The Scarlet Gospels by Clive Barker

[CyberGhostface]

Has anyone checked this out? What were your thoughts? Just finished, it was a pretty epic (in every sense of the word) conclusion to Barker's 'Hellraiser' series.

[WeDealInLead]

What should I read before The Scarlet Gospels? I've read The Hellbound Heart and have seen the first four movies. I've also read some Hellraiser comics. Those felt like Barker kept a tighter leash on them than the later movies. Still, are the movies and comics canon? Any short stories I should read?

[CyberGhostface]

You actually could walk into it blind. The comics according to Barker are their own separate continuity and the character of Pinhead and his box is all you really need to know from the films.

It's not necessary but the protagonist Harry D'Amour has appeared in some of Barker's other works so you might want to check out any of the following:

1. The Last Illusion (a novella)
2. The film 'Lord of Illusions'
3. The short story 'Lost Souls' (available below):

http://www.clivebarker.com/html/devotion/macab/stories/lost.html

Nothing story-wise in these really matters but it might give you a better appreciation of the character. (I.E. you could just watch 'Lord of Illusions' and be fine).