Customer Reviews

Imajica (The Fifth Dominion, Book 1)

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

It is hard to believe that it has been over ten years since I first read this mammoth novel- and some thirteen since it was first published. I think "mammoth" is not exaggerating, for how else do you describe on novel that exists as two separate volumes, each of over 500 pages? This isn't a casual read. It represents a considerable investment in time. There are also so many characters, settings, plot lines, specialized vocabulary and underlying principles to keep straight.... Yet, it is worth the investment in time and effort.

The basic framework, like so many of Barker's other novels, is that of a hidden world behind the superficial façade of our mundane world. Barker is such a master at interweaving mundane, and profane, details into the greater fabric of his realities that you find yourself totally drawn in. I found myself totally immersed in this hidden reality. For this is a story of five worlds, or dimensions, or Dominions. These make up the whole of Imajica. That is, they should. Two hundred years ago there was an attempt to reconcile our own fifth Dominion with the other four. This ended in a metaphysical catastrophe so great that that nearly all of the Dominions great theurgists, shamans, and theologians were killed. The result was that almost all magical knowledge passed from our world and for two centuries science and materialism held grim sway.

Now, conditions are once again ripe for an attempt to reconcile the Dominions. The great magus', or Maestros, know that this may very well be the last attempt to heal the rift in creation. To fail this time will undoubtedly mean two more centuries of isolation- plenty of time for the Fifth Dominion to destroy itself in nuclear or ecological suicide.

Yet, to heal the rift will require a Master of such power and confidence that he will try to succeed where all those that have gone before him (even the Christos) has failed....

I'm an avid reader, but very rarely does a book capture me the way this one did. It has become a comfort book for me, something I return to to make my life a little more magical. And it has become my teacher.

The following line from Imajica has taken on a great importance in my life: "...everything you learn is already part of you, even to the Godhead Itself. Study nothing except in the knowledge that you already knew it. Worship nothing except in adoration of your true self. And fear nothing except in the certainty that you are your enemy's begetter and its only hope of healing. For everything that does evil is in pain."

This is more than a book, it is a philosophy, a mentor. I've read it more time that I can count, it's traveled with me through the most important times in my life, and I treasure it. It is the greatest testament to Barker's talent.

It's only downside, I can't help but compare all other books to it. And so far, the only books to come CLOSE to the perfection of this story were the LOTR epic and the Dune epic. And even they fall short, not following the most basic rules of Pluthero Quexos, refusing to end with the empty stage.

The story focuses on Gentle and his mystif companion, Pie'oh'pah's quest to find an answer for the souls of the world, and leads to Gentle discovering that his part in the Imajica, a place of reconciled dominions, is greater than he could ever imagine. Meanwhile, his ex, Judith also finds out she is no mere bystander and the gaping holes in their memories are explained.

The pace doesn't slow. Once in a while though, I wished it did, just to emphasise more on the differences between each dominion because I had the feeling that I was still on Earth, going the distance of France to Germany. The scale of Gentle and Pie's travels seemed almost minimal to me - not as if they were crossing entire worlds. The only difference between the dominions that stuck with me is that the 4th dominion has green-gold sky and the 5th has blue. And I already knew half of this fact. Having said that, too much lingering on the little details can be tiring and confusing, so this wasn't much of a problem.
Why Judith is obsessed over is beyond me. She is the object of a bloodline of lust. Yes, she's supposed to be pretty, but so are a lot of women. Her character does not seem as intriguing as the others. Even the God of the Imajica whose appearance hardly makes a scratch in the book was more captivating. Also, sometimes there is the impression that the characters know more than what they're letting on, but by the time the book ends, what exactly it is that they know isn't made clear.

One thing I wasn't expecting is the romance - or at least the scale of it. It's beautiful, touching and cruel. Who would have thought a womaniser such as Gentle could be tamed by a creature with no fixed gender? The plot is intricate, woven with skill and mesmerising in its imaginative scope.
Whoever describes this book as epic isn't joking. You won't even care for its flaws when you're done. It's stunning and it's one of those books you'll never forget.

I bought the hard copy years ago, but have since lost it.

I purchased Imajica I and II, thinking that the second was a sequal to the first. It is not. The original hard cover book has been broken up into two paperback books.

I am about halfway through the first, and it is still a great read.

You will love imajica if you have one simple virtue: AN ATTENTION SPAN. Most people who don't like this book think it takes too long or the plot doesn't make sense so they don't read the second book. But how can you expect it to make sense unless you FINISH the story.
Anyway, if you actually commit to the whole book and have patience, things WILL make sense for the most part. The story comes together wonderfully and if you like this story, you should definitely check out barker's books of the art (The Great and Secret show and Everville).... and vice verse.

I read the first book in a day and found it very readable, some of the scenes were good, but I don't see much point to reading the second book because the plot, if there is one, is too diffuse. Too many unanswered questions after 500 pages. Can anyone tell me what's going on in this book? Why are Gentle and Pie wandering around the Dominions? Why did Pie try to kill Judith? Why not get to the point. If it's just a fantasy trip, okay, but I've lost interest at around page 450.

this book is unpredictable. It is better then other "magic" books(tolklien,lewis carrol,king ect.) barker doesnt try to be like anything or anybody he just write what he likes. I never felt more mystical and epic reading this.

Imajica involves life in the 90's with the delirious mind of C.Barker. The story involves magic, colors, people, magnificent landscapes, horror, love, sex...but yet they combine simlessly into the plot. In short, THE book. Will leave you with a smile. promise.

The day I found Imajica on the shelves, I was intrigued by the wonderful cover, and having already read a wonderful Clive Barker novel (The Thief of Always) I picked up a copy of Book 1. I have to admit I was confused at first, it really threw me, but once I climbed into this surreal world. I loved every minute of this breath-taking epic, enticed by the lurid boundary-breaking love scenes, saddened by the tales of woe and even heart-poundingly excited by everything this has to offer. I have to admit that Clive Barker isn't that high on my favorite authors list, but this masterpiece will always be re-read and passed on through every generation of my family from now on. The bible can't even hold it's own versus Imajica. -Starman

As an avid reader of horror, sci-fi, and fantasy, I have never had a book get me "high" to the point where I felt I could leap from a mountain and soar forever. Mr. Barker attains a level of imagination King wishes he had; fleshing out rich, complex characters that remain with you long after you read the last sentence. The story, at its core deals with love, war, lost identities, and a quest for harmony. Tolkien and Donaldson readers would be missing the reading experience of their life were they not to enter Barker's world