five separate realities, but for some reason we have
been cut off from the others, which otherwise still
communicate with one another. Everville(1994) is a
sequel to The Great and Secret Showthat, contrary to
the usual fate of sequels, was actually somewhat bet-
ter than its predecessor. The Thief of Always(1992)
used much of the same imagery as his massive dark
fantasies, but the horrors were probably unnecessar-
ily toned down for its young adult target audience.
Several of Barker’s novels were produced as
movies, sometimes based on his screenplays or
even directed by him. The most successful of these
was Hellraiser(1987), followed by four sequels,
which were based on the novella THE HELLBOUND
HEART (1986), about a search for the ultimate
pleasure, which opens the doorway between reali-
ties. Some of the visual imagery in the films is quite
startling. Cabalwas produced as Nightbreed,and
“Rawhead Rex” (1984) became a routine monster
movie, but “The Forbidden” (1985) inspired the
above-average Candyman trilogy. “The Last Illu-
sion” (1984) also came to the screen as the very
disappointing Lord of Illusion(1995).
Barker continues to mix fantasy and horror mo-
tifs in long novels such as Sacrament(1996) and
Galilee(1998), the latter a version of the story of
Romeo and Juliet set between rival families, both of
whom make routine use of magic. Coldheart Canyon
(2001) involves a convalescing writer who discovers
that he is sharing his temporary home with occult
forces, and Abarat(2002) is another contemporary
fantasy for young adults filled with magical devices,
bizarre images, and hints of darkness. Barker’s
stature as a leading figure in horror fiction did not
last long as it became obvious that he was writing
material that did not clearly fit into any one genre.
His later novels have been considerably less melo-
dramatic, but no less inventive, and he is probably
vastly underestimated as a writer and a fantasist.
The Essential Clive Barker(1999) selects a represen-
tative sample of his best short fiction. He wrote only
a handful of short stories during the 1990s, most of
them less interesting than his early work.
Barrie, J. M. (1869–1937)
Sir James Matthew Barrie’s first fantasy was an
episodic, fictionalized version of his own life, The
Little White Bird(1902), within which several mag-
ical stories are told, including one that would later
be published separately as Peter Pan in Kensington
Gardens(1906). The story was immensely popular,
and Barrie subsequently transformed it into a play,
which he revised on more than one occasion, with
the final version appearing in 1928. A full-length
novel followed, Peter and Wendy(1911), which has
also appeared as Peter Pan and Wendybut more
commonly just as Peter Pan.In 1908 he also wrote
a short story that continued the story, “When
Wendy Grew Up.”
Although Barrie wrote a few other tales that
contained fantastic elements, none were as suc-
cessful and it is for this single work that he is re-
membered, although the others are of historical
interest. In Dear Brutus(1917) a number of char-
acters visit a magical wood and are transformed. A
Kiss for Cinderella(1916) is a retelling of the classic
children’s story. Mary Rose(1920) involves magical
time travel and ghosts and is the most readable of
Barrie’s plays. Farewell, Miss Julie Logan(1931) is
also a ghost story.
Barrie was the product of an unhappy child-
hood, partly alienated from his mother after the
death of his brother at an early age. He also had a
peculiar relationship with his wife and suggested
that he was forever arrested in his own childhood.
Barrie’s life became the subject of the motion pic-
ture Finding Neverland(2004), which concentrates
more on Barrie’s friendship with several young
boys who became the inspiration for the character
Peter Pan. The premise of a child who does not
wish to grow up has been used by other authors
since, most notably by Harlan ELLISONin “JEFFTY
IS FIVE” (1979).“The Bat Is My Brother”Robert Bloch
(1944)
Although this is far from being one of the very best
of Robert BLOCH’s short horror stories, it has a par-
ticular distinction that makes it noteworthy. Vam-
pire fiction has become almost a separate genre in
recent years thanks in large part to the romantic
novels of Anne RICEand others. The old image of
vampires as unclean, repulsive creatures has largely
given way to newer images. Vampires today are16 Barrie, J. M.