• Tortured Souls

  • The Legend of Primordium
  • By: Clive Barker
  • Narrated by: Peter Bishop
  • Length: 1 hr and 24 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (323 ratings)

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Tortured Souls  By  cover art

Tortured Souls

By: Clive Barker
Narrated by: Peter Bishop
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Publisher's summary

Tortured Souls is one of the most vividly imagined, tightly compressed novellas ever written by the incomparable Clive Barker. At once violent and erotic, brutal and strangely beautiful, it takes us into the heart of the legendary "first city" known as Primordium, the site of political upheaval, passionate encounters, and astonishing acts of transformation.

Lurking at the edges of this extravagant tale is the ancient entity known as "Agonistes", who accepts the pleas of selected "Supplicants" - transforming them, through a combination of art, magic, and pain, into avatars of violence and revenge.

The story begins when a freelance assassin named Zarles Krieger commits a routine murder-for-hire. This act will lead him to two life-altering encounters: one with the daughter of his victim, the other with Agonistes himself. This conjunction of the human and the inhuman stands at the center of this instantly absorbing creation.

With great authority and equally great economy, Tortured Souls expands to become a portrait of Primordium itself, with its hierarchies, its hidden mysteries, its shifting power structure, and - most significantly - its indelible cast of characters. A perfectly controlled example of what Barker calls "The Fantastique", Tortured Souls is something truly special, a story whose imaginative reach and sheer narrative power are evident with every word.

©2014 Clive Barker Ink (P)2015 David N. Wilson

What listeners say about Tortured Souls

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Short but sweet.

My only complaint the only last for and hour and half. I would love to find out more about primordia and the dark future of the city and its inhabitants. Most of the terrofying parts art left to the imagination. It is a lovely horror story of with a hint of disturbing love. I would recommended to all lovers of horror.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Wish there was more.

A novella comprised of six short stories originally released with six action figures from McFarlane toys telling the story of six monsters in the City of Primordium. The narrator is good and the only issues I have with the story are the lack of descriptors used for the Agonistes, Lucidique, and Kreiger which I cant tell if it was intentional or just overlooked because of the original included figures. This is less of a problem in chapters 3-6. The only other issue is more a wanting for more from these characters and world. Overall a good starting point for people interested in Clive Barkers work that is less graphic then his usual.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A worthy story from the master of visceral horror

Possibly the most well thought out story ever written for a toy line. Clive Barker's charnal house imagery lends itself wonderfully to this short form story, and Peter Bishop's even and deliberate narration is quite suited to the mythological tone of the writing.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Bad

The preview said that this story had both good and bad in it, but I didn't hear anything close to good. Barker must have been way low on creativity when he wrote it I guess.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

absolutely incredible

Clive Barker's prose and imagination is jaw droppingly incredible in this story. And the reader did a phenomenal job. Perfect.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

great

it was wild it's definitely something that would make a good movie if done right

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

the people who say the narrator is drunk are wrong

The narrator fits this story well, the story takes place before Rome, so you need a voice that can sound the part and that's exactly what Peter Bishop does, it's a great story, it takes place in a world before hellbound heart, the story is beautifully written and the images are magnificent.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Exactly How to Do a Novella

Tight, smooth and lyrical, and perfectly focused on exactly what it's trying to do. Tortured Souls is an example of just how effective a novella can be. A particular treat if you enjoy deliciously dark and intriguingly grotesque stories. As for the narration, it's so good that I'm going to actively seek out other books read by Peter Bishop. Just a fantastic experience all around, and certainly worth the small price and the short hour it takes to get through. This gem is worth it for just about anyone who isn't squeamish.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Favorite CLive Barker Novela

This is by far my favorite novela by Clive Barker! The story is absolutely amazing and I would so love for the story to continue. Clive Barker has a way of storytelling that keeps you wanting more and the descriptions of his creations makes your own imagination go wild! Jump into the streets of Primordium and insert yourself into the chaotic story of revenge, torture, rebirth and love found in the most uncommon of situations! When I read it the first time I was done in and hour because I couldn’t stop turning the pages! Love love love Clive Barkers twisted imagination!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Delightful, Disgusting, and Heartrending

I want more! Such rich mythos and world building. even with such a short story I felt deeply for the characters. Genius!

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