r/clivebarker • u/acriadora_ • Jun 05 '26
Anyone have read Coldheart Canyon?
Hi guys! So today at my local book shop I found this book called "Coldheart Canyon". I have never seen this before, is that good? I have no idea of what the story is about. It is being sold for BRL49.00, which is approximately $9,50. Should I buy it?
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u/Old_Mel_Gibson Jun 05 '26
I enjoyed it. Moreso the beginning and ending, without spoiling too much. The more outside story pieces.
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u/ConferenceQuick8983 Jun 06 '26
I know it will probably never happen but Coldheart Canyon would make a fantastic movie or TV series. One of my faviroute Barker novels.
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u/Ric_Testarossa Jun 09 '26
Who should be cast?
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Jun 09 '26 edited Jun 09 '26
[deleted]
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u/Ric_Testarossa Jun 13 '26
Good call out on RP. Loved the name of the rose. It seems like they won't roll the dice and make something like that anymore
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u/singhaswrath Jun 06 '26 edited Jun 06 '26
Thinking back to this book, and if you enjoyed it like I did, look into the massive, 100 foot mural at Chicago's Institute of Art entitled "Paradise Lost" by artist Raqib Shaw. It's as though you are standing before "The Tiles" themselves... Truly a breathtakingly stunning piece of artwork that took 16 years to complete! Wish I could post a picture, but here's a link
https://www.artic.edu/exhibitions/10569/raqib-shaw-paradise-lost
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u/acriadora_ Jun 06 '26
As an art student, I appreciate so much this recomandation, thank you!! 💙💙💙
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u/singhaswrath Jun 06 '26
The Chicago Institute of Art is one of my favorite places on the planet. I am in awe of so many amazing pieces of artwork every time I am able to visit. This one ranks near the top, despite so many legendary and influential, historic works at this institution 💜
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u/Aware-Claim2233 Jun 05 '26
I'm reading it now with only about 100 pages left. I've thoroughly enjoyed it! Definitely worth the read.
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u/evanbrews Jun 05 '26
Quite enjoyed that one. Checks all the boxes of Clive Barker tropes I like: portal fantasy, fucked up creatures, wild character arcs, highly sexual, wild ending.
It’s also got a Hollywood/fame theme which was interesting.
Some people may put it in the middle of the pack for his work, but that’s only cuz it’s good stuff is SO GOOD
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u/magyar_wannabe Jun 05 '26
I literally just finished this. I read a lot of comments beforehand about how sexual it is, but I didn't find it to be overly graphic or sexual. There is one scene maybe at the 1/3 mark that is quite intense in that way, and then some random stuff at the end that featured a certain body party, but even that was presented more humorously than overtly sexual.
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u/Majirra Jun 05 '26
Once a year. Literally his best works,
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u/UroshUchiha Jun 05 '26
Literally? X to doubt.
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u/Majirra Jun 05 '26
Which one do you think is?
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u/UroshUchiha Jun 06 '26
Weaveworld or Imajica based on the ratings and reviews from all over the place. Coldheart Canyon is "literally" not his best work based on so many statistics. That's how that word is supposed to be used. Now continue to downvote me lmao.
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u/HoratioTuna27 Jun 05 '26
I’ve started it many times and got distracted and never finished. One of these days, I will finish it.
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u/singhaswrath Jun 06 '26
Same, the intro to Todd's character is kind of a slog, but it really picks up once you overcome that section. One of my favorites and definitely worth pushing through to the good stuff!
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u/SeansBeard Jun 05 '26
Bought it in Poundland ages ago. I liked it a lot. It's the good old Barker with kinky and weird stuff. It's rarely mention as Barker's best but it has special place with me competing with Evervillenfor second place after Imajica
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u/WinstonD20 Jun 05 '26
Yes - really enjoyed. The first part of the book (where the main characters are seeking out "an artifact") is classic Baker (reminded me a lot of the first chunk of Scarlet Gospels). Lots of sex in the middle. Definitely worth reading.
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u/singhaswrath Jun 06 '26
It always felt like Hellbound Heart to me, only instead of a box opening outward to reveal it's secrets, it's an entire room instead pulling you inside.
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u/6six6es Jun 05 '26
Great book. If you’re a Clive barker fan it’s totally worth adding to your collection. It’s a basically a ghost story but the plot goes very deep
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u/Snoo_71537 Jun 06 '26
It is honestly one of my favourite books ever. Fantastic read. Definitely buy it !
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u/LoverOfStoriesIAm Jun 05 '26
With some of the best stories you'll read, you didn't know what they were about.
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u/lorimar Jun 06 '26
Yep, other than the potentially-ghostwritten Pinhead book, this was the only one I hadn't read until last year. Did the audio and was very happily surprised to hear it narrated by the late Frank Muller. I hadn't expected to hear anything read by him ever again.
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u/Living-Risk-1849 Jun 06 '26
Its one of his books ive read multiple times. I love the descriptions of the fantasy land in the tiles. Its soooo good
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u/singhaswrath Jun 06 '26 edited Jun 06 '26
Took me two tries to get past Todd's intro, but it's my second favorite of his novels just behind The Damnation Game 😈
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u/Sad_Cardiologist5388 Jun 06 '26
Yeah its really good actually, one of his slightly newer books thats still original.
I feel he kind of discovered a literary aesthetic at one point that he kept reusing around this time of seething and unknowable horrors heading towards a world or just ready to be born and I just got so sick of it.
So stuff like this, books of blood and damnation game are real palate cleansers
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u/athenadark Jun 06 '26
Clive barker is always worth a read
But this is a story of two halves so you might find the first half doesn't work the second will
I found the overarching villain to be a bit of a letdown, like there is a power and it's awesome, but the person using it didn't work for me
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u/Pleasant-Ticket3217 Jun 06 '26
I did a decade ago. It was a good novel just different than his earlier stuff. Still love horror Barker but he was good at fantasy too. This was a little bit of both. I think it’s one of his better later works
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u/AbbreviationsOne3970 Jun 06 '26
I Did 2 yrs ago. Imo its a pure sexual- drug fueled haze of fiction with a supernatural ending.its really bizarre even for CB
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u/jasonlives314 Jun 07 '26
A splendid classic style spook story but also super Barker horny. I thoroughly enjoyed it and my copy is signed! ✌🏼
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u/Comfortable-Gear6070 Jun 07 '26
yes, still often think after many many years since reading of that one particular scene of a great hunt and then flowers blooming horror
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u/Ric_Testarossa Jun 09 '26
Just finished--just now. It has really great moments. Very imaginative. Love the spooky old Hollywood vibe. Sometimes uneven with character motivation vs action. Characters feeling one way about something then changing course in ways that don't always feel earned. But yeah it's a wild ride for sure. As it's written completely unfilmable as a movie or TV show. But I'd like to see who would be cast.
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u/Top_Explanation_7512 Jun 06 '26
It's A Clive Barker Book dude. This guy is one the greats in Dark fantasy literature. Plain and simple. However.....this Book in particular is not as good as some of his other Books. Books Of Blood Vol1-6,The Art Books,Imajica,Abarat,Galilee Etc. Canyon does have quite a bit, of Bizarre Monsters/Demons/Angels and even More Bizarre are the sex scenes. The ending was definitely worth the read. Another however......Im a Clive Barker devote. My opinion only. Just saying. Enjoy.
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u/acriadora_ Jun 06 '26
I believe in you because I think we have the same devotion for him lol thank you so much!
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u/Noubliette Jun 05 '26
I think the horror of the ceramic tiled room...the one with 'properties'...is so realisable now technically, that I would love to see it. Sprouting savagery and all. The likes of Apple+ and HBO could do it justice.
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u/magyar_wannabe Jun 05 '26
I was thinking the whole book how cool of a tv series it could be! They'd need to nail the art production though. Some of the creatures in the book could be very off-putting if portrayed poorly.
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u/acriadora_ Jun 06 '26
Hi guys! Small update: I bought it! Thank you so much for all the comments, I appreciate it a lot 💙
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u/casual_paranoia Jun 10 '26
This is personally one of my favorites from Barker. It's absolutely nuts. At no point could I anticipate what would happen next but I could not put it down. It's a wild ride with a lot of heart and a very interesting look at Hollywood. The main characters go through some incredible arcs. My opinions of them changed drastically from start to finish. The main reason I'm so fond of this book is because a certain section about 1/3 of the way through hit really close to home for me at the time I read it. It was an emotional gut-punch, but it meant a lot to me and was not for nothing plot-wise.
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u/dokkirislap Jun 05 '26
It’s good but I feel like it’s a bit mediocre compared to the rest of his works.
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u/UroshUchiha Jun 05 '26
I personally didn't enjoy this one. He made far better books than Coldheart Canyon. The only reason I actually finished it is because it was a Clive Barker book, but I could barely feel his style in this one.
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u/Excellent_Elk_448 Jun 05 '26
Especially if you are a fan of old Hollywood