buy Clive Barker's Tapping the Vein by Clive Barker at Amazon
Author: Clive Barker
Release date: 15 September, 2002
Media: Paperback
ISBN: 0971024936
The artwork throughout is first rate and favorite illustrators include Scott Hampton, John Bolton and Tim Conrad. The book itself is a handsome, well produced volume that was printed in Korea on thick glossy paper and has a sturdy you're-getting-your-money's-worth feel.
The stories themselves are something of a mixed bag. While they are of generally high quality, the volume contains not only horror but also fantasy, some of it with a mythic quality. They are generally well written and interesting but whether or not you will enjoy them all depends on the type of story you like.
Being a horror buff, The Midnight Meat Train and Pig Blood Blues were personal favorites. If one prefers myth, Human Elements and In the Hills, the Cities are entertaining. The remaining stories are generally fair and offbeat as well.
The problem with the volume is that horror fans expecting wild EC style comics from the Hellraiser creator are apt to be disappointed. On the other hand, someone who wants stories a little out of the mainstream in a fairly diverse collection should be pleased - provided they aren't easily offended by such sexual topics as homosexuality, bestiality, and transgenderism. (For the record, the reviewer is not.)
If you're looking for something different from the biggest horror phenomena since Stephen King definitely buy the book. But if you're looking for good old fashioned EC type thrills and chills check out the available EC collections or Bruce Jones marvelous comic Twisted Tales that was published by Eclipse and is long missed. - an Amazon customer review