Review of Imajica - Clive Barker

A few months ago, Imajica popped up on the Recommendations list in my Apple Books app. Its reviews were crazy-"Imajica is life-changing," "most magical writing I've ever read," "epic of the greatest dimensions," etc etc. I was curious about these comments, because I've read pretty good writing before, and even writing I'd probably characterize as life-changing--but I was curious whether anything differentiated Imajica from my previous literary experiences. So I read it.

Short synopsis: the universe (the parts that are known, at least) consists of five dominions, the first four of which are teeming with magic and a variety of diverse magical figures and interconnected, and the fifth--Earth, known as the Fifth Dominion--isolated and occupied by humans who have, at large, forgotten magic. The novel follows multiple characters who are involved in attempts to reconcile and reconnect the Fifth Dominion with the four magical dominions, to reintroduce magic while working against the cruel Autarch governing the magical domains. The plot spans multiple centuries and countless unmapped lands with long names (from London all the way to Yzordderex, etc.), and deals with doppelgangers/clones, magic, love, justice, ... . The ending also widens possibilities by teasing an entire new realm of the universe, which I won't spoil too much. But yes, very complicated.

Imajica wasn't a life-changing book for me, likely because my limited life experiences haven't given me the material yet to truly deeply understand the mature themes of love, grief, and loss that Clive Barker deals so deeply with. N.K. Jemisin's Stone Earth Trilogy still takes top place for me among fantasy books for the emotional aspect (for now).

But Barker's writing is definitely beautiful, and the book was incredibly enjoyable. In the span of a random 3 pages, Barker uses the words: unctuous, abased, similitudes, abattoir, fastidiousness, rebuke, pneuma, prevaricated, figmental, beatific, anemic, bedlamite. His vocabulary is tremendous--Imajica gave me ample opportunities to use the dictionary feature in my Books app--but his writing also doesn’t read like a common app essay by an overly thesaurus-happy teenager. I.e., he writes masterfully, and chooses words thoughtfully. Very gorgeous writing.

Three weeks after finishing the book, I honestly don't remember many specifics of the plot. But the vibes, and the feelings I had while reading it, are very memorable: there was a good amount of everything (scary stuff, love and grief, weird magic, weird invented creatures) and it all comes together at the end, and I felt satisfied at the end. I feel like I've had some sort of implicit aversion to 'old' books for a long time (e.g. I gravitate towards new bestsellers over Penguin classics), but Imajica is a case in point that old ≠ boring. So I'd better get started on those 'old' books on my reading list! (One Hundred Years of Solitude next.)

I also want to note that the book, which runs at 896 pages, was on the long side and definitely a commitment (in time, and in effort)—it took me about a month to finish, reading on and off, though I finished the second half in a three-day sprint as the plot quickened. But I wouldn't say it's 'exhausting,' as has been criticized. The gorgeous writing was more than enough to make Imajica an intrinsically enjoyable read and to carry me through the slower-paced beginning chapters.

So, back to the commitment point: only give Imajica a try if you have the time to read a lengthy book and are willing to devote time to immersing yourself in the plot. After that, the book can do everything for itself. I’d say it’s worth it!