142nd out of 807 books
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2,388 voters
The Fog
A peaceful village in Wiltshire is shattered by a disaster which strikes without reason or explanation, leaving behind a trail of misery and horror. A yawning, bottomless crack spreads through the earth, out of which creeps a fog that resembles no other. Whatever it is, it must be controlled.
Paperback, 345 pages
Published
April 1st 1999
by Macmillan UK
(first published 1975)
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Clearly Herbert intends to deliver sharp kicks to the stomach here, but he only succeeds in a few of the more minor incidences of people coming into contact with the fog early on and one or two late in the story. The more visceral sections are quite good, but they're not sustained for long and the author is not operating at a level near them for much of the book. Apart from some successes with minor characters, this is never really engrossing at a character level, despite the focus on the human...more
Great book- very readable.
I discovered this in an old cupboard, a blast from the past- this is probably the first 'novel' I ever read. I'm not entirely sure how it cam into my possession as an impressionable 12 year old- but to me it came, I know my best friend a t the time read it too but as to who gave it who I can't remember. Anyway it left a massive impression on me. So I hadn't read it for about 30 years, I thought I give it a go.
The standout gory bits early on it the book I remembered (in...more
I discovered this in an old cupboard, a blast from the past- this is probably the first 'novel' I ever read. I'm not entirely sure how it cam into my possession as an impressionable 12 year old- but to me it came, I know my best friend a t the time read it too but as to who gave it who I can't remember. Anyway it left a massive impression on me. So I hadn't read it for about 30 years, I thought I give it a go.
The standout gory bits early on it the book I remembered (in...more
I've had mixed results with Herbert so far, but this is a very acceptable effort. It's more fun near the beginning, when the explanation of the fog is unknown. It's the same way in other stories that offer up an intriguing mystery; the explanation, while entirely plausible, may come as a let down.
Any horror fan who likes gore can't be too upset here, as there are many instances of people going crazy and killing others in splendidly horrific ways, or committing suicide. The Bournemouth scene was...more
Any horror fan who likes gore can't be too upset here, as there are many instances of people going crazy and killing others in splendidly horrific ways, or committing suicide. The Bournemouth scene was...more
I've heard of James Herbert for a bit, always showing up on the edge of my Google/Amazon searches involving horror novels. I knew nothing about him outside of some quick "The Stephen King of Britain" style blurbs. I know those are referring more to his bestselling status and less to his style but if you were to take King, Michael Crichton him up a bit, drop about half the pop references [and all the references to old TV shows and slogans], and then set it all in southern England, you'd get somet...more
One of those good horror stories from the 1970's
The story takes place in foggy, England, but a special deadly fog - dense, and yellowish in color - suddenly arises from a split in the earth, and begins to infiltrate the minds of all whom it comes into contact with. Suddenly, formerly sane individuals find themselves acting as if they were monsters.
As the fog moves from place to place, it leaves behind it a path of horrible devastation, as murder, rape, mass suicide, and looting become a way of l...more
The story takes place in foggy, England, but a special deadly fog - dense, and yellowish in color - suddenly arises from a split in the earth, and begins to infiltrate the minds of all whom it comes into contact with. Suddenly, formerly sane individuals find themselves acting as if they were monsters.
As the fog moves from place to place, it leaves behind it a path of horrible devastation, as murder, rape, mass suicide, and looting become a way of l...more
Reading a James Herbert directly after a Neil Gaiman is perhaps an odd choice for me. It’s following a writer who is genuinely funny, with one whose biggest flaw is – in my opinion – his distinct lack of humour. I generally find Herbert’s books entertaining, but moments of light relief, let alone jokes, tend to be few and far between. However, even though I didn’t give it the best preparation, I thoroughly enjoyed ‘The Fog’.
As the author’s preface (written in 1988) points out, Herbert considers...more
As the author’s preface (written in 1988) points out, Herbert considers...more
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A weak plot with unrelated incidents of 'insanity' botched on to fill a few extra pages. I literally had to force myself through this one. Was expecting more after reading '48 which was a far better book.
Also, how does the sergeant at the end check his watch when he is wearing a cumbersome lead lined suit?
Also, how does the sergeant at the end check his watch when he is wearing a cumbersome lead lined suit?
When an apparent earthquake, in a sleepy Wiltshire town, creates a rupture in the road, a fog escapes. Holman, a government worker looking into potential misdeeds by the MOD, breathes it in and turns insane, before being successfully treated. The fog then makes its way along the south coast, turning everyone who encounters it into a maniac, until it reaches London. Published in 1975, my memories of this (read when I was in my teens) encompass three key set pieces – the gym, the pigeon fancier an...more
In this 1970s horror novel, an unusual earthquake hits a small British town. John Holman's car falls into the crack in the earth, but as he tries to get back to the surface a strange yellow fog escapes from the earth and envelops him. When the rescuers pull him out, he is completely insane. After a blood transfusion and some rest, John gets back to normal, but the fog continues to prowl the British countryside, and any person or animal who comes into contact with it goes crazy -- sometimes right...more
Stephen King speaks highly of this in his non-fiction book 'Danse Macabre', where he praises the extremities of violence which are apparently exploited so shamelessly in 'The Fog'.
The thought of an old lady being eaten by her many pet cats sounded excellently disturbing, and very typical for the depraved imagination of James Herbert. However, when I actually read this book, I found it to be mostly just a mess. The prose is clunky and chaotic (this is early Herbert, so it's kind of understandabl...more
The thought of an old lady being eaten by her many pet cats sounded excellently disturbing, and very typical for the depraved imagination of James Herbert. However, when I actually read this book, I found it to be mostly just a mess. The prose is clunky and chaotic (this is early Herbert, so it's kind of understandabl...more
I had high hopes for this book, but I was a little disappointed actually. I liked the fact that there was action right away and it seemed like every chapter at first there was more action, death and murder, among other things getting more and more intense the further I read. I felt like I was experiencing each scene vividly in my mind.
I found the plot pretty strong for the most part, dipped a little between 60 and 80 % where I found I had to force my way through it a little bit. I actually foun...more
I found the plot pretty strong for the most part, dipped a little between 60 and 80 % where I found I had to force my way through it a little bit. I actually foun...more
The Fog has a really enjoyable set-up, the first 100 pages or so, where the characters and theme are introduced, Herbert's character sketches are the most punchy and satisfying and sequence in school, what The Fog is most infamous for, happens; this absolutely gruesome fast paced beginning sets a good tone for The Fog being an entertaining chiller. Unfortunately, the novel grinds to a halt amid the introduction of the government, the nationalisation of the fog and the underlining of some really...more
I enjoyed this book, it's look into one possible scenario of a biological weapon release upon an unsuspecting population was disturbing. The story had a nice pace, though it drags in a few areas. One problem that I had was the naive personality of the main character. Though I may be unrealistic with my assessment of how fast a person would stop trusting potential psychopaths. Books that I would recommend that follow this thread: The white plague, Hiroshima, and Children of men. A book that I hav...more
This author is recommended as one of the horror greats, so when I saw this book and The Rats on one of my Goodwill adventures, I had to get 'em. I really enjoy horror stories though I don't seem to read them as often as other types, but while looking for my next book to read, I saw this one and it just said to me, it's time. So I went with the flow and started reading, and was immediately drawn into the story, wanting to know what was going to happen next. To be honest, when I picked this book u...more
Aug 24, 2010
Kechelle
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
horror,
read-and-reviewed
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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I stopped reading this novel around page 90. Why? The main narrator beats up his girlfriend until she's unconscious, then ties her up with bedsheets. Police officers show up and suspect the man of being a crazy lunatic; they take the girl to a hospital and interrogate the main narrator at the police station. After a few hours, they decide not to charge him and set him free!
See, I have a problem with that. If you are going to write fantastical fiction, bending the rules is OK, but you have to sti...more
See, I have a problem with that. If you are going to write fantastical fiction, bending the rules is OK, but you have to sti...more
"The Fog" is the first James Herbert book I have read. After reading a number of disappointing books I found "the fog" a refreshing change. The story is easy to read and captivating. The pace of the book keeps the intrigue high and your attention.
The story follows the central character who saves a young girl who has fallen into a giant crack in the floor created by a tremor. The tremor is the least of there problems after they realise a fog like cloud has been released from under the earth. The...more
The story follows the central character who saves a young girl who has fallen into a giant crack in the floor created by a tremor. The tremor is the least of there problems after they realise a fog like cloud has been released from under the earth. The...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
The Fog was the first James Herbert book I read and I was mightily impressed by it. As an author he does seem to have a definite hatred of London, as several of his books seem to go out of their way to utterly obliterate it! After a small earthquake a mysterious fog is released into the atmosphere. This seems to prey on peoples dreams and aspirations creating havoc across the land. It's riveting stuff and I was hooked after the first chapter.
If I'd have read this before The Dark then I'm sure I would have been impressed and given it a higher rating, but there seems to be the same storyline in each James Herbert book I've read: fog/ dark/ moon comes along, people go mad and kill each other in the most gruesome and sexually perverted way.
My advice would be only to read one James Herbert book ever because he does the storyline well, but you don't want to read it again and again!
My advice would be only to read one James Herbert book ever because he does the storyline well, but you don't want to read it again and again!
The Fog is James Herbert's seconod book and one of his best. An earthquake releases a strange, yellowish fog which affects any who come into contact with it turning them into homicidal maniacs and as the affects wear off they are compelled to commit suicide. It is up to one man to warn those in its path. And it is on a direct path to London!
There are some images that just stay with you long after finishing the book, a mark of a really great book.
There are some images that just stay with you long after finishing the book, a mark of a really great book.
Okay, I admit it...I only bought this as a teenager as there were some interesting chapters which were being passed around the school yard. But it's mix of sex and violence certainly closed the door on children's fiction forever and did get me reading more. Twenty years on and I still have the images of severed heads and mass drownings in my head..Thank you Mr Herbert!
I'm a massive James Herbert fan and I thoroughly enjoyed this book- not as much as I enjoyed the Rats trilogy but this deals with a very different subject matter.
When explosive testing unearths a biological weapon hidden underground for decades, the whole of England becomes at risk from the deadly mind-altering substance that takes the shape of a fog. Anyone who comes into contact with it will steadily lose their mind and either kill themselves or others.
There's very much the same character ster...more
When explosive testing unearths a biological weapon hidden underground for decades, the whole of England becomes at risk from the deadly mind-altering substance that takes the shape of a fog. Anyone who comes into contact with it will steadily lose their mind and either kill themselves or others.
There's very much the same character ster...more
I was under the impression that James Herbert wrote "horror". But after reading this, and his Others, I've come to the conclusion that Herbert writes about depravity.
No more James Herbert for me.
No more James Herbert for me.
This story wasn't bad, but was a bit of a disappointment, considering the last piece I read by James Herbert was 48, and that novel was much better. This felt like a victim of it's era, a bit tame and stale, and good writing transcends the era. I know it was one of his early works, and I definitely noticed.
Kick ass strait up horror. A fog roams around the English countryside turning anyone it envelopes into blood thirsty maniacs. And you then find out that it was a chemical weapon created by the government and is to a small extent self aware.
It’s never going to win any literary prizes but it was great run.
It’s never going to win any literary prizes but it was great run.
Aug 04, 2011
Belinda
added it
Not one of his best, and to the people who assume it is based on John Carpenter and Debra Hill's film you may want to check your dates. The book was written in 1975, the film made in 1979, the only similarity is the title.
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James Herbert is Britain's number one bestselling writer (a position he has held ever since publication of his first novel) and one of the world's top writers of thriller/horror fiction.
He was one of our greatest popular novelists, whose books are sold in thirty-three other languages, including Russian and Chinese. Widely imitated and hugely influential, his nineteen novels have sold more than fo...more
More about James Herbert...
He was one of our greatest popular novelists, whose books are sold in thirty-three other languages, including Russian and Chinese. Widely imitated and hugely influential, his nineteen novels have sold more than fo...more
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