Barker is a Master Weaver

Weaveworld held me in its grasp for a couple of weeks. On the Metro, before I went to bed, even when I could sneak out of work for a couple of minutes, this book came with me.

This is my first Clive Barker book, although I've seen a couple of movies based on his novels (and who hasn't), but this novel blows them all away. I would love to see it produced as a movie, but there is no way that anyone could do it justice.

Weaveworld masterfully presents an alternate reality...the Seers (the human-like inhabitants who possess otherworldly powers and can cast raptures) and the Cukoos (regular human beings like us who are completely unaware of the Seers existence). The characterization and story construction are flawless and compelling. This book held me so strongly that I would imagine how I might be able to recognize a Seer. What if they exist and I am missing out on sharing such a magical life?

I couldn't stop reading the book, yet I didn't want it to be over. I loved it. I want to go back and visit these characters. Barker's writing is at once fantastic and real, compelling and disgusting (some scenes are like a train wreck. You want to look away, but you can't). Even the evil characters elicit a feeling of sympathy when you comprehend their motivations. To make a clumsy analogy, this entire text is like a finely woven cloth. Everything is so interdependent, yet Barker didn't get lazy and phone in any ideas or story lines. This book was lovingly crafted, and it shows.

The only people who might not like this book are those who do not like to even think about ideas that might be considered "of the occult." Also, the text is very involving, so if you're looking for a short, fast good time read you might not be into it.

Otherwise, read it. I can't wait to read other Barker books now!