Absolute Midnight

Abarat, Book 3

By: Clive Barker

Narrated by: Richard Ferrone

Length: 15 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

“'I know that many of you here have waited years for this Hour,'” Mater Motley said, using that voice that, though it was barely conversational in volume, was somehow heard everywhere. 'The waiting is over. Tomorrow there will be no dawn. Only midnight, absolute and eternal.'”

And so begins a new chapter in the epic story of 16-year-old Candy Quackenbush and her journeys through the world of the Abarat, where every hour is an island in one eternal day, and nothing is as it seems.

Candy travels through the Abarat from island to island and across the sea with an unlikely band of friends: the escaped prisoner Malingo the Geshrat; the quarrelsome John Brothers, who all share the same body but never the same opinion; and the many other colorful characters they meet along the way.

The problem is that trouble finds Candy wherever she goes. And soon she discovers a secret plot, masterminded by the diabolical Mater Motley, who is obsessed with becoming Empress of the Islands. Her method is simple. She will darken the skies, putting out the suns, moons, and stars. She will bring absolute midnight.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©2011 Clive Barker (P)2011 HarperCollinsPublishers

Good. Not Great

Where does Abarat: Absolute Midnight rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I would rank it high enough to make it a worthy purchase. I will listen again to the entire trilogy. It will be a good one for my kids when they are teenagers.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I liked Christopher Carrion in this one. He seemed much humbled by his prior experiences.

Have you listened to any of Richard Ferrone’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes. I Enjoy his portrayal of characters.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Alice's story upside-down and much much better.

Brilliant literature

This is a brilliant book with amazing illustrations, and a first rate reader's performance. This is a book I will be rereading multiple times in the future.

Abarat Absolute Midnight

Where does Abarat: Absolute Midnight rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I have listened to all 3 Abarat books and I have loved every one of them.There is so much imagination going on in this writers mind!It does sometimes get confusing but the storyline is full of adventure,feelings and new understandings of ones place in 'his' world.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Abarat: Absolute Midnight?

Hmmn...when a head grew wings.I don't want to give away too much.

What does Richard Ferrone bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His reading of the story brings ecery character to life.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes,but that is impossible.

Any additional comments?

Start w/book 1

Barker's DONE IT AGAIN!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes! Abarat is a journey of imagination everybody should enjoy :)

Who was your favorite character and why?

John Mischief and his brothers. He makes me laugh.

What does Richard Ferrone bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Great pace and suspense building, and Barker has an extensive vocabulary that Ferrone perfectly articulates.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I wanted to go to the Abarat because of this book, that's probably extreme.

Any additional comments?

Yea, make this into a motion picture. That would be the BEST.

Enthralling!

Although this three part series is atypical Clive Barker, the author’s talents continue to shine through each of the enigmatic characters of his well Spring of creativity. I can hardly wait for additional books in this series!

BARKER gets DARKER

What did you love best about Abarat: Absolute Midnight?
The unique characters & the vastly strange and mind bending cosmic evil - all put into motion by one of the most evil witches in all fantasy/horror. Clive once again creates a totally alien fantasy world so rich with so many things in it you've never seen or heard of before - yet again. He seems to be a door way to alternate realities. His visions rival H. P. Lovecraft for sheer "otherness". That is something 99.9 % of all horror writers can not do. How does Barker come up with this endless dark fantasy? Makes one wonder... and more than wonder.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Abarat: Absolute Midnight?
The great evil witch battles the great evil sea creature. A weird being from the darkest depths of the ocean. Sheer insanity in it's power and uniquely strange visions. This takes a fantasy novel way beyond a children's book. Harry Potter seems like a dull uninspired old re-do of such tired over-told stories compared to Clive's brain warping alien worlds. This scene actually made me doubt my sanity it's so bizarre.

Have you listened to any of Richard Ferrone’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
The guy's a chorus of voices.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
with out giving away a spoiler - I enjoyed some characters surprise turn around in values.

Any additional comments?
Is this a children's story? Is this a replacement for Harry Potter? Perhaps it is the next step into deeper magical worlds not nearly so tame as Harry Potter. It may start in a more safe fantasy world, but by the time we reach this book, Clive has taken us far far down his very dark rabbit hole... into depths of Lovecraft like cosmic strangeness. I would not let small children read this book. However, it brings out the best in childhood-nightmare-worlds for adults.

most excellent

another brilliant story by C.B.
and amazingly told yet again.
i highly recommend it.
can't wait to see how the story of The Abbarat ends.

Almost 10/10

Love this series, but I've been reading it since 2011, and we are only on book 3....I wish Barker could give us some more writting from inside the Abarat!

Love this series!

I have read and listened to the Abarat series over and over for years. its my go to. The frist strong feminist character i feel in love with.

breakneck pace

felt really rushed at the end. suddenly Candy and Gaza are in love? absolutely no build up to that at all.