The Fog

Rating:
Summary: "The Fog" left me in one!
Review: Disappointment is too mild a word for what I felt after reading James Herbert's "The Fog". I know that many reviewers before me have raved about this "classic" horror novel, but in my humble opinion, it left me wondering if I had read the wrong novel. It's too bad because I really wanted this book to "work".

I think part of my disappointment stemmed from the fact that most of the characters were either uninteresting or poorly fleshed out. And the plot...while extremely promising in the beginning, basically plodded along and collapsed at the finish.
Oh, there's plenty of gore and gruesome scenes in the book, but not enough to save a basically weak effort by one of the great horror novelists.

Now I know not everyone is going to agree with my opinion, but after reading hundreds of horror novels over the years, I guess I have a right to it! Sorry Mr. Herbert!

IMHO, for a better use of your time and money, go out and rent John Carpenter's loose version of "The Fog". It's a scare-a-minute thrill-fest that, if nothing else, will hold your interest because of Jamie Lee Curtis and Adrienne Barbeau.

Rating:
Summary: I'm wary about seeing Fog now!
Review: Following a sudden earthquake in a peaceful English village, a yellow fog arises. Nobody thinks anything of it until sudden outbreaks of insanity occur following the path of the Fog.Insanity that drives both man and animal to act out of ordinary, commit mass suicide and even kill. There is only one man immune to the Fog's touch, so he has to find out what the Fog is before it comes to the heavily populated city of London.

A great Horror/Thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat waiting for more and more of the gruesome effects of the Fog. Written in 1975, the gruesome factor would have been 'over the top', not so much these days but it still packs a punch.

Characterisation is excellent, especially his secondary characters which he will build up then kill off with a blood-gurgling finish. The writing is also very visual with no confusion about what is going on. The setting in cold, foggy England really helps with the forboding chilling feeling you get with this book as well. James Herbert is up there as being one of the top Horror writers along with Stephen King and Richard Laymon. Very enjoyable. RECOMMENDED TO ALL!

Rating:
Summary: Undoubtedly the leading horror writer of his time!
Review: James Herbert seems to prove time and time again that he is light years away from all other horror writers of his time. "The Fog" is just another installment of brilliant writing by this man. I read the most recent version of this story, which the writer admitted to needing touched up. Although the raw story was powerful enough when initially published to create a storm of controversy over its excessive use of violence, it is no worse now than the evening news. The true horror lies not in the gore that permeates the book from cover to cover, but in the idea that the story is not entirely unrealistic. James Herbert could teach a few of his contemporaries across the Atlantic just how to build tension within a few hundred pages. This book bites from the word go, and doesn't let go. I would advise anybody with some spare time to read this book, just make sure that you don't have anything else to do for the next few hours.