Moon

Rating:
Summary: NOTHING TO MOON OVER...
Review: Having read "The Fog", an absolutely terrific book by this author, I looked forward to reading this one. I am sorry to say that this book does not even begin to compare to "The Fog", a book that is superior in every way to this effort.

The plot is simple. A schoolteacher, Jonathan Childes, has certain psychic abilities over which he has little control. He can apparently meld his mind with that of a sadistic killer. Unfortunately for him, this killer is aware of Childes' mental intrusion and deduces who and where Childes is.

Some tension is created by having Childes become a suspect in a series of murders of which Childes is aware due to his mind meld with the actual killer. His knowledge is a double edged sword. The killer then decides to bring his handiwork a little too close to home for Childes' tastes, and the plot thickens.

This book is mildly entertaining at best, as the tension does not really hold up. Moreover, the ending is somewhat ridiculous and disappointing, reminiscent of a promise unfulfilled. The author is certainly capable of better. If one is looking for a book of unrelenting horror, then this is not the book for which one is looking. It is more of a murder mystery with supernatural overtones, and a somewhat mediocre one, at that.

Rating:
Summary: My favorite James Herbert novel
Review: I've always made no secret of it that I prefer the realistic/ suspense kind of horror novel over the supernatural one (Jimmy, if you're reading this, sorry). I always loved James Herbert and he's becoming more and more of an idol to me. However, most of his novels have dealt with the supernatural. MOON to me is a welcome exception to this rule and that's why I think it's also his best.

Why Herbert has always so appealed to me is that nine out of ten times he uses the same set up: There's always this one, male character who battles seemingly impossible odds but stays this realistic often flawed human being. He wins in the end, but it's how he gets there that's important, and it's never an easy road he has to travel!
The other element his books always have (untill his last ones, like CREED, OTHERS and ONCE) is these amazing setpieces which are almost like scenes out of a slashermovie. They always go like this: There's a character introduced in a few pages, we follow them and think the're going to play a big part in the novel, but then (totally unexpected) he or she gets it, often in a particulary nasty way....BAM!
I love that, and I love James Hebert for doing that every time!

It may come as no suprise that MOON has these elements also. I'm not going to delve into the plot. The set up is simple (man against lunatic killer) and both the situation and it's island location are used to maximum, often harrowing effect.
To use a cliche; read the book and find out.

James Herbert is no literary writer (read Ramsey Campbell if you prefer your horror that way). He is however capable of making a juicy, fastpaced horrornovel which - in case of MOON - never disappoints!

I see MOON is out of print in the States. However Amazon.co.uk has this, and most of Herbert's titles in stock in a cool new MacMillan paperback edition, all with similar covers and packaging.
THIS IS MUST READ FOR HORROR FANS!

Rating:
Summary: One of Herbert's best...
Review: I've read all of James Herbert's books and, usually, they get a tad homogenous after a while. Enjoyable - but similar. _Moon_ is a departure from that. It does follow Herbert's favorite type of character - an ordinary man forced into an extraordinary situation - but this offering is better than most. The characters and the Jersey Island setting are particularly engaging and the antagonist is exceedingly chilling - more so than usual. This book is Herbert at his near-best.