The Thief of Always by Clive Barker

“Menacing demons, wondrous miracles, sinister magic, and vivid characters make Thief a compulsive, lightning-paced tales that almost begs to be read aloud.”—Miami Herald One of horror master and international bestselling author Clive Barker’s classic early novels—the tale of a haunted house with many a dark secret, now available as a Harper Perennial Olive Edition. Be careful what you wish for, it might just come true . . . Mr. Hood's Holiday House has stood for a thousand years, welcoming children into its embrace. It is a place of miracles where every whim may be satisfied. There is a price to be paid, of course, but young Harvey Swick, bored with his life and beguiled by Mr. Hood's wonders, does not consider the consequences. It is only when the house shows its darker face—when Harvey discovers the pitiful creatures that dwell in its shadows—that he comes to doubt Mr. Hood's generosity. But the house and its mysterious architect will not release Harvey without a battle. Mr. Hood has plans for his young guest, a boy whose soul burns brighter than any he has encountered in ten centuries. . . .

Clive Barker (born 5 October 1952) is an English writer, film director, and visual artist. Barker came to prominence in the mid-1980s with a series of short stories, the *Books of Blood*, which established him as a leading horror writer. He has since written many novels and other works, and his fiction has been adapted into films, notably the *Hellraiser* and *Candyman* series. He was also the executive producer of the film *Gods and Monsters*. Barker's paintings and illustrations have been featured in galleries in the United States as well as within his own books. He has created original characters and series for comic books, and some of his more popular horror stories have been adapted to comics. **Source**: [Clive Barker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clive_Barker) on Wikipedia.

The Thief of Always

A Fable