Share for friends:

Read The Inhuman Condition (2001)

The Inhuman Condition (2001)

Online Book

Author
Genre
Rating
3.95 of 5 Votes: 1
Your rating
ISBN
0743417348 (ISBN13: 9780743417341)
Language
English
Publisher
gallery books

The Inhuman Condition (2001) - Plot & Excerpts

http://radiradev.blogspot.bg/2015/10/...Клайв Баркър е художник и на думи и на дела. По-запалените негови фенове знаят, че освен успешен писател, той също така е много популярен и с рисунките си. Голямо предимство на Баркър е това, че във всяка своя литературна творба представя нещата по възможно най-добрият визуален начин и читателите буквално виждат живи картини.Четвъртият том на “Кървави книги” е също толкова ужасяващ, брутален и натуралистичен, колкото и предишните три.За Ричард Леймън казват, че е "Стивън Кинг без съвест". Същото важи и за Клайв Баркър. Впрочем влиянието на Леймън върху творчеството на Баркър е видно, особено в последният разказ в “Кървави книги”, том 4 - "Епохата на Желанието". Странен научен експеримент превръща Джером в ходеща машина за секс и освен това му придава нечовешка сила. Постепенно Джером започва да вижда всички хора като подвижни сексуални мишени без значение дали са мъже или жени. Иронично авторът ни описва и как експериментираният изнасилва един от преследващите го полицаи. Баркър е многопластов писател и в тази творба не става дума за поредната огромна доза на секс и насилие. Клайв успява да предизвика у читателя съжаление към жертвата на този необикновен експеримент. Впрочем именно това прави Баркър толкова успешен и популярен като творец на ужасни произведения. Във филмите "Нощни хора" и "Кендимен", така наречените "злодеи" също първоначално са били тормозени, докато зрителят си зададе въпроса: "Те/Той са по-силни. Защо не отвърнат на удара?"Разказът "Долу, Сатана!" описва докъде може да стигне един много богат и също толкова луд човек, след като е напълно обсебен от сатанизма."Откровения" е една дъждовна, ужасяваща и донякъде романтична история за призраци и изчезнала любов."Нечовешко състояние" малко прилича на най-известната творба на Баркър, а именно - "Хелрейзър". Само, че тук не кутията освобождава демоните, а една много специална връв. За по-невероятен привкус е включена и малко черна магия."Бунтът срещу тялото" е една типична само за Баркър вариация на тема разбунтували се крайници. Мисля, че този разказ е писан под влияние на историята „Аз съм вратата“ от Стивън Кинг. Само, че тук вместо за очи става въпрос за ръце.Клайв Баркър за пореден път ни поднася огромна порция чист и неподправен хорър. Поемете го на малки глътки. И внимавайте да не се задавите.

Oh, man. I was at a book store recently thumbing through "The Books of Blood" trying to remember the stories in that book. I couldn't remember more than a handful of the stories, even with the titles and opening lines right in front of me. I only read that book about two years ago, so it kind of scared me that I couldn't remember more than the first couple of stores (probably the first book). Anyway, my point is that I think I prefer reading Barker's stories in smaller chunks like this. His imagery tends to be so intense that I need a bit of a break between each story to absorb. When I'm reading a 500+ page book I don't really have the time to relax between stories. So "The Inhuman Condition" is a little bit more manageable and therefore memorable (if for no other reason than the format) than that other collection.The strongest of the five stories in this collection, "Revelations" tells the story of a preacher, his wife, and his driver stopping at a motel in Texas. A thirty year old murder is revisited on them. Barker's ghosts, in this story, are real. They feel. They joke. They have sex. This story reminds me of an Edward Albee play spiked with the supernatural. Much more subtle than any of the other stories in this book - or anything else I've read by Barker - this story resonates in a way that his otherworldy does not.The weakest of the five (besides maybe "Down, Satan!" which shouldn't even count) which ironically gives the collection its name is undoubtedly "The Inhuman Condition". The story of an English hooligan who finds a string of knots that unleashes monsters from beyond, it feels way too much like a rehashing of "The Hellbound Heart". A story about a bunch of criminals being murdered only works when the reader gets some kind of satisfaction out of their demise, or feels the tragedy of their criminal fate. More morally ambiguous, this story relies more on Barker's non-description of his monsters. By the way, that's cheating. Show us some gristle and bloody teeth. That's your strong suit Mr. B.

What do You think about The Inhuman Condition (2001)?

In 1986, Clive Barker followed the enormous success of the first three volumes of The Books Of Blood, with a final three volumes to create the entire Books Of Blood series. His two omnibus's were later to be broken down, to be sold as individual books. Barker was invited to be able to illustrate these covers, with his dark and twisted artwork. This volume was also released in America under the name 'The Inhuman Condition'. The six volumes were all released in their individual forms back in 1985, this forth volume contains the following short stories: The Body Politic - 47 pages "What if parts of your body, such as your hands for instance, suddenly decided that they wanted to sever their connections with you and be free? Human hands tear themselves from their masters to start a bloody revolution". A truly unforgettable tale of weird horror that screams paranoia from every page. Barker offers up this surreal treat that will please any horror fan. The short was later to be adapted for the movie 'Quicksilver Highway', which was unfortunately directed by Mick Garris (Sleepwalkers, The Stand, The Shining - TV version) in which he delivers his usual low-talented direction skills to complement the budget on offer. The Inhuman Condition - 47 pages "A knotted string unravels dark hungering nightmares". Bringing with it a brief glimpse at Barker's principal ideas for 'The Hellbound Heart', this short story packs in heart-pounding suspense and twisted horror to form a gripping and terrifying storyline. The premise behind the story is a clever and inspired one, as we see mankind's irresistible urge for curiosity. Revelations - 56 pages "In a Texas motel room, the living and the dead make love. Buck and Sadie Durning check into the Cottonwood Motel in June 1955. Buck never checks out and four months later Sadie is executed for his murder. Thirty years later, John and Virginia Dyer check into the same hotel where the ghosts of Buck and Sadie have returned to relive their fateful drama". A terrifying and disturbing tale that will haunt you for a long time to come. Barker paints a vivid picture of the murderous atmosphere that will chill you to the bone. The story was later adapted by Steve Niles in 1992 into the Eclipse Books graphic novel 'Revelations' where it was illustrated by Lionel Talaro. Down, Satan! - 6 pages "A palace is built to lure Satan back to earth". A very short one here from Barker, setting down a creepy and dark idea that sits there waiting to unnerve you. The story was later adapted in 1992 into the graphic novel 'Tapping The Vein - Book 5' where it was illustrated by Tim Conrad. The Age Of Desire - 54 pages "A powerful aphrodisiac creates ghastly sexual urgings". Here we have a erotic horror crossover with a fair sprinkling of black comedy mixed in with the dark and twisted storyline. The short story was made into a graphic novel at one time but the decline of Eclipse Comics resulted in the sad loss of this graphic novel illustrated by Timothy Bradstreet.
—Dreadlocksmile

I forgot how much I love Clive Barker's writing. This collection of short stories covers territory any Barker fan would be familiar with. Human giving into hidden urges. Some bound demons being released. Some sexuality. Grisly murder scenes written in restrained elegance. Barker is one of the few authors who can write about someone being eviscerated and not have it turn you off to the book.The stories ranged from creepy, to scary, to outright funny. This is officially a continuation of the Books of Blood series. and unfortunately since it is shorter, it feels a little less weighty than the first (which was actually a collection of the first 3 in the series).the first was a demon release story, and sort of followed the typical trope. but it is written well and is very entertaining. The Body Politic was very funny. Human hands have staged a revolution and go on a rampage "freeing" their brethren by dismembering their owners. I could not stop thinking of the hand from the Addams family doing little dances across people's newly hands-free bodies.Revelations is probably the best of the 5 in this case. A ghost story with some feminist/anti-religious themes that ended up being very satisfying and pulled of an incredibly stereotypical "twist" ending and actually made it fresh.Down Satan was great. A man decides to summon God by finding the devil and proceeds to build Hell on Earth. Super short, and very satisfying. something along the lines of building a house of horrors a la Bluebeard's Castle.The age of desire was the most sexual of the stories. A lab discovers a drug that activates libido to the point that it kills by too much sex. This sounds tawdry and graphic, and initially it is. But the end becomes very human and tragic.Highly recommended.
—Rafal Cebula

The Body Politic - Everybody's hands have their own consciousness. Charlie George's are tired of being used and not appreciated, so they stage a revolution. Kind of a ridiculous premise, isn't it? I think this one could be read as black comedy if you wanted to see it like that. I was kind of disturbed, though. It left me frowning at my hands and wondering... It was my favorite in this book.The Inhuman Condition - Four trouble-making friends beat up a vagrant for fun. They try to rob him but find
—Rowan MacBean

Write Review

(Review will shown on site after approval)

Read books by author Clive Barker

Read books in series books of blood

Read books in category Nonfiction