A world called Nocturnia… a nightmare place, populated by every monster you've ever heard of – werewolves, vampires, zombies, trolls, yeti, Frankensteinian patchwork creatures -- and some you probably haven't. Monsters aren’t the exception on Nocturnia, they're the rule. In fact, they rule: Each monster type has its own country and government and culture. Humans are a very persecuted minority in Nocturnia – those who aren’t slaves are food.

With the 1984 publication of Books of Blood, Clive Barker became an overnight literary sensation. He was hailed by Stephen King as "the future of horror," and won both the British and World Fantasy Awards. Now, with his numerous bestsellers, graphic novels, and hit movies like the Hellraiser films, Clive Barker has become an industry unto himself. But it all started here, with this tour de force collection that rivals the dark masterpieces of Edgar Allan Poe. Read him. And rediscover the true meaning of fear.