When designing these book covers, I wanted to show what I loved most about this collection of short stories. Compared to most horror stories, Clive Barker’s are detailed in description and gore, really setting the mood and letting your imagination run. These book covers, for me, not only immediately pull you into the gruesomeness of the tales, but as a series take you through the different stages of horror. The first stage, where the initial carvings into the skin are fresh and raw, are still surprising and painful to the recipient. The second stage, the cuts aren’t as fresh, and the skin becomes irritated and red, as what you are reading starts to seep into your subconscious. The third and final stage, as the cuts in the skin become scabbed over, you get adjusted to the horror, but the splatter of fresh blood against the skin reminds you to always be afraid, because there’s always another beast hiding in the dark. 

These books designs were carved into pig skin, and died red/brown to simulate fresh wounds. A collector’s edition case made from the dried skin is for only the most dedicated enthusiast.