Cabal by Clive Barker

Title:  Cabal
Author:  Clive Barker
Pages:  377
Genre:  Horror
Publisher:  Poseidon Press, 1985

Synopsis:  A fabulous journey through the mind of the master of dark imaginative fiction, Clive Barker. The nightmare had begun!  Boone knew that there was no place on this earth for him now; no happiness here, not even with Lori. He would let Hell claim him, let Death take him there. But Death itself seemed to shrink from Boone. No wonder, if he had indeed been the monster who had shattered, violated and shredded so many others' lives. And Decker had shown him the proof -- the hellish photographs where the last victims were forever stilled, splayed in the last obscene moment of their torture. Boone's only refuge now was Midian -- that awful, legendary place in which gathered the half-dead, the Nightbreed!

Review:  This book actually contains five stories:  Cabal, The Life of Death, How Spoilers Bleed, Twilight at the Towers, and The Last Illusion.  Ranging from the undead to Indian curses to deals with the devil, these were all full of horror in their own way.

It's unfortunate though.  There was also an awful lot of gratuitous sex (usually inappropriate and violent) and some really awful language.  I understand this is horror and being horrified is part of reading this genre, but I can be scared without being disgusted.  Since this author wrote one of my very favorite Dark Fantasy novels, Weaveworld, I'm just a little disappointed.

The sometimes lack of taste aside, these stories were all good and original.  I think I liked Cabal the best of the group, but all of them had their attractions.  At any rate, it was a really fast read, very hard to put down in some places, and definitely not for the faint of heart.

Rating:  6 / 10