The Hellbound Heart av Clive Barker, är en novell från 1986 som följer Frank Cottons själviska äventyr efter sensuella upplevelser bortom världens begränsningar. Han saknar empatiska känslor för andra individer och bryr sig enbart om sitt egna tillfredsställande nöje. I sitt sökande finner han efter rykten en puzzelkub som för honom till ett helvete avlägsnat för en evighet av tortyr.

Berättelsen följer sedan Rory som är Franks bror samt Rorys fru Julia som Frank har haft en otrohetsaffär med; vilket Rory är helt omedveten om. Efter en olyckshändelse där Rory av misstag råkar skära sig i handen lockas Frank (som enbart är ett väsen) fram av blodet. Julia upptäcker detta och lovar att uppfylla de krav som krävs för att Frank ska bli återställd, så att de kan leva lyckligt tillsammans. Frank kräver mer blod, vilket Julia levererar med genom att förföra vilsna män.

Samtidigt som detta händer så börjar Kirsty (som är en vän och har romantiska känslor för Rory) bli misstänksam över Julias beteende och börjar utreda saken på egen hand.

Kort och välskriven novell. Rekommenderas verkligen.

I'm going to have to do a proper right up when I have more brain, but I really enjoyed this. I am a fan of Hellraiser and have meant to read this for a long time. In ways that remind me of Fight Club, there are aspects in which the book and movie surpass each other, but I can't imagine why it must have been like reading this apropos of nothing in 1986, 1BPH (before Pinhead).

I'll talk more about these another time, but quick comparisons:
-The description of the Cenobites and what they actually do to Frank is the absolute highlight of the book and is Infinitely better than the straight swap for Frank's ultimate fate as his initial experience.
-Kirsty being Rory's daughter from a previous relationship makes so much more sense in Hellraiser than a random friend whose only character trait is being infatuated with Rory.
-The descriptions of Frank are nothing compared the truly astounding practical effects in Hellraiser.
-Not having the creepy yuppie fuck who is chatting up Kirsty in the book is a blessing.
-The ending in the house is a mess in this book worn vague repetition of the word "fireworks" way. Too many times, but the very end makes more sense than the movie. Although the movie does come with the Dark Souls boss Cenobite.
-There's an Evil Dead 2-esque moment with Julia at the end of the book, which made me giggle and is a lot of fun. I'm saddened, by the I understand why this didn't make the movie.

If you like Hellraiser I thoroughly recommend giving this a read. It won't blow your mind, but it's bloody great. If you are on the fence about which to do first, I would actually recommend reading this first as the differences in the movie are interesting, but I think reading the book without the movie playing in your mind, as it was for me, would be beneficial.

It I had to choose between The Hellbound Heart and Hellraiser, I would be Hellraiser for sure. But they are both great. ( )

Franku Cottonovi, požitkáři, jenž vyčerpal veškeré možnosti zábavy v této realitě, se podařilo odhalit tajemství Lemarchandovy kostky, bájného hlavolamu, který otevírá dveře k absolutním rozkoším jiných sfér. Stanul na prahu a vyčkával příchodu svých průvodců, cenobitů, příslušníků tajného řádu těch, kdo rozkoš také hledali, našli a už také pochopili, že s vypjatou smyslností je neodmyslitelně spjata i její věčná souputnice: trýznivá bolest. Hrůzná, nesnesitelná kombinace však Franka přivede za hranici života, zpoza níž mu může pomoci pouze Julia, žena, která kdysi podlehla kouzlu jeho osobnosti.

This story commands some respect for the committed trashiness of the writing. The Lovecraftian italics, the sadomasochistic bodice-ripping! And for shameless use of Hollywood horror tropes: The tinkle of a music box in the opening scene. The walking back into The House of Horrors alone, unarmed, and without a plan. The characters with soap opera relations and no backstories. The classic “Come out come out wherever you are” structure of the denouement.
It also has me re-evaluating the most elemental conviction of my existence as a sentient being: that the book is always better than the movie unless Stephen King. I give two more stars for the identity crisis it triggered. The characters are mere empty husks (lol!) and it was impossible not to contrast the ways the lead actresses made this story real for me, in film version. ( )

I really enjoyed this book. I do wonder if it would have been a bit creepier if I hadn't been familiar with the movie.

Also, now I will always feel slightly unsettled whenever I hear church bells. ( )