The Abarat Series by Clive Barker

Clive Barker

“Perhaps a wiser eye than hers would be able to read tomorrow in tonight's stars, but where was the fun in that? It was better not to know. Better to be alive in the Here and the Now--in this bright, laughing moment--and let the Hours to come take care of themselves.” 

“That's not fair!"
"Life's not fair, Kaspar. You know that. You had a slave for — how long?"
"Twelve years.""Did you treat him 'fairly'? No, of course not. You beat him when you were in a bad mood, because it made you feel better, and when you felt better you beat him some more.” 

“Darkness always had its part to play. Without it, how would we know when we walked in the light? It’s only when its ambitions become too grandiose that it must be opposed, disciplined, sometimes—if necessary—brought down for a time. Then it will rise again, as it must.” 


              The Abarat series consists of five books, three of which have already been published.  I started reading these books when I was a Sophomore in High School and I still eagerly wait for the release of the fourth and fifth books. Throughout middle school and my early high school years I usually just read science-fiction or fantasy novels, and this is the one fantasy series that has continued into my college days.   The story follows Candy Quackenbush, who is from Chickentown, Minnesota, USA.   In one of the most captivating scenes I have ever read, the scene that solidified me as an Abarat fan,  Candy's small farm town is suddenly flooded by sea water which eventually takes her to the world of Abarat.  It's a world consisting of an archipelago of 25 islands,  one for every hour of the day and one for non-time, where the beings who look over the Abarat reign. Each one of these islands is a certain hour of the day all the time, making for interesting travel plans. The story is a classic Good vs. Evil tale, with pursuits, battles, confrontations, relationships and death. What makes these books some of my favorites are the illustrations.  Each book is riddled with hundreds of Barker's illustrations, they vary in size but each one magnificent in its own way.  Most authors use words to paint a picture within your mind, Barker skips this step and shows you just how his world is meant to look.  This world is both beautiful and horrifying,  and is very easy to jump into. Imagine if a Van Gough painting came alive, and talked to you?