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Read In The Flesh (2001)

In the Flesh (2001)

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3.98 of 5 Votes: 3
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ISBN
074341733X (ISBN13: 9780743417334)
Language
English
Publisher
gallery books

In The Flesh (2001) - Plot & Excerpts

This has been my first Clive Barker read, and I was very pleasantly surprised by it. From what I had heard of Barker before, I had assumed his work was in the gory blood porn genre. As such I was never very interested in trying out any of his work, since the more trashy kind of cheap thrills that Stephen King used to grind out in his earlier years, really never did sit well with me. Neither does the kind of horror that features sexy teenagers being systematically mangled by homicidal maniacs (usually with very long butcher's knives) .On the contrary, the volume I’ve just finished is a small collection of short stories that is intelligent, imaginative and satirical dark fantasy, the likes of which you see in the work of authors like Ray Bradbury and Gene Wolfe, with just a touch of a Lovecraftian sense of the macabre and a dollop of Kafka’s sense of the absurd.A trademark feature seems to be that the stories start off with a very commonplace scenario, where everything is sane and normal, and as commonplace as the routine you or I experience every day as we set off to work or school. Gradually a sense of weirdness starts to encroach as the stories progresss;- in some cases it works well, though in The Forbidden it did not work for me at first. At first glance it seemed like a childish attempt at painting a horror figure, and I think this is a clue as to how the picture of Barker as a cheap thrill goremonger might have evolved. However, after reading the rest of the stories, I realised that Barker’s works work on two levels. Despite throwing in a few bones for the cheap thrill junkies, (some of them being decidedly gore-less, nevertheless), there is a lot of social commentary and satire going on in the background. I had a squiz at the plot of the movie “Candyman” which was based on The Forbidden, and there it was obvious to me that the hidden theme was distorted and ignored in the film – its maker opting to put it into the slasher genre. (I’ll bet they made more money that way). The actual theme originally intended by Barker, (besides a bit of a poke at the snobbish one-upmanship always to be found in intellectual/academic circles) seemed pretty obviously to me, to be a working of the theme that there is nothing worse for the human psyche than to be ignored, impotent, ridiculed, and/or nondescript, since everybody needs their existence validated somehow. For some the issue is important enough as to even draw attention to themselves in negative ways, as long as it means they get attention, of whatever kind.The Candyman is a symbol of the allure of fame or notoriety, and Helen withstands this allure for a while, though she succumbs at the very end. Earlier in the story, other characters also succumbed to the Candyman, by telling sensationalist lies and …*censored for spoilers*.The story also offers an effortless juxtaposition of the contrasting worlds of people living on the edges of society, with that of snobbish university circles. Barker delivers his double message cleverly enough camouflaged that sadly, a lot of people probably do dismiss works like The Forbidden as simply being of the horror “slasher” genre.The Madonna is a wonderfully imaginative tale of ambiguity, which touches on relationship and gender issues, but overall delivers a delightful sense of the weird and macabre that only a Kafka or Lovecraft can match, yet delivered in pleasantly muted tones which makes it an enjoyable read.Babel’s Children is a delightful little comic satire displaying Barker’s disdain for world politics.In the Flesh was probably the story that touched me the most deeply and remained with me the longest, even managing to find it’s way into my dreams. I found myself identifying and empathizing with the characters in this one. Some of the story actually seems to have come from a dreamworld itself, and is guaranteed to please lovers of dark fantasy who enjoy exploring the landscapes of dream and psyche.My interest has definitely been piqued, so I will be reading more Barker soon.EDIT: (later) After reading some earlier Barker, I wasn't quite as impressed. It seems that his later, more mature works are definitely an improvement on his earlier fare.

Onnistuneesti Candymanina filmattu Kielletty lyö silmille graffiteja ränsistyneissä lähiöissä ja niihin liittyvää urbaanilegendaa koukkukätisestä miehestä. Kirjan parempia tarinoita, mutta kuten The Hellbound Heartin kohdallakin kävi, elokuva vie mytologian ja yksityiskohdat pidemmälle. Tässä ne jäävät hieman puolitiehen. Hylättyyn, rapistuneeseen uimahalliin sijoittuva Madonna on niin ikään vähän sinne päin. Mysteeri kiehtoo aluksi, mutta jää kuitenkin loppujen lopuksi vaille kunnon näkemystä, kun äitijumalanpalvojat lapsineen ryömivät esiin. Tämä ilmentää myös sellaista puolta Barkerin kauhunovelleista, mikä on alkanut jo hieman toistaa itseään. Ideat, kertomusten ympäristöt ja teksti säilyvät omaperäisinä, mutta kokonaisuutta, jos ei nyt pilaa niin ainakin latistaa se, että kirjailija turhan usein rojauttaa loppuhuipennukseksi jonkin epämääräisen rujon mönkiäisen. Toisaalta se liha, tavalla tai toisella, on iskostunut aika voimakkaasti Barkerin tavaramerkiksi. Mukana on kylläkin myös yksi aivan päinvastaista tyylisuuntaa edustava kertomus, Baabelin lapset. Maailmantuhoa uumoilevasta taustatarinasta huolimatta, se erottuu joukosta lähinnä lepsun, hieman komedisen asenteen takia. Edes pieni irvailu politiikan eliittiä ja päätöksentekoa kohtaan ei pelasta. Ja ennen kaikkea: kauhunovellina se on täysin hyödytön. Päätösnovelli, Lihaa ja verta, on etenkin loppua kohden varsin kelvollinen antautuessaan murhamielen kuljetettavaksi. Pääosin vankiselliin sijoitettu novelli piirtää varsin onnistuneesti verenkyllästämää kuvastoa henkirikoksen seuraamuksista jossain tuonpuoleisessa. Katolisten limbon piirteistä on tainnut tulla vaikutteita, tosin Barkerin versiossa ovelimmat tulevat myös takaisin. Kolmesta pääosin maittavasta tarinasta huolimatta, siitä en kuitenkaan pääse yli en ympäri, että ei tämä ole kolmen ensimmäisen kirjan veroinen purskahdus hurmeista brittikauhua. Semmoisia Rawhead Rexin tai Keskiyön lihajunan kaltaisia muistiin syöpyviä satuja ei oikein irtoa, vaikka hieman nelososasta parantaakin.

What do You think about In The Flesh (2001)?

The manifestation of evil, "in the flesh" is the theme that unites all four novellas in this early Barker work.The highlight here is, undoubtedly, "The Forbidden". This is the basis for what is perhaps the MOST UNDERRATED HORROR FILM OF ALL TIME: Bernard Rose's "Candyman." The story itself, 60 pages that really do chill the blood, I've penciled in on a list of the best short stories ever. It is melancholia wrapped in detective noir, supernatural urban legend; a human investment into something larger than the self. Helen, the doomed protagonist, looks for an interesting thesis in walls exploded with urban symbols: graffiti. The residents of a delapadated city complex are all in on a secret conspiracy. The killer mesmorizes, comes from the realms of hell, literally. The personification is so complete in this study on urban decay. The myth baring a hook is more effective than Pinhead! The last paragraph plagues the reader with worry: it seems so possible that evil exists, is indeed a human disease made up of interior and exterior traumas. I almost cried for Helen.I read "The Forbidden" and felt immediately that Horror is alive and well (true-this comes to us from the 80s... but one has the instinct to hope). Stephen King's constant commendments for the British author are not without substantiation. Barker can write circles around King: he practices brevity, brings out strong sexual themes (which of course soon delve into absolute terror), has an outright, singular poetic penmanship. The other stories are pretty good, too. The story about the Candyman, a must read for all aspiring writers, was an A+. The rest involve a doorway to hell in a prison with no relatable characters (B), a sick gender-bending misadventure in a satanic spa (B-) and bizzaro geriatric oracles in Greece (C+).
—Fabian

I've wanted to nab this baby forever, since watching the movie Candyman, adapted to the screen by Bernard Rose with Clive's backing. I have owned several of his books of blood anthologies for awhile, yet this one has remained an illusive completion of the cycle. Finally I now own all of them, and read this one within the week of receiving it.The book, a brief 255 pages, envelops four short stories. The first, 'In The Flesh', is a strange tale following the mind of a convict, Cleve, who is forced by an overeager warden to be the caretaker of his new cellmate, Billy. Strange and reclusive, Billy isn't an easy man to keep safe from the other inmates, but it's even more tiresome trying to get his new companion to sit still on bizarre questions he's filled with. Soon Cleve is forced to witness some pretty strange stuff, and from there the story skyrockets. Baffling and strange, as Barker's works typically are, the short tale is blessed with bizarre imagery, unusual characters and an intriguing outcome. The endings a strange little thing, one I never saw coming, but a dark wrap-up that strangely fits.Following the unsettling piece is the short story of the legendary Candyman, in written form titled The Forbidden. There are outstanding differences in the short version versus the celluloid portrayal; Helen herself is much different, although not in a bad way, and her goal is instead on the history of graffiti rather than urban legend and myth. Candyman is also quite different, although I noticed much of his dialogue was copied through to the film. That's the only similarity really. Bernadette, Helen's best pal in the film, is only a mere aquaintance shown once here. No one sits to tell the young woman about Candyman's dazzling past, but instead insist she's a naive child being lied to. The situation with Anne-Marie and her son differ so strongly it was hard to compare the story and movie at all. Standing by itself the short story is an intriguing one, even if I felt the ending fell a bit short.It was hard for me not feel slightly cheated with The Madonna, as no character was likable, the ending seemed strangely depressing, and the story itself devoid of much enjoyment. The idea just seemed too silly and over-the-top, and no explanations for characters given (some of their actions just didn't make sense). It was a brief read, thankfully, but not something that kept my attention like the previous two.Finally, the shortest story, Babel's Children, may indeed by the strangest. The idea is very outlandish and it's clear Barker's bizarre humor gets to play with this one. The protagonist was a fun woman to follow, her actions making sense, her personality strong and fiesty but using common sense as well. There was a lovely sense of confusion that followed me toward the end, where I then wasn't sure whether to be disgusted or amused. On one hand the story is so far-fetched and silly it's almost a turn-off and cheesy, but on the other hand it makes a morbid sense and purposely pokes fun at a failing system. While I can't make my mind up on which side of the fence to stand firmly on, I'm settling for using both reactions and rating this one an intriguing story with a daring, mediocre death.If you happy to find this one, pick it up for sure. Short stories aren't my cup of tea, but Barker's writing style in his other Books of Blood anthologies and this one are sure to please. His writing style is intelligent, filled with an advanced, dry style that's poetically beautiful. Some of his phrasing is simply breathtaking, forcing me to repeat the sentences in my mind. All his stories are filled with inventive, unusual worlds not seen elsewhere. The level of horror in his tales is different as well, dark without even seeming to try, cleverly mixed with morbid fantasy. This is one book that thankfully lived up to my expectations in many ways, diving a bit short in others, but I've come to expect the latter fault in anthologies.
—Erin (Paperback stash) *is juggle-reading*

This book is a collection of 4 novelettes from "The New Master of Horror." (not so new anymore!)The title piece, "In the Flesh" deals with a petty criminal trapped in a jail cell with a first-time offender who's messing with more than he bargained for in the spirit of his executed murderer grandfather...."The Forbidden" is the story the movie Candyman was based on. I'm sure you've seen it. The story is shorter, snappier, and more powerful. (And set in England! Huh!)"The Madonna" reminded me of a modern Lovecraft story.... a business deal with a mobster turns into something far more when chthonic horrors lurk in a closed public pool complex..."Babel's Children" - not so much a horror story as a paranoid conspiracy theory. Who do you think is *really* controlling the world governments???Good fun, all of them..
—Althea Ann

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