It’s Demon Week here at the Midnight Society, and I’m happy to recommend a book about a demon from my favorite modern horror author, Clive Barker. The book is called Mister B. Gone, and reading the book is a demonic encounter in an of itself.
Mister B. Gone is the story of a demon named Jakabok Botch, a story that the demon himself narrates for the reader. Actually, he’s not so much narrating as he is speaking directly to the reader, as if he’s there with you, telling you his life story. He is constantly warning you that reading his story will not end well for you, and he implores you throughout to stop reading and burn the book, lest a terrible fate befall you.
I won’t spoil any more about the story itself, as there are revelations I think work really, really well. In fact, the most effective way you can experience this book is to read it in print form. The way Barker used the physicality of the book itself in the story is something I love most about it.
A while back we discussed Barker’s The Thief of Always for one of our monthly book chats. I think Mister B. Gone is a great one to read on the heels of that. While it’s intended for a more mature audience, Mister B. Gone has some similar dark fantasy elements that give it a twisted fairy tale sort of feel.
Mister B. Gone is nowhere near as graphic as many of Clive Barker’s other tales, but the way this one is delivered makes it a story that will stay with you for some time–whether you want it to or not. It’s the perfect Halloween read.
Kathy Palm
OOOHHHH, YES PLEASE!!!!!!