This was excellent. A wonderful part 2 to The Great and Secret Show. I really loved that it was a story in itself. Often, it seems that authors give us a part two just to cash in on the characters we knew and loved in the first one. This is definitely not the case with this book. There are characters from the first one (Tesla, Raul, Grillo, JoBeth, Tommy Ray, and Howie) but none of them are mentioned for the first 100 pages or so. This means that we get new characters and a new problem. The other great thing about this type of sequel is that the author doesn't fall into either trap by summarizing everything from the first one or introducing totally new material with the assumption that we have just finished the first book. He seamlessly reminds us of the important things we must remember from the first book but in a way where I don't feel like he is totally insulting me by rehashing it or to the detriment of someone who didn't know there was a prequel. The story was beautiful. The character of Phoebe was instantly relatable (though in some ways similar to a character from Coldheart Canyon; but then again, I guess a slightly overweight, middle-aged, unhappily married woman is probably more common than I would like to think). I don't want to give too much away, but Joe and Phoebe were excellent together and apart. Sometimes the individual characters in a couple are not totally fleshed out and get some of their identity from each other but not here. Joe was a vibrant character, stubborn, sweet, sexy; even when he was without Phoebe.Reading these books I wish Quiddity were real. It seems like my generation is so beset by apathy that we NEED something like the events in these books to force us to evolve. Perhaps the economic distress, global warming, and political upheaval in the world right now is going to force a change on our generation but from my point of view that wouldn't be a bad thing. The world will always be here, but it will change. I think change is upon us (especially in the US where we are days away from a new president and some possible changes) and by embracing that change we can enjoy a peaceful, environmentally friendly, tolerant future.
Barker's Second Book of the Art is a muddled disappointment but manage to keep my interest.Alternately savage, disgusting and beautiful, Everville never really takes flight. It doesn't show any of the lyrical prose of its predecessor until more than halfway through and it remains disjointed even "The Grand Design" is revealed in Part VI. Most of the characters introduced are unappealing and the ones that return from The Great and Secret Show no longer have their previous interest level. In fact, Barker seemingly brings characters back to to kill them off--which doesn't mean anything really, I suppose, since death is a transition to a new existence in the Art Books. Still, the story does have it's moments (Phoebe's and Joe's coupling in Quiddity, the dream-sea, is a standout) and a character I had expected to dislike (Harry D'Amour, based on his appearance in The Scarlet Gospels) turned out to be my favorite character of the book.Another of the problems I had was that there didn't seem to be a clear villain in this outing. Owen Buddenbaum seemed to be manipulating the events of the book (with divine help), but then Kissoon (who is much more compelling a villain) returns and appears to be the one in control of the whole affair. If this were the middle book of a trilogy, I could understand the confusion being introduced, but since there is no concluding (or continuing) volume, I am at a loss to really appreciate this novel.This was a 2 1/2 star effort for me. But then, on page 343, Barker makes the following statement: "...in a week his defenestration would be an embarrassing memory..."This word is #1 on my short list of favorite words in the English language. I have very little opportunity to use this word in everyday speech (and I don't come across the word "defenestrate" or any conjugates of the word in literature very often), so I must give it special attention. For me, it is worth an extra 1/2 star in rating.
What do You think about Everville (1999)?
Everville is the sequel to The Great and Secret Show. It's a long and fun read and contains all the a-typical Barker horror, fantasy and erotica topics you expect. I will give you one recommendation though...DON'T READ THIS WITHOUT READING 'THE GREAT AND SECRET SHOW' FIRST!!!BriefOn 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.These are but a few of the hugely entertaining characters whose destinies Barker has charted in this book. Enthralling, chilling, and charged with an unbridled eroticism, Everville is above all a novel about the deepest yearnings of the human heart. For love. For hope. For understanding.And of course it's about the forces that threaten those dreams. The monsters that are never more terrible than when they wear humanfaces . . .
—Donovan
So far there are two books in what the author said would be a trilogy, but as far as I can tell there is no third one as of now. These books can be read on their one, although of course it's best to read them in order.These books are so dense and rich that each of them feel like they could be a trilogy in and of themselves. If you enjoy fantasy, particularly ones without werewolves, vampires, alien parasites, etc., then do yourself a favor and start reading this series. There is some graphic sex, so recommended for adults only.
—Linda
My actual rating is 3.5 stars. This is the sequel to "The Great and Secret Show" and that should be read first for a better understanding. This novel was good but not as good as the first book of this series.This is the story of a town that hosts a doorway between two different worlds. The inhabitants of one of these worlds want to enter ours. This novel is a combination of love story and fantasy. There are characters from the first novel that play a more pivotal role in trying to stop people gaining power.Clive Barker paints a beautiful picture with his telling of this story. He is definitely a wordsmith and keeps a nice pace throughout the story. My problem with this novel was the subplot which was not needed. This subplot bogged down the main plotline and I believe the only reason it was included is that it will play an essential part in the third book (if it ever gets written).I would recommend this to people who read the first one and enjoyed it. The author's description of the other world and his way of telling a story is worth reading this series.
—Jim C
