The Stories of John Cheever

by John Cheever
The Stories of John Cheever cover
Good Books rating 3.67
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  • ID: 5658
  • Added: 2025-10-24
  • Updated: 2025-10-24
  • Reviews: 3
Reviews
goodreads.com · Unknown · 2025-11-13
entertaining 4.50

The Great and Secret Show is a long but engaging book with a unique blend of fantasy, horror, adventure, and romance. The story follows Randolph Jaffe, an ordinary man who discovers a hidden puzzle in undelivered mail, leading to a supernatural battle with Fletcher.

The Great and Secret Show is quite a long book, but its engaging narrative makes the pages fly by. The story unfolds over several years and is split into seven parts, with the first two parts setting the background for a supernatural struggle. The protagonist, Randolph Jaffe, starts as an ordinary man with a dead-end job at the Post Office. His life changes when he begins to notice patterns in undelivered mail, hinting at a greater mystery. This discovery leads him to a path of enlightenment and a battle with Fletcher, a power of light. The novel is a unique blend of fantasy, horror, adventure, and romance, creating a rich and entertaining world. The characters and their supernatural abilities add depth to the story, making it a compelling read. The book's length is justified by its intricate plot and well-developed characters, making it a standout in the horror and fantasy genres.

Quick quotes

    The story could be classed as fantasy, but it also belongs in the horror genre.

    Within the pages of this novel Barker has created a whole new world filled with the kind of things that can only be dreamed up by a rich imagination, running on overdrive.

    It is an adventure story with a quest and a little romance thrown into the mix, and so much more, all rolled into one unique and very entertaining read that Barker has called The Great and Secret Show.

greatbooksguy.com · Unknown · 2024-12-31
mixed 2.00

The reviewer found 'The Great and Secret Show' by Clive Barker to be a well-crafted book with impressive imagination and Lovecraftian elements, but it didn't resonate with them personally. They appreciated the high-stakes urban fantasy and the battle between good and evil, but felt the story dragged and the supernatural elements were too spiritual for their taste.

The reviewer acknowledges that 'The Great and Secret Show' by Clive Barker is a good book with impressive imagination and Lovecraftian elements. They appreciate the high-stakes urban fantasy and the battle between good and evil, embodied by the characters Jaffe and Fletcher. The story's attempt to blend horror and fantasy is noted, with the reviewer understanding the need for more human characters to increase the stakes. However, they found the book didn't resonate with them personally. The story dragged at times, feeling longer than necessary, and the supernatural elements were too spiritual and personal for their taste. They prefer magic that is showier and more stylistic, contrasting with an ordinary world. Despite the book's merits, the reviewer couldn't enjoy it as much as they thought they would, acknowledging that it's not a matter of the book's quality but a personal preference.

Quick quotes

    Clive Barker brings an impressive imagination to the table. His credentials portray him as someone more in the “horror” camp of speculative fiction, and that’s borne out by the book — not horror in the nu-school sense of gore and death, but horror in the old-fashioned sense of dread, evil, and doom.

    For the right audience, I can see how this book would be the pitch-perfect blend of creepy horror and high-stakes urban fantasy.

    I enjoy a bit of darkness with my fantasy, particularly when that darkness has its origins in our own, flawed human nature, as Barker portrays through Jaffe and, to some extent, Kissoon.

npr.org · Unknown · 2006-08-17
brilliant 4.50

The Great and Secret Show is a sprawling, ambitious work that blends horror and epic fantasy, showcasing Clive Barker's boundless imagination. While it may not be perfect, its cosmic power and unique vision make it a must-read for fans of speculative fiction.

The Great and Secret Show is a monumental work that defies easy categorization. It is both horror and epic fantasy, and this duality has divided critics for years. The book's sheer scale and ambition are evident in its 700 pages, which juggle a cast of hundreds with remarkable narrative control. Barker's imagination is on full display, weaving together disparate storylines into a cohesive whole. The book's metaphysical complexity and sense of wonder are dazzling, though it is not without its flaws. Some dialogue feels forced, and certain plotlines converge in contrived ways. However, these imperfections are overshadowed by the book's cosmic power and unique vision. Barker's ability to pull back the veil of the world and reveal the secret reality beyond it is truly remarkable. This book is a testament to Barker's prophetic vision and his ability to see beyond mortal sight.

Quick quotes

    The thing about Barker is his imagination is one of the most fecund of any writer in the world.

    It is both horror and epic fantasy and may displease fans of each.

    Barker at his best is not merely a writer or even a storyteller; he is a prophet seeing with more the mortal sight, and telling us about the world to come.

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