Sacrament - Softcover

Barker, Clive

Softcover

ISBN 10: 006017949X ISBN 13: 9780060179496

Publisher: HarperCollins, 1996

Synopsis

As a child, Will Swift encounters ancient, evil forces that reveal certain secrets of life to him, and as an adult, Will discovers that the forces have come back for him and most of life on Earth. By the author of Everville. 125,000 first printing. $175,000 ad/promo. Tour.

About this title

Review

A boy has an encounter with a man who causes extinctions of other species, and as a result grows up to be a man who documents (and thus appeals for a halt to) those extinctions. This dark fantasy tale is unlike most of Clive Barker's work, being more tightly plotted, and more of this world. In a sequence of well-executed stories within stories (comparable to Russian dolls), Barker unfolds a compelling examination of what it means to be human, to be a man and, more specifically, to be a gay man on a planet where ageing, disease and death bring "the passing of things, of days and beasts and men he'd loved." A satisfying long novel packed with vivid images, memorable characters and a melancholy mood that reaches for hope.

Review

‘A gripping book that weaves a compulsive spell... vintage Barker’
The Times

‘Barker’s unique brand of eco-mysticism weaves as potent a spell as ever’
Maxim

‘The premier metaphysicist of contemporary fiction. Breathtaking.’
Locus

Edition details

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication date: 1996
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 006017949X
• ISBN 13: 9780060179496
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 447