Clive Barker is returning to his roots with a new project for his long-time fans. The horror icon announced Library of the Dead, a three-book anthology series that serves as a spiritual successor to his early career-defining work, Books of Blood. This collection launches exclusively through a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter.
The series includes three new volumes titled Fear Eternal, Pyres of Bedlam, and Dark Descents. These books contain a mix of new and out-of-print stories that explore the author's recurring themes of mythology, obsession, and the grotesque. Each book arrives with original black-and-white illustrations, poetry, and custom cover art, providing a tactile experience for collectors.
Beyond the new anthology, the campaign features a leather-bound, two-volume remastered edition of the original Books of Blood collection. This set restores classic stories like Rawhead Rex and The Midnight Meat Train, pairing them with fresh artwork. The initiative is a collaboration between the author’s creative imprint, Clive Barker Ink, and horror-focused publisher Ensata Press, with editing handled by his frequent collaborators Phil and Sarah Stokes.
To complement the books, the project offers various limited-edition items. These include portfolios of fine art prints and a custom-designed bookcase modeled as a book coffin. These pieces offer readers a way to house the full collection. The launch reflects a move toward direct-to-fan distribution for high-end genre fiction, giving enthusiasts access to specific, curated editions of Barker’s dark fantasy catalog.