Portent

Rating:
Summary: Mr. Herbert's Finest Work
Review: Hailstones as big as footballs and even bigger--in Los Angeles! Earthquakes in London and Scotland. Steaming geysers erupting all over the world. Sandstorms, tsunamis, cyclones. The disasters are plenty in James Herbert's amazing view of an ecological apocalypse. So far, out of all the Herbert books I've read, this is his finest hour. In ways, it is much more accessible and believable than Stephen King's classic "The Stand." Herbert captures you from the very beginning, and sketches some very believable characters: James Rivers, at first a skeptic and then a believer, finds out the frightening truth about the ecological disasters that are threatening the world as we know it; Diane Poggs is a woman with two adopted children possessing extraordinary psychic powers; Hugo and Bibby Poggs are her father and mother-in-law; supporting characters in various scenarios are given powerful moments. And, the villain of the piece, the gargantuan Mama Pitie' is a frightening and disturbing antagonist. The rush to save the world from ultimate disaster is filled with very frightening scenes of the earth's awesome power and terror. The "lights" in the book at first frightening and disturbing transform into harbingers of hope by the end of the story.

This is a fantastic read, and certainly deserves more attention than it received.

Rating:
Summary: A novel about humanity's wake up call.
Review: Mother Earth is sick and tired of our pollutants and abuse and is ready to wipe us out. One group wants to right the wrongs humanity has made while another feels that it would better for all those involved that the human race be made extinct. There, in a simplistic nutshell, is the plot of british horror novelist James Herbert's tale of Earth's 'last and first days'. The book is full of Herbert's trademark graphic sex and grue as well as some truly awesome apocalyptic mayhem, all which is described in his deliciously clean and crisp prose. While the novel may lack a certain artistic depth it still offers a quick and special effects laden read that satisfies like a cold drink on a hot day. Enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: APOCALYPTIC LIGHTS
Review: The synopsis on the back of the book caught my interest, because I'm a meteorologist and like end of the world stories. This book takes James Rivers on a search to find out why the Earth is going through this apocalyptic change...first by surviving a plane crash after flying through Hurricane Zelda! Busy year for the Hurricane Center. It seems that balls of light, sometimes one and sometimes many are preludes to disastrous events. Plenty of destruction, from volcanic eruptions and explosions...hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, forest fires and killer hailstorms. Herbert centers this around twins who are gypsy orphans adopted by a Diane, daughter of eccentric Hugo Poggs, who believes the Earth is one breathing organism and that it is finally lashing back after all these years of man made harm. Rivers finally meets up with Poggs and sets about finding out that there are many kids who have to power to heal the earth, but according to the Dream Man, there are also those out there to do evil, as is the case with Mama Pitie, a big woman from New Orleans who seeks the death of the twins. Fast paced book worthy of those who like this type of fiction. The story ending is predictable and it finishes too fast and should have continued for a few more chapters.