I could write a novel on what I think about this writer.
James Herbert – My all-time favourite horror writer.
There was always a comparison between him and Stephen King. King bombs him out with sales, success, films, merchandising. But I reckon that James Herbert had Mr King due to Stephen’s problem with dialogue. Man he could write a story, describe, give us the fear but let’s be honest, some of his dialogue was, shall we say, lacking / terrible??
James Herbert also had an imagination for horror. He could take a rat and expand it. He imagined a gas that drove folks mad. He has written about a dead person who knew he was dead and he also had fun with the horniest wee fairy type folks! He did write a few sort of series books (Rats / Lair and the David Ash books) And he twisted what you thought was a divine intervention with something quite dark in ‘The Shrine’
‘The Spear’ hit on the Nazis search for world domination and ‘The Survivor’ was all about retribution.
I first discovered James Herbert when I was about thirteen. My sister is four years older than me and she was working at the time. I had some birthday money and asked her to get me a horror book on her way home and for whatever reason, she picked up ‘The Fog’. I was hooked after the first two pages. It is probably one of the quickest starting books that I’ve ever read. The taxi scene where the driver tells the MC how he couldn’t stand his wife’s eyes and then shows him her severed head is brilliantly timed and described. This is a cracking piece of perfect timing which is so hard to do.
One of the problems with Herbert was those who took on his books for films, were all terrible. Again by comparison, King did have some crackers as well as some stinkers. All Herbert’s were terrible. ‘The Rats’ was so cheap it was embarrassing. Even though ‘The Survivor’ had Robert Powell in it, it wasn’t that true to the book and it also looked cheap.
I think I have read all of his books and there is only one that I didn’t finish as I just couldn’t get into it. (The Magic Cottage)
I’m not sure that I could find a common thread in Herbert’s books, meaning wise and I think that is what I enjoyed. King had Maine and Koontz had kids and dogs but Herbert was different each and every time.
He was a cool wee dude who could carry off a leather jacket and he did the talk shows around the early eighties. He had a sense of humour and an intelligence about him that was there for all to see. As I am typing this I can see a signed first edition of his book ‘Ash’ that takes pride of place in my cabinet. Gwen got me that for a birthday not long before he died.
To be honest, King’s book ‘It’ is probably my all time favourite horror but then the next five places are taken with Herbert’s ‘The Fog’, ‘The Survivor’, ‘The Spear’, ‘Nobody True’ and ‘Once’
What I love about James Herbert is I grew up with him. I started reading his books when I was a kid and continued into adulthood. So many of them have stayed with me and I had such a great time reading them.
This has been a cracking feature. I don’t do classics. I am a bit of an inverted snob as in, no matter what you like is all that matters, that is what you like! I do wonder when we think back on what we enjoyed, is there a sort of ‘Romantic’ notion? Maybe the time of our lives, maybe our outlook, maybe our hopes all contribute to how we received a book (And yes – Even a horror writer!) so maybe it isn’t a great idea to re-read these before we write these endorsements, we should simply remember them how we do!
James Herbert – I thank you!
literally stories 
Hi Hugh
You nailed the soul of this–the appreciation of writers you grew up reading and wanted to see more from.
It’s too bad that The Fog movie with Jamie Leigh Curtis is confused with Herbert’s novel. But such happens. Must read that one again–has to be forty years since I looked at it.
Great post!
Leila
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Hi Leila,
Yep, I’m the same, I read it when I was thirteen which is going on forty five years back!
I think I read it three times that year but haven’t looked at it since.
Not for any bad reason, quite the opposite, it opened my eyes to the wonderful stories that were out there.
Just as an aside – I know that you, me and Diane all slate the talking dead. I can say that for me, Herbert did this brilliantly with ‘Nobody True’ – That is also a superb play on words.
Thanks as always.
Hugh
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Hola Hugh!
This is an excellent hybrid piece of writing with a punchy and infectious prose style: part book review, part remembrance of a favorite author, part personalized memoir about what books mean and why they mean so much to so many of us. A signed copy of a real book from a favorite author is a true treasure: the look of it, the feel of it, the smell of it, the memories, dreams, and imaginings it conjures! I know that books themselves will never disappear, even after one bad, sell-out writer after another falls by the wayside and lets “AI” and robots do it all for them instead (and such creations will never last long in human terms). Books won’t disappear because there will always remain a saving remnant of readers who want that physical object all unto itself as a remembrancer, a memento mori, a sign of life, an ancient object that a tree gave its life for. It helps connect us to earth, literally.
I’ve heard of James Herbert but never read his work. Now I’m looking forward to reading more about him and checking out a few of his texts. You did a great job capturing what this writer meant to you and why you feel he’s important. I also enjoyed how you talked about the man himself. Sometimes the real writer behind the books is a disappointment. Most times, if we like the writer’s writing, there’s probably something captivating we’ll find out about the writer him- or herself in person if that ever happens or by the modern mode of You Tube and internet, or biographies if the writer is too old.
I’m a massive fan of literary horror stories by the likes of Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker, Robert Louis Stevenson, Edgar Allan Poe (especially), and others. Horror movies usually scare the bejesus out of me and I can’t watch much gory violence on the screen without growing green around the gills and turning away (or hiding my eyes if I can’t get away), which is an admission I’m not necessarily proud to make.
I don’t usually read much horror as a straight-up genre, but I’m very much interested in horror writers as a phenomenon and their whys and wherefores, and I’m always willing to try out anything new. Now I’m definitely planning on checking out James Herbert, for sure. The honest, authentic way you express/ed your gratitude for this man and his works is truly inspiring, as are all your writings, postings, commentaries, and short stories. Thank you, Hugh!
Sincerely,
Dale
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Hi Dale,
Thanks so much for your kind words and insightful comments.
I think we could all write a list of firsts and every one of them, whether we are still ‘involved’ with them or their likes stay with us.
‘The Fog’ was what I’d consider my first adult book and I will always have a love for it.
Hope you are happy and well. And as always, thanks so much for all your involvement on the site!
Hugh
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Hi, Hugh. I enjoyed how you wove together some biography of the author, his work, and even a bit about yourself. Nicely done.
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Hi David,
It’s always a pleasure to see your name.
Another horror author who’s worth a look is Richard Laymon. What impresses me about him is that he can take a well worn path and add some of his amazing imagination which changes what is known to what is unexpected. (‘The Stake’ is his take on a Vampire story and ‘Savage’ throws The Jack The Ripper story somewhere else.)
He’s definitely worth a look.
Hope all is well with you and yours and I hope that you are working on some new stories for us!!
Hugh
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‘He could take a rat and expand it.’ What a great way of putting it. Thoroughly enjoyable read.
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Hi there,
Aye, it was a big rat!!
Thanks so much for your time and comments.
All the very best.
Hugh
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I’m late to horror. Mixed on King, have parodied him more than once. His “The Dome” was something of a low point turned into a bad TV series. My version “The Dumb”. King stories are twice as long as necessary.
Didn’t get into horror much until I took a trip to Yuma with an anthology. I wrote some horror early on in writing, a reflection of my life I think.
I’ll see if there is any Herbert at our library if I have time to read something outside of anthologies which have stories by my favorite author.
Thanks for introducing him to me.
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Hi Doug,
Thanks as always!
I’ve always had a love for horror. It’s a happy escape from the realism or should I say, terror of life!!
All the very best my interesting friend.
Hugh
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High Hugh
Great post! Now I have someone else to read and discover! Love the horror genre but I find it challenging to write. James Herbert how did I miss him? These “Writers Read” posts are really educational.
I’m a big fan of Stephen King and I’m definitely in his “Constant Readers” club. One of the first things I read was “Different Seasons.” Those four novellas totally hooked me–maybe indoctrinated me. And now I can blame my whole life of insanity on him, so it worked out.
Christopher
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Hi Christopher,
I’d love to be able to find some imagination to write more horror. I’ve done the odd few but like yourself, I find it a hard thing to do. I think the main problem is that it’s all been done with bells on many a time. I did come up with a sort of ‘monster’ with ‘Piranha’, that was something that I’d been wanting to do for years.
The first book I ever wrote was a horror, a transference type of story and I have a huge bit in my heart for it. Good job as no-one else gave it the time of day!!! Ah, those who type always have that question – Am I delusional or is everybody else wrong??!!!!!!!!
I have mixed horror with humour on many an occasion but I can’t count them. The other few that spring to mind are ‘The Glebe’, ‘He Stood And Stared’, ‘Chicken’ (HAH!! Those who read that took it somewhere else. I love that as the story takes on a new life!!) and ‘Speak No Evil’, there may be more but as I say, I find myself lacking and limited!!
Thanks as always for your time and comments!!
Stay healthy, happy and inspired my fine friend.
Hugh
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Hi Hugh
Yes, writing horror is tricky. The truly frightening is high art. I think Shirley Jackson had it going on, SK, D. Koontz, and Poe for sure. And it sounds like James Herbert too. Peter Straub RIP wrote some really good horror.
Some of my horror stories head toward vampires. When I’m in the middle of one I’m like… Is this another vampire story? lol.
Writing a book is a long process–been down that road too. I think anyone who has written a book deserves a stamp of approval, because most people never will. I started writing long fiction but ended up (so far) writing short fiction to learn the craft. I don’t think I have any real goals either, just writing, not sure if that’s good or bad… But it doesn’t seem like a hobby either. It seems like something serious like that girl you can’t forget about.
Today felt like a living horror story. Watching the inaugural ceremony. Like some kind of demonic game show. “What rough beast slogs to Bethlehem.” (W.B.Yeats). The Second Coming.
Thanks for writing back and for the inspiration!
Christopher
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Hugh, a great post. I really liked the way you interwove your reading history with your exposition of James Herbert. It’s true that the writers we grew up with generally stay with us all our lives. (one exception to the rule in my case would be Tolkien, but I suspect that may just be a weary reaction to Tolkien Mania).
I’ve read a few Herbert books in the past, but the only one I’ve a clear memory of is ‘The Spear.’ Just googled him and saw that he’d also published quite a few short stories (but not in his own collection). Do you rate his short stories, and if so, got any recommendations?
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Hi Mick,
I enjoyed ‘The Hobbit’ but ‘The Lord Of The Rings’ ran me a wee bit cold. I get bored with description.
I hear what you are saying regarding the LOTR’s fans – They are a wee tad, emm, fanatical.
But what the hell, if the work is loved then fair play to the author and the readers who enjoy!!
To be honest, I didn’t know that Hebert had written any shorts!! I read a quote from Koontz once where he stated that he was glad that he was a famous writer as that allowed him to have his short stories published!!
I can understand ‘The Spear’ staying with you. What with your love for History, the mythology in that book goes hand in hand with what was known.
Thanks as always – I always appreciate a comment from your good self!!!
Hope all is well with you and yours my fine friend.
Hugh
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I’m ashamed to say, in light of your excellent post, and on the back of many recommendations that I have still never got round to reading any James Herbert – I shall endeavour to rectify this misdemeanour in the coming months and report back!
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