Cabal

De: Clive Barker

Narrado por: Chet Williamson

Cabal is the story of Boone, a tortured soul haunted by the conviction that he has committed atrocious crimes. In a necropolis in the wilds of Canada, he seeks refuge and finds the last great creatures of the world - the shape-shifters known as the Nightbreed. They are possessed of unearthly powers-and so is Boone. In the hunt for Boone, they too will be hunted. Now only the courage of this strange human can save them from extinction. And only the undying passion of a woman can save Boone from his own corrupting hell...

This novella is the basis for the Major Motion Picture - Nightbreed.

©1988 Clive Barker Ink (P)2014 David N. WIlson

clive barker is the best

fucking awesome hope to oneday read a sequel cliver barker never ceases to fascinate me and my imagination

Epic story telling

A fantastic book with deep characters and a dark adventure. Enjoyed it a lot ...

Good Monsters. Mostly.

Clive Barker’s "Cabal" is a dark fable where the humanity of monsters is balanced against the monstrosity of human behavior. Boone, a man with a mental disorder, is led to believe that he is responsible for a number of hideous murders. He flees to a small town called Midian in search of a society of monsters that live under a cemetery. There he discovers that some humans are far more monstrous than the creatures known as the Nightbreed. Yet while the Nightbreed are sympathetic, they certainly aren’t safe.

This was actually my first experience with one of Clive Barker’s novels, but it will not be my last. While the book is far from perfect -- Boone himself is something of a bland protagonist, I would’ve preferred more description of Midian’s underground society, and I think Barker flinches at a choice near the end -- "Cabal" gets quite a bit right, and it makes up for any missteps with a very visceral listen. There are buckets of blood and gore and organs described in all the splatterpunk carnage you’d expect from the late 80s (it was originally published in 1988). There’s also a startling, fierce, and hungry sexuality. In the opening of the book, we learn that Boone and Lori, two very beautiful young people trying to fit in with society, have difficulty in bed. As we witness Boone becomes more of a monster, we see these characters draw closer in ways they weren’t able to before.

Chet Williamson has the voice of an old time radio dramatist, and it ends up serving this story well. Initially, I wasn't sure if his square-jawed voice was the right one for this book. But Williamson's steady, no frills reading won me over in the end, providing a nice foil between the monsters and the monstrous.

"Cabal" is a story where the monsters, despite being grotesque and violent, are far more sympathetic than the majority of the humans we encounter. In Barker's tale, it's tough and dangerous being an outsider or someone different, but it's also unquestionably good.

Love

Love this book... one of my all time favorites. I fell in love with this book in the 80s and still read it every n now and then. Short sweet modern monster story!

Am oldie but a goodie

Although Clive Barker penned this years ago, I still found it a compelling listen (I had read it years ago, and somehow the transition to audio was quite easy.) The pacing is spot-on, the suspense is palpable, and the plot is well structured.

Revisiting Midian with Chet Williamson

The book was great and now that I've heard Chet Williamson narrate it it"s become a go to for my evening walks.

cabal

I've listened to the book a couple of times, I enjoyed it every time

Unique and Different

Keeps your interest from start to finish. A bit different from my usual listens, but so worth it. Exceptional narration. Highly recommend!

Wonderful early Clive Barker work

I am a big fan of Clive Barker, I remember reading this book some years ago, and was interesting to hear it again now. It's a very good story and shows off the incredible imagination Barker had (at least in his earlier works!). Boone, the protagonist, is a tortured soul... he runs away from his mental demons and meets up with very real demons, both human and supernatural.

The book is short and Barker doesn't really go into dept or any deep backstory on the many characters we encounter, which is a shame as some are fascinating and the reader is left wanting to know more. A sequel would be great!

Chet Williamson did a good job with the narration, slow and steady nothing too animated.


*I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this honest review.

Cabal

A dark fantasy exploration on the theme of otherness, chosen family, identity, desire and self made fate.
Clive Barker is a true Dark master of dreams & desires.