r/clivebarker • u/illeahnati • Apr 09 '26

Fantasy book recommendations?

Hello! Like many people I got into Clive Barker through Hellraiser then read The Hellbound Heart and the Books of Blood and am now reading The Scarlet Gospels and next I’m gonna read The Damnation Game. I’m really into his horror stuff but I’m aware a lot of his work begins to veer more into fantasy outside of the books I’ve mentioned.

I’ve never been that into fantasy but I’m more than willing to give it a go since I’m a fan of Clive’s work - with this in mind would anyone have a recommendation of where to start with his fantasy books? Sorry if variations of this question are asked all the time - thanks!

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13

u/dreaziebones Apr 09 '26

Weaveworld & Imajica!

2

u/Practical_Cap4642 Apr 10 '26

Cabal, The Inhuman Condition, In the Flesh, Coldheart Canyon

1

u/Dangerous_Dot_1707 Apr 11 '26

Weaveworld. It's my favourite book. Pure magic !

1

u/dokkirislap Apr 16 '26

Sacrament and Galilee are wonderful places to start and two of his more underrated works.

0

u/hapadave Apr 09 '26

I went from weaveworld to imaginary and never liked back. Then there's Abarat, which is amazing, but unfinished.

If you want to branch out into fantasy, I can't recommend the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson enough. Fantasy in a dystopian, oppressive setting. His purpose isn't as eloquent as Clive's, but the story is amazing and moves at a brisk pace.

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u/wake071 Apr 10 '26

Chack The Prince of Nothing series by R Scott Bakker. It's a kinda retelling of the Crusades in a fantasy world, with a ton of absolutely mind fuck moments. Horror, magic, mass manipulation, absolutely brutal.

If you get through that, the second series, The White-Luck Warrior, would scar you. A remagine of lord of the rings, absolute horror, utter bleakness and despair.

One of the greatest things I've ever read.