Clive Barker's success with the Books of Blood led to him being offered a publishing deal for his first novel. Titled The Damnation Game, it is a Faustian tale without "The Devil" but with all of the consequences and plenty of horror.

The first edition was published in the U.K. in 1985 by Weidenfeld and Nicholson. A small run of 3000 copies were printed because no one was quite sure how it would sell.



The first print run sold out in less than a month.

The U.S. edition would not be printed until 1987 by Ace/Putnam



A signed/limited edition was published by Weidenfeld and Nicholson in 1985 as well. It's a beautiful book, slipcased, bound in cotton with gilt lettering on the spine and the top of the page block has been stained blood red.






This book is one of my true pride and joys. In addition to the limitation, it was also inscribed to Clive's friend and fellow artist Derek Boshier. I purchased it directly from Derek quite a few years ago. It is one of the earliest Barker signatures on a copy of The Damnation Game that I've ever seen.