows an almost Kafkan feel to it...that of an extraordinary situation happening to an ordinary surrounding.

It starts off as it means to go on,leaving the reader begging for more.The book itself makes you question your surroundings,and think about what is real and what isn't.

Anyone picking up this book not knowing Clive Barkers horror background,would see this as a visionary fantasy drama;tinged with both horrific and euphoric visions.It focuses on a place called "Quiddity";a place where humans go but three times in their lives;once at birth,once with true love and finally at death.

Quiddity is seen as a paradise,a dreamscape,that is privelliged to few,but craved by many.An evil force tries to unlock it's secrets and wreak havoc;this is opposed by a force for good,which is an ongoing conflict for the duration of the novel...

This is a hard book to describe;it is visionary,and like most visions,it is subject to an individuals imagination.I advise anyone curious enough to try it out,for an amazing read that will provoke the imagination days after putting it down...

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First published in 1989, 'The Great And Secret Show' formed the first book of 'The Art' proposed trilogy. The novel is a complex weave of storylines, woven together to form this impressive and compelling tale of fantasy that sends you into a world with seemingly no limits. The novel not only opens up the reader's own imagination but brings forward suggestive images and ideas that remain with you for years to come. Barker manages to capture your attention from the start and keep you gripped throughout the 688 pages that form this beautifully crafted novel. The whole story is absolute genius that I would recommended to absolutely anyone who wishes to be taken into a world of the fantastic.

The mysterious sea of Quiddity is intriguing and inspiring, bringing a majestic and surreal element to this hugely creative novel. The story has a fair sprinkling of the bizarre that hints towards Barker’s earlier horror work. As a series, I would definitely say that these first two books of the art have proven to be my favorite of all Barker’s work.

‘The Great And Secret Show’ was followed by the 1994 sequel 'Everville', which carries on perfectly from the first novel. A third and final volume is planned, but as Clive Barker announced in a past interview, the third installment has proved to be a real struggle and is finding itself to be longer than the first two volumes put together! Hopefully one day the novel will find itself finally being released.

To quote Barker himself on the matter:
“The third Book of the Art takes place in Quiddity, the Dream Sea. I have been planning that for five years, and have 500, maybe 600 pages of notes towards that novel. A week doesn’t go by without my contributing something to that”.

If you haven’t already taken yourself on the voyage into these books, I urge you to take it up now. Enjoy!

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