|
|
Post by killercrab on Mar 20, 2013 18:03:29 GMT
Just heard the news that James Herbert has died aged 69. For me THE RATS is probably the most important british horror book of my generation. Everything changed afterwards. Rest in Peace Mr Herbert you won't be forgotten.
KC
|
|
|
|
Post by David A. Riley on Mar 20, 2013 18:50:50 GMT
Just heard the news that James Herbert has died aged 69. For me THE RATS is probably the most important british horror book of my generation. Everything changed afterwards. Rest in Peace Mr Herbert you won't be forgotten. KC Amen to that. |
|
|
|
Post by doug on Mar 20, 2013 19:04:25 GMT
This is both sad and creepy.
I just ordered 3 of his books today from an online dealer over here!
I hadn't read any of his early stuff in almost 30 years and decided to get a few. Rat's, Fog and Spear.
what a shame. :-(
take care.
Doug
|
|
|
|
Post by Jojo Lapin X on Mar 20, 2013 19:23:39 GMT
This is both sad and creepy. I just ordered 3 of his books today from an online dealer over here! I know the feeling. I inadvertently killed Ken Russell in a similar way. |
|
|
|
Post by Craig Herbertson on Mar 20, 2013 20:34:04 GMT
Just heard the news that James Herbert has died aged 69. For me THE RATS is probably the most important british horror book of my generation. Everything changed afterwards. Rest in Peace Mr Herbert you won't be forgotten. KC Bought The Rats and then everything after in a frenzy until it all cooled down. RIP |
|
|
|
Post by jamesdoig on Mar 20, 2013 20:37:07 GMT
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2013 21:23:04 GMT
Sad news. He was a very lovely man - and THE FOG, boy that book still shits me up to this day. |
|
|
|
Post by doomovertheworld on Mar 20, 2013 21:48:23 GMT
R.I.P. James Herbert. reading the rats at far too young a age had a formative effect on me. He will be sadly missed
|
|
|
|
Post by patblack on Mar 20, 2013 21:50:41 GMT
Very sad news about a great popular author. The Rats was one of the first adult books I ever read. I sneaked into my older brother's room and had a flick through it over a few nights. Scarred for life!
Also enjoyed The Fog, but I must doff my cap to The Spear - inspired madness.
|
|
|
|
Post by franklinmarsh on Mar 20, 2013 21:53:02 GMT
Heard on the radio earlier. Gutted. A crucial part of my youth and reading habits. He synthesised NEL and horror. Most of his books that I've read I've enjoyed in one way or another (with the exception of Fluke but fair play to him for not being predictable). The Vault reignited my interest in his work, and he's left a great legacy. I enjoyed the version of The Secret Of Crickley Hall screened recently, and once saw him at a signing at Forbidden Planet when it was in Denmark Street (couldn't afford the book though). The Rats and The Fog tore up the rule book and dragged horror into the 1970s. Already missed.
|
|
|
|
Post by erebus on Mar 20, 2013 22:20:05 GMT
This is truly sad sad news. I only found out earlier tonight at work. Put me on a bit of a downer if I'm honest. This may sound hypocritical coming from a guy called erebus, but James Herbert was without a doubt the best writer this country has and will ever produce. Sure Hutson was a good pulpy splat boy that entertained. But nobody touched the class and style James Herbert had.
He is the only writer to scare me. The Dark is one of the most chilling novels written and for me is a masterpiece. The Ghosts of Sleath , The Survivor also have some of the creepiest set pieces to be put into print. Nobody wrote the Ghost Story better than him. The subtle and restrianed charm of The Magic Cottage. To the superb Haunted and its superior followup The Ghosts of Sleath. And also ASH his most recent tale had some amazing parts. The crucified guy in the locked room, the eerie tunnels beneath the castle with huge spiders and critters in catacombs of webs and of course the vengeful spirits. And those who read The Secret of Crickley Hall will also have been thrilled to see it made into the entertaining TV series. Although the menace and more darker side of this book never made it to the screen and the TV version was rather tame compared to his book.
Everyone has or had The Rats in their home at some point. You look at anyones shelves and saw it there. If nobody has it they surely have read it or one of his books. I recall seeing it at sisters friends when I was a very very young boy and was transfixed by its cover, to young to understand the contents the subject matter struck a chord with me. Its only later a few years later my Dad had one too. The rest is history.
The other thing with James Herbert is even non horror readers knew of him. Ok he is very popular and well deserved of his OBE but his name was known to everyone. Example just here. I was asking a woman at work today what she was reading on her phone ( an ebook Grrr ) she named the title it was a fantasy in the same genre as Lord of the Rings. I asked if she ever read horror and she said absoultely no she hates them. I mentioned King etc and still no, but when I said James Herbert she said Oh yeah I have read The Rats. There you go. Even an Agatha Christie and Ian Flemming fan said he has read some of his books but hates Horror. Thats the aura and pulling power he had.
The School and Cinema attacks in The Rats. The Phantoms orgy scene in The Dark. The deformed PI finding a horde of Mutants in Others. The Succubus paying a visit in Once. The carnage throughout The Fog, Nazi zombies in The Spear, Ghostly fetus twins in The Jonah, The hulking heart eating serial killer in Moon etc are just a few of the brilliant scenes that took place in his book. And as for Haunted , even though I should have seen it a mile away that ending still got me unawares. Thats because I was to drawn in.
Its a sad day. And although he stopped writing a long time ago and would probably never have give us another book. I still feel that the UK horror scene has now passed with him. We will never see the likes of this great great writer again. A terrible sad loss. R.I.P James Herbert
|
|
|
|
Post by killercrab on Mar 21, 2013 0:03:10 GMT
And although he stopped writing a long time ago and would probably never have give us another book.
Actually his latest and last book ASH has just come out.
KC
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2013 7:56:01 GMT
And he was preparing another book at the time of his death. Thought people might like to see a photo of me with Jim and Mary Danby. Two very different reasons why I loved horror so much standing next to each other. It was quite a moment  |
|
|
|
Post by franklinmarsh on Mar 21, 2013 8:17:01 GMT
Lovely stuff, Jonny!
|
|
|
|
Post by valdemar on Mar 21, 2013 8:34:45 GMT
I too, was saddened to hear of the death of James Herbert. I heard it on the radio about twenty minutes or so after finishing his novel, 'Moon'. He was someone that you never seemed to hear much about. His books are always worth reading - but here I have a confession to make; I've never read 'The Rats'. I have always had an aversion to books that showcase animals. It's an odd quirk of mine. Not going to change now!
Whatever, I'm not here to write about me. James Herbert was a great writer, who knew just what scared people, and just how much. That is an uncanny skill. With his books, you never knew what angle the story would take: he didn't really retread past themes - just look at 'The Magic Cottage' and 'The Fog' - lightyears apart in content and tone. And that's why we loved him. His characters, even ones with tiny roles, were given life: they weren't just 'Redshirts' to kill off willy-nilly. Many's the time a minor character has been removed from the plot, and I've thought: "Damn! I liked him/her!".
Great books by a thoroughly nice bloke. Mr. Herbert, you'll be sorely missed. RIP.
|
|
