The most frequently commented upon technical feature in Clive Barker's fiction is the elegance and measured tone of his prose style, a somewhat typical example of which may be observed in the opening sentence of his story "The Forbidden" (Volume V): "Like a flawless tragedy, the elegance of which structure is lost upon those suffering in it, the perfect geometry of the Specter Street Estate was only visible from the air." Infused with wit, frequent literary allusions, superb similes and metaphors drawn from all elements of human experience, and a fine ear for dialogue, an appreciation of the style in which these stories are couched, can indeed prove to be one of the major delights of reading Barker's work. Furthermore, in a manner not utterly explainable other than through the notion of heightened contrast, the employment of such stylistic techniques seems to enhance immensely the shockingly grotesque nature...