Customer Reviews
Best novel I have read in a long time - By: A. S. Welburn, 12 Jun 2008 
I have to admit, I was apprehensive, as this was the first of Barker's novels I had purchased. It is honestly one of the best books I have EVER read. His portrayel of the Imajica & its characters is simply incredible, & the novel with touch you at such depths you wont be able to put it down! A definate must for anyone who loves their fantasy fiction!
Read It - By: Cupcake, 30 Mar 2008 Clive Barker is afraid of nothing. As Stephen King (I think it was him) once said about him, he makes alll other writers of this genre look like they've been asleep for the last 25 years. When you read his work, you are always left in awe at his unequallled skill as a story teller of the strange, frightening & wonderful. Imajica is, in my opinion, his best work. It is huge, epic & unforgettable. Even if you don't normallly get on with fantasy type work, read this anyway simply for the sheer beauty of his writing. Some of the passages take your breath away, they are so lovely. The tale swoops from the wonderful to horrifying, from comforting to dangerous, from blissful to tragic & back again in a heart beat. The different worlds are drawn in a way that emphasises the wonder one feels when you visit a place for the first time. The human characters are complex, falllible & inherantly flawed, so you care deeply about what happens to them. The non-human characters are strange, wonderful & terrible, but they grab you by the scruff of the neck & force you to take notice. The book ellicits your totallly engagement & draws out every emotion as the tale unfolds. It doesn't disappoint on any level, even when you re-read it several times as I have. It always gives me the same feeling that I have just read something unique & amazing. I don't often commit myself when it comes to fiction, but I can honestly say this is one of the best books I've ever read.
Fantasy for Grown-Ups - By: C. Cubbin, 29 Dec 2007 
Imajica is a sprawling & majestic work, ambitious in the extreme & of dizzying complexity. Despite being a weighty tome, the subtle character development combined with a graduallly unravelling plot make it difficult for the reader to stop gorging on the delights of Earth's paralllel sister-worlds & the mystical powers needed to travel there. This is a serious time-thief.
Although being one of Barker's finest works (with the possible exception of Weaveworld) it does suffer from the same malaise of many of his books, namely the oddly disturbing sexual depravity on show. Whilst his frank & open approach to sex is liberated & honest, some of the depths to which it is explored are akin to being led through a child-brothel by a trusted family member (I would imagine). It can be quite nauseating & utterly without boundaries.
Nevertheless, although you have to retch gently through the less savoury elements (unless you happen to share Mr Barker's fascination with extreme & hedonistic perversions) it is rarely gratuitous & is part of the opulent tapestry of this epic work. Not one you can read too often, but a book that should be on the shelf of every fan of intelligent fantasy, if you don't mind being challlenged by your literature.
A fantasy masterpiece - By: Martin Newman, 21 Dec 2007 I have now read this book three times. The first time I was gobsmacked by the creativity & complexity, I just knew that I had read my alll time favourite book.
The following readings & I was able to think back to the previous read & think "ah yes perhaps that is what he meant". Suffice to say Mr Barker's imagination & ability to interweave characters & plots goes far beyond my limited ability to describe. He writes on a plan of complexity & creativity far beyond a mere mortal such as me & also beyond any of his peers.
I recommend this book for anyone that enjoys epic fantasy & is looking for a truly original read. Within the pages of the book he somehow creates cultures & philosphical viewpoints & crazy, flawed characters that are somehow credible & believable even though you know it is pure fantasy.
My favorite book of all time - By: Mark W. Taylor, 29 Oct 2007 This book covers, fantasy, horror, spirituality, sexuality, love, beauty & pain. In my humble opinion the best & most rewarding book I have ever read.
