Best-selling author Clive Barker (who, by the way, is openly gay*) begins his most ambitious project to date with the remarkably rich novel Abarat (Joanna Cotler Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, October 2002, $24.99). The first installment in the Books of Abarat begins in Chickentown, USA, where Candy Quackenbush is about to embark on a journey that will change her life forever. Fate thrusts Candy over the magical threshold of a forgotten world when she dives from a barren field in Minnesota into the enormous Sea of Izabella. From there she is swept into the archipelago of the Abarat, a world made up of 25 islands that is like nothing she has ever seen. As she travels from one amazing place to another, making fast friends and encountering treacherous foes-mechanical bugs and giant moths, miraculous cats and men made of mud, a murderous wizard and a terrified slave-Candy begins to realize something: she has been here before.

With over 100 full-color paintings by the author illuminating the text, Abarat is a story that will capture the imaginations of all readers, offering a limitless landscape to visit and revisit.

The Walt Disney Company has purchased film and ancillary rights for an unprecedented $8 million, and the Books of Abarat have been licensed throughout the world.

Clive Barker is the best-selling author of 18 books. His first children's book, The Thief of Always, has sold over 1 million copies. He produced the Oscar-winner Gods & Monsters, and he lives in Beverly Hills, CA, with his husband and daughter. From Out magazine: "[M]y husband and I have a daughter. She's of mixed blood, and we go out together-a white, a black, and a beautiful 14-year-old."

From the October issue of Out magazine: "I had gay characters in books from the beginning, and no one seemed to care except my then-agent, who tried to prohibit me from publishing anything gay. He retired with 10% of my earnings. But in '95 I did a magazine cover and people noticed. I enjoy my freedom."

MORE BARKER

So a monk and two succubi walk into a bar... Clive Barker's Saint Sinner premieres on the Sci Fi Channel.

Only from the twisted imagination of horror scribe Clive Barker could a tale so wild, horrific, and disturbingly sexy be spun. Saint Sinner centers on a 19th-century monk (Greg Serano) who unwittingly lets loose two female demons (Mary Mara and Rebecca Harrell) upon an unsuspecting 21st-century city. The two, driven by a centuries-old appetite, must sustain themselves by feeding on those who fall prey to their sensual charms. To redeem himself, the monk must track them to the present day and stop them from wreaking deadly havoc.

Leading up to the premiere of Saint Sinner will be a sweepstakes that will give one lucky viewer a chance to have their home completely transformed, à la Clive Barker, for Halloween 2003. Beginning October 1, viewers will be able to log onto www.scifi.com/SaintSinner, where they can enter to win a one-of-a-kind Clive Barker makeover as well as all the fixings for a Halloween bash for 50 of their closest friends. The winner will be announced live on the SciFi Channel, Saturday, October 26, during the SaintSinner broadcast at 8 p.m.

HALLOWEEN MAGIC

The Women? A Ya-Ya Montrose Sisterhood is loosely based on The Women, the 1936 comedy by Clare Booth Luce. George Cukor's 1939 film version of the play featured Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, and Rosalind Russell in a hilarious catfight that made "jungle red" nail polish synonymous with sharp-clawed backstabbing.

Halloween Magic's liberal spoof of the original is about golddiggers, schemers, gossips, and social climbers-with Montrose as the backdrop!

Beneficiaries include specific programs from AIDS Foundation Houston, People with AIDS Coalition, MCCR, The Center for AIDS, Houston Buyers Club, Casa de Esperanza de Los Ninos, Montrose Clinic, and The Assistance Fund.

The Saturday night gala on October 19, emceed by Maria Todd, includes the musical comedy revue, pre-performance hors d'oeuvres, open bar, silent & live auctions, and a drawing. The Sunday matinee on October 20 includes the revue and a live, pre-show auction. Saturday: doors open at 7:30 p.m., performance begins at 9 p.m.; Sunday: doors open at 1 p.m., performance begins at 2:30 @ the Edwin Hornberger Conference Center, 2151 W. Holcombe. Single tickets to the Saturday event are $75 (tables are also available); tickets to the Sunday performance are $25 (or a special rate of four tickets for $90). To purchase tickets or tables: 713/226-2342; single tickets are also available at Basic Brothers.

Experiments in Terror

Just in time for Halloween comes this unique program of recent shorts by various directors inspired by the horror genre. Experimental filmmakers explore the occult, the subconscious, campy endeavors, and 3-D gimmicks. In counterpoint to the new work is a selection of trailers and clips from the best (and worst!) of cinematic horror. In person: guest curator Noel Lawrence. Sunday, October 27, 7 p.m. @ the Museum of Fine Arts' Brown Auditorium, 1001 Bissonnet. Admission $6 (members/seniors/students $5). For more information, call 713/639-7515 or visit www.mfah.org.

San Francisco-based curator Noel Lawrence recently toured Europe with Experiments in Terror. On Saturday, October 26, he presents a program of short horror films at the Aurora Picture Show. For more info: www.aurorapictureshow.org.

HALLOWEEN BABY

Doesn't belong in the Halloween section, you say? Well, feast your eyes on the wonderfully macabre sketch by Eduardo Sicangco. Though the play will have closed by Halloween, it should be a great prelude to Orange and Black Day. What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? plays from October 9-27 @ Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, 800 Bagby. Tickets ($25-$68) available at 713/558-8887, the TUTS box office, any Ticketmaster outlet, or online at www.tuts.com. (Click here for an interview with Baby Jane's star Millicent Martin.)

MACABRE PHOTOS

Anna Gaskell explores the tensions between pleasure and terror, beauty and horror in her photography. Inspired in part by children's fairy tales, her works dwell upon the fantastic and the macabre. Though particularly appropriate for Halloween, the exhibit runs through January 12 @ The Menil Collection, 1515 Sul Ross, 713/525-9400, www.menil.org.

Houston Witches Ball: A Tribal Masquerade

Features Dreamtrybe and Spoonfed Tribe, open ritual, costume contest, cauldron dancers, midnight drum and dance circle, fundraiser and door prizes. Saturday, October 26. Tickets available at Magick Cauldron, Ruby Rabbit, and Robin Hoods. For more information, visit www.witchesball.org.

A KARAOKE HALLOWEEN

Halloween open mic & karaoke. Saturday, October 26, 7 p.m. @ Creative Life Spiritual Center, 5326 Spring-Stuebner. For more information, call 281/350-5157 or visit www.creativelife.org.