 First edition | |
| Author | Clive Barker |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Clive Barker |
| Cover artist | Clive Barker |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Dark fantasy Suspense |
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
Publication date | 1 November 1992 |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Media type | Print (hardback) |
| Pages | 225 (first edition) |
| ISBN | 0-06-017724-1 |
| OCLC | 26356764 |
The Thief of Always is a 1992 novel written and illustrated byClive Barker.[1][2] The plot concerns a 10-year-old boy who journeys to a magical house, only to discover its master uses the home to attract children and steal their youth to ensure his own immortality.
10-year-old Harvey Swick is approached by a stranger named Rictus, who offers him the opportunity to stay at the magical Holiday House, founded by one Mr. Hood. Harvey accepts and accompanies Rictus there, meeting two other children, Wendell and Lulu, as well as its elderly caretaker, Mrs. Griffin, and her three cats.
At the Holiday House, all of the seasons pass by in a day, with Halloween and Thanksgiving in the evening and Christmas at night. However, Mr. Hood himself is nowhere to be found, there are mentions of a mysterious figure named Carna, the nearby lake is full of enormous, sad looking fish, and Mrs. Griffin seems to be keeping a dark secret about the house. Harvey must use his wits and clever thinking in order to escape and return home.
The Thief of Always has received positive reviews from both critics and casual readers alike. The book has an approximate 4.20 out of 5 stars onGoodreads.[3][4]
Publishers Weekly described the book as "both cute and horrifying", noting its similarity toGrimm's Fairy Tales.[3]
Kirkus Reviews described Barker's "studiously simple narration" as lacking in spirit.[5]
The Thief of Always was adapted as a bimonthly three-part comic book, published between January and May 2005, byIDW Publishing.[6]
In the mid-90s,The Thief of Always was set to be adapted forParamount Pictures as a $22.5 millionanimatedmusical film with music byJerry Goldsmith andClive Barker set to produce.[7][8]Nelvana was set to produce the animation for the film, andKathleen Kennedy andFrank Marshall serving as co-executive producers.[8] The film reportedly made it through two thirds of thestoryboarding process.[8]
A live-action adaptation is currently in the works, scheduled to be directed byJennifer Kent.[9]
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