Books of Blood, Volume 1 — Clive Barker

EVEN HORROR HAS ITS PERFECTION
To a butcher, the carving of flesh is an art. As an artist, he knows where to slice the muscle, how to sever the clinging sinew from the bone. He studies the carcass like a lover. He knows how to section the dripping meat, dissecting, cutting, tearing.

Clive Barker knows a few tricks, too.

He knows how to lance his readers with apprehension, to make their hearts pound and their skin tingle with dread. He knows how to push his readers to the edge of their seats, to the shuddering edge of total horror.

And then beyond ...