Weaveworld

Clive Barker

Once, there was magic. There were sacred places and secret spots, and beings that held magnificent...more

Once, there was magic. There were sacred places and secret spots, and beings that held magnificent raptures. They were the Seerkind, and they were the magical children of the world. Then the Scourge came. A being of magnificent power and mad obsession with a singular purpose - to utterly destroy the Seerkind. Its reasons, its motivations were completely unknown and brooked no argument or negotiation. And so, with their numbers being burned down, the Seerkind hid. They used their best magics and their most exquisite raptures to weave their most precious places and people into a haven that no one would ever find, a place that no one would ever look. A carpet. They hoped to wake up once the Scourge had passed, after a few short years. Eighty years later, the final custodian of the Weaveworld dies, leaving her estranged granddaughter, Suzanna to take over her duties. Whether she wanted to or not. Fortunately, she is not alone. Young Calhoun Mooney, the grandson of a poet, stumbled across the enchanted carpet and was ensnared by its intricate beauty. Together, they set off to save the Weaveworld from those who would rule it - or destroy it. Shadwell, an amoral salesman with an enraptured jacket that can produce any item his mark wants with all their heart, leads the hunt. With him, and supporting him is the Incantrantrix Immaculata, who hates the Seerkind with all her cold, dead heart. And somewhere, in a dry, empty place, the Scourge sleeps.... I've read this book countless times, and it never gets old. I know Clive Barker is best known for his horror, but, much like Stephen King, he excels at writing fantasy. He has a gift for making his world both magical and believable, describing its magics and its dangers in wonderful detail. What I really enjoy, both in this and his other fantasy masterpiece Imagica, is his ability to name things. Like any true magician, he excels in the art of names, and they're truly exquisite. The Incantantrix Immaculata. Apolline Dubois. Balm DeBono. Lemuel Lo and his Orchard. The names themselves are magical, and it makes it so much more wonderful. I cannot recommend this book enough. Have fun.   hide

A parallel world unravels from a stitch in a rug. I remember how as a child I used to imagine Cher...more

A parallel world unravels from a stitch in a rug. I remember how as a child I used to imagine Cher as one of the characters. The book is a magical world that is at times horrific but also recognisable as our own. The characters are as rich as those from a Neil Gaiman comic and just as ambivalent, with many implications for the fragility of our own ethical systems. The story's pace is exhilarating and the scenes conjured up by Barker's prose make for a spectacular visual feast.    hide

Clive Barker is amazing. I adore nearly everyone of his stories but Weaveworld is (...arguably) is...more

Clive Barker is amazing. I adore nearly everyone of his stories but Weaveworld is (...arguably) is one of his very best books. I love the characters, the concept, the setting...everything! Each chapter there is something interesting going on and because of this you'll find that you'll finish the book extremely quickly making you wish there were more pages. At no point whatsoever does this story become boring. Read this book! It's brilliant!   hide

This was the first book that I felt was perfect when I finished. I did not crave more of the story....more

This was the first book that I felt was perfect when I finished. I did not crave more of the story. It felt complete. Barker created a world so magical and mundane that you find yourself completely immersed in the telling. I have read it more than any other book and never tire of it. The ideas behind the world embedded in the carpet and the magic that surrounds is truly original. This is a book to keep you up all night reading. A very rare book that feels like a lover that completely sates your appetite. Definitely a must read   hide

This is my favourite Clive Barker book. It's just so imaginative, I know he later went on to write...more

This is my favourite Clive Barker book. It's just so imaginative, I know he later went on to write more books about worlds within worlds (er, well all of his books I suppose!) but this was the first full length novel of that genre. It probably isn't quite as shocking as other books he's written but there is a stunning beauty to the prose.   hide