Forms of Heaven: Three Plays [Hardcover]

Clive Barker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1996

Following the success of Incarnations comes Clive Barker's second collection of playsthree very different dramas that share the universal themes of transformation and redemption. Like the books and films that have made his name familiar worldwide, their comedy is always tinged with darkness, their tragedy is never that far from some half-glimpsed wonderment.

Crazyface follows the life of a great fool whose adventures in Europe's Dark Ages mingle equal measures of comedy, tragedy, and miracles. The drama continues in Paradise Street as an extraordinary group of time-travelers transform Clive Barker's hometown of Liverpool. Transformation is again the theme in Subtle Bodies. Quiddity, the sea of dreams which will weave its own powerful enchantment in Barker's later novels, transforms a hotel into a sinking cruise ship, taking its dreaming passengers into new depths of panic and revelation.

Even readers already familiar with Barker's many wondrous worlds will discover a host of surprises within these pages.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Clive Barker was born in Liverpool, England, in 1952 and now makes his home in Los Angeles, where, in addition to his work as a novelist and short-story writer, he is also a painter and filmmaker. He is the author of numerous worldwide bestsellers, including The Books of Blood, The Damnation Game, Weaverworld, Imajica, and most recently, Everville.

The films he has written, produced, or directed include the Hellraiser series, the Candyman pictures, Nightbreed, Lord of Illusions, and the forthcoming The Thief of Always.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 378 pages
• Publisher: Harper Prism; First Edition edition (December 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061052701
• ISBN-13: 978-0061052705
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #660,250 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Clive Barker was born in Liverpool in 1952. He is the worldwide bestselling author of the Books of Blood, and numerous novels including Imajica, The Great and Secret Show, Sacrament and Galilee. In addition to his work as a novelist and short story writer he also illustrates, writes, directs and produces for the stage and screen. His films include Hellraiser, Hellbound, Nightbreed and Candyman. Clive lives in Beverly Hills, California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazingly funny plays from the master of the fantastic, July 24, 2005

By 

Geert Daelemans (Leuven Belgium) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Forms of Heaven: Three Plays (Hardcover)

In Forms of Heaven, the second collection of plays written by Clive Barker during his early creative years, three extraordinary plays have been brought together. In Crazyface the audience follows the adventures of the famous Tyl Eulenspiegel and the struggle for a valuable secret between the great countries of Europe's Dark Ages. In Paradise Street an impoverished and totally destroyed Liverpool street get a visit of a group time travellers that is not at all interested in keeping the equilibrium of time. And finally in Subtle Bodies Clive Barker shows what happens if some outrageous characters stay the night in a hotel and share one apocalyptic common dream.

The many fans of Clive Barker are already more than convinced of the amazing imaginative powers of the author. But the early plays that Clive wrote might still amaze many of them. In a format that is less descriptive than a 400-page novel, the author still succeeds in constructing a fantastic and powerful imagery that again and again absorbs the reader into a sea of dreams and imagination. Whereas in his previous collection of plays, Incarnations, the focus was overwhelmingly on the horrific and the violent, the plays collected in Forms of Heaven have a much lighter and humorous common denominator. Certainly the scenes where many actors share the stage are not only strangely absurd, but also tremendously funny. The outspoken production notes, added to each play, will help you to feel what it would be like to see them acted out on a real stage. I sure hope to get an opportunity to enjoy such a show.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great and entertaining plays. Incredible imagination., October 11, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Forms of Heaven: Three Plays (Hardcover)

I am very happy with all the Clive Barkers works. I can't figure out how he writes all these great stuff. His imagination is out of this world. I love reading it. He sends my mind flying.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice stories, bad plays., December 17, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Brussels, Belgium) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Forms of Heaven: Three Plays (Hardcover)

Although, as always, the stories are a very nice read, they don't come accross as plays. Only one of the three plays would be managable on stage, and even then difficult for an audience. The other two are nearly impossible. Still a nice read though.