The Thief of Always - A Book Review

I must start this review in utter awe and amazement. Where on earth does Clive Barker get his imagination, and can I buy a bottled version of it? The Thief of Always is absolutely chock-full of fierce creativity, whimsical dread, and masterful storytelling. While it is technically intended for a middle-grade audience—as a few imagery-heavy scenes might be a bit too spooky for elementary schoolers—it is a fable that can be thoroughly enjoyed by readers of any age. It is a slim, punchy book that you can easily devour in a single rainy afternoon, though its sharp imagery, captivating story and poetic- like prose will likely linger in your mind for much longer.

The story wastes no time. The very first chapter jumps straight into the deep end with a wildly imaginative metaphor that sets the entire tone for the book:

“The great gray beast February had eaten Harvey Swick alive. Here he was, buried in the belly of that smothering month, wondering if he would ever find his way out through the cold coils that lay between here and Easter.”

Clive Barker, Thief of Always, Chapter 1

Our young protagonist, Harvey Swick, is suffering from the kind of terminal boredom that only a bleak winter month can inflict. Oh, poor Harvey. He is desperate to kill the monotony that the “Great Grey Beast” has wrapped around him. Enter the inciting incident. Out of nowhere, a strange little fellow appears in Harvey’s room. This creature isn't much taller than Harvey, possessing distinctively yellowish skin, a scrawny frame, a pair of spectacles, and a lavish, smile. He introduces himself as Rictus.

Rictus is, to put it mildly, a weird little dude. But he comes bearing a highly suspicious proposal. He promises to fly Harvey away to a magical sanctuary after hearing Harvey's own sighs amd moans of contempt. He coaxes Harvey with a "vacation", and "adventure" . Being so thoroughly bored that even a sketchy stranger with a yellowish complexion seems like a good alternative, Harvey agrees to go.

Now, I am going to stop right there regarding the plot. I would rather step on a lego than give away spoilers for this book. This is the exact kind of dark fairy tale that demands you go in blind to fully appreciate the trap Barker springs on the reader.

I will mention, however, that Harvey does make it to this utopian world. He eats endless sweets, plays to his heart's content, and makes a couple of friends along the way. At first, he genuinely questions if he ever wants to return to his mundane life. But the tides inevitably change. Harvey slowly uncovers the rot beneath the paradise, realizing that everything is not what it seems, and that gifts in dark fantasy always come with a terrifying receipt.

On top of being a brilliant author, Mr. Barker proves himself to be a phenomenal visual artist. If you're lucky enough, you may find a copy where the book features his own haunting, scratchy black-and-white illustrations that perfectly capture the story's shifting mood. Mr. Barker is very talented, in many aspects of art, creativity and of mind. The world will surely miss him, when the time has come for him to leave this Earth.

While Clive Barker is widely celebrated for his graphic adult horror, The Thief of Always leans beautifully into dark fantasy. (A genre he is also known for, with books like Weaveworld, Imajica and the Great and Secret Show. I have yet to read these, however I have read a decent amount of Imajica so far.) There are certainly genuine elements of horror—the world Harvey gets pulled into has its grim secrets and an impending sense of doom—but it is unlikely to keep you up all night shivering under the covers. If it does keep you awake, it will simply be because you are too entranced by the poetic prose, imagery, and story to put it down. It is a stunning reminder that sometimes, getting exactly what you wished for is the most terrifying thing of all.

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