Rating: 
Summary: Gruesome chills
Review: The Rats was the first horror book I read. In India we usually get 'popular' horror books by authors like Stephen King. Rats is the type of horror book I like to read, where the plot is sacrificed for the sake of content. Th scenes of rats devouring human beings is unforgettable.Other recommendations: Shaun Hutson: Slugs, Shadows, Spawn, Nemesis Clive Barker: Cabal, The Books of Blood, Everville Stephen King: Pet Sematary, It Graham Masterton: The Chosen Child, Tengu, The Walkers
Rating: 
Summary: Best of the Trilogy
Review: This is Herbert's first book in his Rats trilogy, and by far his best. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire trilogy, however Rats, the first was especially well done. Having a personal phobia of rats, I found this novel to be especially chilling. The entire book is a short, yet gripping read. If you are able to get a hold of this novel, and have a keen interest in the horror genre, definitely give this one a go - you won't be disappointed. Essentially, the Rats tells the story of a mutated species of rats that plague London and attempt to annihilate human life in the city. There are several graphic scenes with gruesome details found throughout the novel. For a true scare and escape, I strongly recommend the Rats by James Herbert.
Rating:
Summary: The horror novel that launched an entire genre!
Review: This slim, grim piece of b-movie trash (and believe me, I mean that in the most positive and respectful way) actually launched a sub-genre in the british horror novel industry - the mutant pet and/or pest novel. The next few years would see bookshelves stuffed with grue dripping books about killer cats, dogs, bats, crabs, slugs (yes, I said slugs), spiders, jellyfish, and assorted other nasties. For this alone Herbert's novel deserves some kind of special recognition. The novel itself was written, by hand I believe, on a lark. In one interview Herbert even admitted to not even bothering to do a rewrite! The story is simple: giant mutant rats gobble down assorted victims as, in between the gruesome attacks, scientists and members of the government scratch their heads and wonder how to do away with the seemingly indestructable beasties. In what would grow to be a trademark storytelling style, Herbert lavishes as much character detail on the victims to be as he does on the actual characters. An essential book for animal on the rampage buffs and rodent lovers everywhere.
Rating: 
Summary: Graphic
Review: This was Herbert's first novel and instantly a huge success. It features tons of gory violence, but is because of that or nevertheless quite chilling. What makes this book stand out is its astonishingly primitive structure which goes like this: Chapter One: Character is introduced and gets killed in a gory way. Chapter Two: Character is introduced and gets killed in a gory way. Chapter Three: Character is.. You get the idea. Believe me, I'm not joking. This goes on for nearly half of the book! If you like cheap thrills, read this one and you'll even learn something: Every possible way a rat can bite a human... It's fascinating that this medicore effort is the first part of a trilogy which ended with the really BRILLANT novel "Domain." Review by Oliver Naujoks, Marburg/Germany
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