Clive Barker’s ‘The Damnation Game’

This week I decided to delve into the horror scene and try out a new author (for me), so I picked up a copy of Clive Barker’s The Damnation Game. The story follows ex-con, Marty Strauss, as he sinks back into his old reliable vice: gambling. Luck has always dominated Marty’s life, and it hasn’t been good luck, at that. Marty soon takes a job as a bodyguard for Joseph Whitehead, a European gentleman who happens to be one of the riches men in the world. Whitehead has ties to some unsavory characters, and before long Marty finds himself wrapped up with the forces of chance in a game that can provide unbelievable power, or eternal damnation.

I have always been interested in Clive Barker’s work: I’ve heard fans claim that he is the single greatest horror author alive. Does he live up to the hype? In my opinion, not necessarily. Barker’s plot structure for this book is sound and effective, and I never felt like the book dragged on unnecessarily. Also, this book has one of the coolest introductions I have ever read. Barker’s writing places him easily in the top fifteen or so authors I have read, which is respectable, to say the least. But Barker excels in one category above all else: he is disturbing. Bluntly tackling issues that many authors merely make passing mention of, Barker drives home the feeling of abject horror and revulsion that is often missing from contemporary horror. Like I said, he may not be the greatest from a technical standpoint, but this novel proves that Barker’s writing will stick with you. This novel does have some flaws. First, the opening is fantastic to an unbalanced degree, setting a tone that isn’t really matched until later in the book, so while the pacing is fine, it will seem like some key events are less impacting than they are. The other notable issue is that there are a few points were Barker seems to be slightly distracted in his detailing of gore: he drags it on just too much, threatening to cross the line between making a point and infringing on the imagination. Otherwise, The Damnation Game is a very enjoyable, disturbing read that delivers some of the truly twisted horror that can be so difficult to find in the horror genre. Despite the age of the book (1985), The Damnation Game holds up well, and deserves a read from any horror enthusiast.