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The Spear
When Steadman agreed to investigate the disappearance of a young Mossad agent, he had no idea he would be drawn into a malevolent conspiracy of neo-Nazi cultists bent on unleashing an age-old unholy power on an unsuspecting world.
312 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
75 people are currently reading
1434 people want to read
About the author
James Herbert
101 books2,386 followersJames Herbert was Britain's number one bestselling writer (a position he 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 19 novels have sold more than 42 million copies worldwide.
As an author he produced some of the most powerful horror fiction of the past decade. With a skillful blend of horror and thriller fiction, he explored the shaded territories of evil, evoking a sense of brooding menace and rising tension. He relentlessly draws the reader through the story's ultimate revelation - one that will stay to chill the mind long after the book has been laid aside. His bestsellers, THE MAGIC COTTAGE, HAUNTED, SEPULCHRE, and CREED, enhanced his reputation as a writer of depth and originality. His novels THE FOG, THE DARK, and THE SURVIVOR have been hailed as classics of the genre.
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 19 novels have sold more than 42 million copies worldwide.
As an author he produced some of the most powerful horror fiction of the past decade. With a skillful blend of horror and thriller fiction, he explored the shaded territories of evil, evoking a sense of brooding menace and rising tension. He relentlessly draws the reader through the story's ultimate revelation - one that will stay to chill the mind long after the book has been laid aside. His bestsellers, THE MAGIC COTTAGE, HAUNTED, SEPULCHRE, and CREED, enhanced his reputation as a writer of depth and originality. His novels THE FOG, THE DARK, and THE SURVIVOR have been hailed as classics of the genre.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 180 reviews
November 25, 2021
From the days when Herbert was churning out bestselling quintessentially British horror that was the best the British Isles had to offer - this was The Spear, which was, ready for it... a spear connected to ghost and NAZIs! What more could you ask for? And please don't say Zombies, aliens, dashing dwarves, angry bears, talking monkeys etc. This was one of Herbert's (at the time) bestselling and fast moving supernatural conspiracy thrillers that pushes you relentlessly to the finish, because you just need to know what's gonna happen next! 6 out of 12.
2006 read
2006 read
September 18, 2019
A very entertaining and thrilling book. I'm giving it a well-deserved 4 stars. I was so close to giving it 5 stars, but the slow start and the slow development of characters let it down a little bit. It took a little while before I became invested in the story, but once you went past the halfway point, the action was non-stop.
Overall, though, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and its slow rising tension. By the end, the characters were well developed and thought-out. The concept of the plot was intriguing and at some points, a little terrifying to contemplate. It also has one of the most satisfying endings that I have read by Herbert (even if it was slightly predictable).
Overall, though, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and its slow rising tension. By the end, the characters were well developed and thought-out. The concept of the plot was intriguing and at some points, a little terrifying to contemplate. It also has one of the most satisfying endings that I have read by Herbert (even if it was slightly predictable).
April 13, 2018
A hunt for the spear that killed Christ. The Spear Of Destiny. The SS and the Nazi obsession with ancient relics. Indiana Jones came a lot later than this book. James Herbert pulls back the veil on the esoteric past. The Nazis did scour the world for knowledge and power just like in the Raiders Of The Lost Arc movies. This book is really good. If one truly believes that Himmler was trying to gain occultic influence during the war one will probably see this horror book as even scarier than if it is just a work of fiction.🐯👍👍🐯
January 8, 2023
Disappointing. I don’t mind slow, simmering buildups with character development but this just dragged on and on for no apparent reason. The name of the book is The Spear, it’s about the Spear of Longinus, the Spear of Destiny that pierced Christ’s side on the cross. Then why for God’s sake is it barely even mentioned until the closing chapters?? What a waste of material - Nazi’s, the Mossad, a possible fourth Riech, mysterious supernatural phenomenon, etc. there are some genuinely creepy and horrific bits but they are severely outweighed by the numbing boredom of the rest. The novel should be cut by 2/3 and it would be much better in my opinion.
July 8, 2013
I must admit that I've only got into Herbert since he very sadly passed on earlier this year, I started by reading The Rats and enjoyed his style. I think in a way I prefer him to King as he isn't quite so anecdotal and rambling (although I am still a big king fan). After reading the rats I searched for another Herbert book to order and the synopsis that I saw for The Spear struck me and so I ordered it.
Harry Steadman is a fairly standard private detective who has been mixed up with various political battles in his time, however he is now happy to take on much quieter missions. However he is hired to spy on a very sinister arms dealer and as ever with a Herbert novel there are supernatural forces at work. I won't spoil it but there are some very memorable scenes in this particular book, the imagery towards the last few pages certainly stuck with me for a while.
The Spear mixes together a pulpy detective tale with some of the more macabre offerings out there, there's a particularly nasty scene involving a crucifixion. I enjoyed this immensely for some reason, even though the plot isn't entirely original the character of Steadman is very likeable and the whole set up is engaging, which is all you want from a good book. I don't think this was ever written with awards in mind, but if you want a page-turner with some engaging imagery then this is a solid choice. I wouldn't say no to seeing a film of this one day, although maybe the premise is a tad dated for contemporary audiences.
Out of the very few negatives I felt that one of the fight scenes was very drawn out, a little too theatrical for a novel - I almost found myself wanting to skim through the scene. Another thing, that I've noticed with a few Herbert pieces, is that a bond is formed between a character and a potential love interest a little too quickly. Which may well be a quirk of his, but one that I find a little contrived.
But having said all this I will actually hold this forgotten gem as one of my favourite books and I can see myself digging out my copy to read again sometime soon.
Harry Steadman is a fairly standard private detective who has been mixed up with various political battles in his time, however he is now happy to take on much quieter missions. However he is hired to spy on a very sinister arms dealer and as ever with a Herbert novel there are supernatural forces at work. I won't spoil it but there are some very memorable scenes in this particular book, the imagery towards the last few pages certainly stuck with me for a while.
The Spear mixes together a pulpy detective tale with some of the more macabre offerings out there, there's a particularly nasty scene involving a crucifixion. I enjoyed this immensely for some reason, even though the plot isn't entirely original the character of Steadman is very likeable and the whole set up is engaging, which is all you want from a good book. I don't think this was ever written with awards in mind, but if you want a page-turner with some engaging imagery then this is a solid choice. I wouldn't say no to seeing a film of this one day, although maybe the premise is a tad dated for contemporary audiences.
Out of the very few negatives I felt that one of the fight scenes was very drawn out, a little too theatrical for a novel - I almost found myself wanting to skim through the scene. Another thing, that I've noticed with a few Herbert pieces, is that a bond is formed between a character and a potential love interest a little too quickly. Which may well be a quirk of his, but one that I find a little contrived.
But having said all this I will actually hold this forgotten gem as one of my favourite books and I can see myself digging out my copy to read again sometime soon.
October 10, 2022
Pretty decent read, my first by James Herbert. Nazis and legendary artifacts make a nice backdrop. Reread notes, Spooktober '22. This is really more of a thriller with some supernatural aspects than a horror novel, and being first published in 1978, it definitely has a dated feel. Our main protagonist, Harry Steadman, is a PI in London, but he used to be a soldier in Britain, worked for British Intelligence, and later for Mossad. One day someone from Mossad shows up and wants to hire Harry to check out a missing person; one of their agents and a brother to his killed girlfriend of years ago. It seems the agent visited an arms dealer in England and never came back...
The Spear unfolds at an almost frenetic pace as Harry is dealt one challenge after another. Some typical Herbert explicit sex scenes and violence, this also had some creepy bits. What made this feel so dated are the political and economic conditions (and references) of the 70s when it was written, but it must have been cutting edge when it came out. 3 stars!
The Spear unfolds at an almost frenetic pace as Harry is dealt one challenge after another. Some typical Herbert explicit sex scenes and violence, this also had some creepy bits. What made this feel so dated are the political and economic conditions (and references) of the 70s when it was written, but it must have been cutting edge when it came out. 3 stars!
October 31, 2024
I wanted to read a James Herbert book and this was the shortest available option. Maybe if I’d known it was a spy novel about Nazi cultists and Israeli assassins, it might have thought twice. It’s a decently fun action movie in structure but the best parts are long magical diatribes about the spiritual war between British logic and fascist thinking. Herbert uses a lot of actual Hitler and Himmler quotes, and the book sort of rhetorically combats undead nazism in an interesting way. Slowly turns up the horror in the second half, but it still didn’t really do it for me. It does have some undead, spear of Jesus action, so it does what it promises. Reminds me of Brian Lumley’s more spy-horror stuff.
June 27, 2013
This was a fun read. Classic Herbert. Nazi's fascination with occult has always made for interesting stories and this one's no exception. Herbert created a pretty wild plot, but there is so much going on and it's so action packed with some genuinely freaky scenes. It is of course dated, but not distractingly so, since really it only worked that well because of the setting's chronological proximity to WWII. Equal parts action thriller and a horror novel with a strong hero fighting the good fight against terrifying odds, a crazy conspiracy theory with its positively horrifying implications for the world and about the world, an original and interesting plot...this book certainly has a lot to offer its readers. Recommended.
June 3, 2016
A fanatical arms dealer is intent on resurrecting Himmler using the spear that pierced Christ's side; he will then lead a new world order and purify the human race. Given that said arms dealer - Edward Gant - has no nose, it is unlikely he will smell the strong aroma of bullshit wafting from this idea. We are treated to a beautiful hermaphrodite, a rather excellent first meeting with Himmler's corpse, a bizarre crucifixion scene, and a couple of disturbing flashbacks to the war. As usual, the fight scenes are overlong and the sex scenes overdone; Herbert tends to pant like a 13 year old over a swimsuit catalogue. As usual, it's a highly enjoyable romp; a little (storm)trooper of a book.
August 3, 2011
hybred of war horror
May 17, 2009
Back in 1978 we saw the release of James Herbert’s fifth novel to be published, entitled ‘The Spear’. Following on from the likes of ‘The Rats’, ‘The Fog, ‘The Survivor’ and ‘Fluke’, Herbert’s next publication was highly anticipated by a growing audience.
The tale follows the principal character of Harry Steadman, an ex-agent for Mossad (the national intelligence agency for Israel) who now works as one of two partners within a private enquiry agency (similar to a private investigator’s). Steadman is somewhat forced into helping out the British Secret Services to expose the organised and powerful fanatic organisation that is currently being run by some of the most powerful men in Britain.
During Steadman’s investigations, a much more horrifying truth emerges surrounding this corrupt organisation of Neo-Nazi Thulists. A truth that is submerged in the occult and the dark power this group is attempting to wield from the spear that pierced Christ’s side; the Spear of Longinus.
Littered with actual quotes from the likes of Heinrich Himmler and Adolf Hitler, ‘The Spear’ has a storyline that finds itself predominately focussed on the atrocities and sheer evil behind these two historical individuals from World War II. Herbert carefully ties in their past to a modern day scenario. With a detailed complexity to the storyline, Herbert finds himself regularly detailing the plotline to the reader by way of a clichéd ‘bad guy to good guy explains the elaborate plotline’ in an early James Bond movie way. This does come across as quite comical in places, but doesn’t detract too much from the developing storyline.
The character of Steadman is another one of Herbert’s typical charismatic characters who the reader can find themselves easily identifying with and indeed building up somewhat of a rapport with. His inner-torment at the violence portrayed within the novel, humanises the character, bringing out an array of sympathies from the reader towards the troubled man.
The book has the usual injection of sex and over the top violence that have become almost staple with Herbert’s work (obviously with the odd exception here and there such as that of ‘Fluke’). Like with many of Herbert’s novels, ‘The Spear’ starts off as predominately more of an action packed crime thriller than a horror, until the dark and twisted truth is finally revealed. Snippets of the more supernatural side to the tale are thrown in on the odd occasion, but nothing to really sway the overall impression of the tale during the half of the book.
At times the elaborate storyline seems somewhat over complicated for what is actually transpiring. Herbert’s intricate plot comes across as too carefully formulated without much thought given to how the explanation will be uncovered and eventually delivered to the reader. This is disappointing, especially from an author of Herbert’s calibre.
The ending is suitably dramatic and conclusive. All subplots, however small, are quickly tied up leaving the grand finale to deliver its symbolic conclusion. ‘The Spear’ is certainly not one of Herbert’s stronger novels, but still delivers a thoroughly entertaining tale with an action packed storyline and an intricate plot.
The novel runs for a total of 253 pages and was published by New English Library.
The tale follows the principal character of Harry Steadman, an ex-agent for Mossad (the national intelligence agency for Israel) who now works as one of two partners within a private enquiry agency (similar to a private investigator’s). Steadman is somewhat forced into helping out the British Secret Services to expose the organised and powerful fanatic organisation that is currently being run by some of the most powerful men in Britain.
During Steadman’s investigations, a much more horrifying truth emerges surrounding this corrupt organisation of Neo-Nazi Thulists. A truth that is submerged in the occult and the dark power this group is attempting to wield from the spear that pierced Christ’s side; the Spear of Longinus.
Littered with actual quotes from the likes of Heinrich Himmler and Adolf Hitler, ‘The Spear’ has a storyline that finds itself predominately focussed on the atrocities and sheer evil behind these two historical individuals from World War II. Herbert carefully ties in their past to a modern day scenario. With a detailed complexity to the storyline, Herbert finds himself regularly detailing the plotline to the reader by way of a clichéd ‘bad guy to good guy explains the elaborate plotline’ in an early James Bond movie way. This does come across as quite comical in places, but doesn’t detract too much from the developing storyline.
The character of Steadman is another one of Herbert’s typical charismatic characters who the reader can find themselves easily identifying with and indeed building up somewhat of a rapport with. His inner-torment at the violence portrayed within the novel, humanises the character, bringing out an array of sympathies from the reader towards the troubled man.
The book has the usual injection of sex and over the top violence that have become almost staple with Herbert’s work (obviously with the odd exception here and there such as that of ‘Fluke’). Like with many of Herbert’s novels, ‘The Spear’ starts off as predominately more of an action packed crime thriller than a horror, until the dark and twisted truth is finally revealed. Snippets of the more supernatural side to the tale are thrown in on the odd occasion, but nothing to really sway the overall impression of the tale during the half of the book.
At times the elaborate storyline seems somewhat over complicated for what is actually transpiring. Herbert’s intricate plot comes across as too carefully formulated without much thought given to how the explanation will be uncovered and eventually delivered to the reader. This is disappointing, especially from an author of Herbert’s calibre.
The ending is suitably dramatic and conclusive. All subplots, however small, are quickly tied up leaving the grand finale to deliver its symbolic conclusion. ‘The Spear’ is certainly not one of Herbert’s stronger novels, but still delivers a thoroughly entertaining tale with an action packed storyline and an intricate plot.
The novel runs for a total of 253 pages and was published by New English Library.
July 21, 2009
So there I was just the other day, criticising Ian Fleming's Goldfinger for being ridiculous - and then I came across this. James Herbert's The Spear - which also includes the secret service - makes Goldfinger resemble Le Carre at his most gritty. In fact it makes Goldfinger look like the spy novel as written by Alan Stillitoe.
The plot: A London private detective is hired to track down a young Mossard agent. Following various escapades - including a crucifixion on a London street and a tank with a mind of its own - he discovers a group of Nazis who are using a biblical artifact to give them unlimited power. (This is three years before 'Raiders of The Lost Ark', so I suppose we can give points for that.)
Our hero is a world weary macho sort who is almost comically indestructable. The women fall into three distinct categories. They are mainly your gloriously good looking type who have some kind of sexual frisson with the hero. Or they are not attractive - i.e. plump - and so seem to have no sexual side at all. Or they're hermaphrodites.
It all ends with a dizzying rush of bangs and pops and explosions that left this reader's head spinning. Maybe the author thought if he kept going fast no one would have time to pause and see how bonkers it all was.
In conclusion I can only say there are better James Herberts.
The plot: A London private detective is hired to track down a young Mossard agent. Following various escapades - including a crucifixion on a London street and a tank with a mind of its own - he discovers a group of Nazis who are using a biblical artifact to give them unlimited power. (This is three years before 'Raiders of The Lost Ark', so I suppose we can give points for that.)
Our hero is a world weary macho sort who is almost comically indestructable. The women fall into three distinct categories. They are mainly your gloriously good looking type who have some kind of sexual frisson with the hero. Or they are not attractive - i.e. plump - and so seem to have no sexual side at all. Or they're hermaphrodites.
It all ends with a dizzying rush of bangs and pops and explosions that left this reader's head spinning. Maybe the author thought if he kept going fast no one would have time to pause and see how bonkers it all was.
In conclusion I can only say there are better James Herberts.
October 6, 2023
Qualche mese fa ho trovato questo libro, scritto nel 1978, abbandonato in un angolo a casa di un mio amico e, incuriosito dalla dicitura "1.200 lire" (ah, la cara e vecchia lira) ho chiesto di poterlo leggere... cosa che ho fatto solo adesso. Romanzo scritto davvero bene, la lettura scorre fluida e veloce, merito anche dei capitoli abbastanza brevi. La trama, che mischia avventura e fantasy, condite sul finale con un po' di horror, è davvero elementare ed ha un finale ampiamente prevedibile: un investigatore privato, ex membro del Mossad, incaricato di pedinare un mercante di armi con simpatie neonaziste si ritrova invece coinvolto nella ricerca della lancia di Longino (che, secondo la leggenda, trafisse il costato del Cristo crocifisso). Beh, come avrete certamente capito, la trama non aggiunge niente di nuovo al panorama letterario, essendo simile a quella di tanti altri libri che trattano sempre la ricerca della famosa lancia. A tal proposito vi consiglio anche il bellissimo libro
La voce del destino
di Marco Buticchi. [https://lastanzadiantonio.blogspot.co...]
June 20, 2022
Just a couple of James Herbert's novels left to read
January 24, 2016
Far from the best by James Herbert. Banal plot, slow moving and low tension book. Some good creepy descriptions elevate it to two stars, but I can't give more
January 13, 2018
I read this book some time ago and I enjoyed every word that was written in the book.
Recommended.
Recommended.
Read
February 6, 2009THE SPEAR by James Herbert
Review by Nickolas Cook
05/18/06
When Herbert is on, he’s one of the best horror writers in the world. And I’m not just saying that. For anyone who’s ever read “The Rats”, “The Fog”, or “The Dark” can tell you he writes splatter horror like no one else in the business. But he has been known to write a quieter horror as well, as evidenced by such books as “The Magic Cottage” and “Fluke”. “The Spear” falls into that quieter category, as he tells the story of Harry Steadman, ex agent for Mossad living in London and working as a private investigator. When he’s asked to find a missing Mossad agent for his old spy fraternity, he refuses, tired of the violence of his old life. But his partner is tortured and killed at his front step and he makes it his business to find and destroy the people responsible. What he doesn’t bargain for is the desperate depths that his old Nazi enemies have sunk to regain world power.
“The Spear” plays more as a spy novel than a horror novel, and with that caveat having been said, fear not...there are moments of horror. For Herbert has attempted one of the few true mummy novels in horror. There are only a few of them around, and most were written long before this one. He does an admirable job of working the Nazi angle into his tale, and if nothing else “The Spear” makes for one heck of a rousing action story. But the horror isn’t going to come as a surprise to anyone who’s actually reading the book. There are plenty of hints of what’s to come, as we learn how Heinrich Himmler never actually died and the body identified as his was only someone pretending to be him to save the last power circle of Nazi masters from the righteous fury of the conquering armies. There is a certain surprising conservative message between the lines, as hedonistic sex and a hermaphrodite are made the targets of some pretty vile remarks, something I would never have seen coming from Herbert, who may be one of England’s most subversive living authors. But as this was written in the early 80s, things do change, so perhaps his philosophy has as well.
There is also a nice subplot about Hitler and his love for Wagner’s works, and a pseudo-religious one about the spear used to stab Jesus Christ as a weapon of mass evil destruction. But in the end, as much as the story seemed to rely on these dual components, neither of them carry through to the end as much as the spy angle, or the Himmler angle.
Herbert’s use of the solitary hero strongman was also used in another excellent horror novel, much like “The Spear” in its quiet insinuations instead of full blown blood and guts extremes: “Sepulcher”. And if you find “The Spear” to your liking, then I would suggest finding a copy of this one as well.
Review by Nickolas Cook
05/18/06
When Herbert is on, he’s one of the best horror writers in the world. And I’m not just saying that. For anyone who’s ever read “The Rats”, “The Fog”, or “The Dark” can tell you he writes splatter horror like no one else in the business. But he has been known to write a quieter horror as well, as evidenced by such books as “The Magic Cottage” and “Fluke”. “The Spear” falls into that quieter category, as he tells the story of Harry Steadman, ex agent for Mossad living in London and working as a private investigator. When he’s asked to find a missing Mossad agent for his old spy fraternity, he refuses, tired of the violence of his old life. But his partner is tortured and killed at his front step and he makes it his business to find and destroy the people responsible. What he doesn’t bargain for is the desperate depths that his old Nazi enemies have sunk to regain world power.
“The Spear” plays more as a spy novel than a horror novel, and with that caveat having been said, fear not...there are moments of horror. For Herbert has attempted one of the few true mummy novels in horror. There are only a few of them around, and most were written long before this one. He does an admirable job of working the Nazi angle into his tale, and if nothing else “The Spear” makes for one heck of a rousing action story. But the horror isn’t going to come as a surprise to anyone who’s actually reading the book. There are plenty of hints of what’s to come, as we learn how Heinrich Himmler never actually died and the body identified as his was only someone pretending to be him to save the last power circle of Nazi masters from the righteous fury of the conquering armies. There is a certain surprising conservative message between the lines, as hedonistic sex and a hermaphrodite are made the targets of some pretty vile remarks, something I would never have seen coming from Herbert, who may be one of England’s most subversive living authors. But as this was written in the early 80s, things do change, so perhaps his philosophy has as well.
There is also a nice subplot about Hitler and his love for Wagner’s works, and a pseudo-religious one about the spear used to stab Jesus Christ as a weapon of mass evil destruction. But in the end, as much as the story seemed to rely on these dual components, neither of them carry through to the end as much as the spy angle, or the Himmler angle.
Herbert’s use of the solitary hero strongman was also used in another excellent horror novel, much like “The Spear” in its quiet insinuations instead of full blown blood and guts extremes: “Sepulcher”. And if you find “The Spear” to your liking, then I would suggest finding a copy of this one as well.
November 2, 2021
This is a thriller with some horror and supernatural elements. The premise is that a secret cell of neo-Nazis has formed among powerful members of the British and U.S. government. They are planning to take over the world with the power of the so-called "Heilige Lance," which was the spear that Longinus used to pierce Christ's side. The wound supposedly bled into the Holy Grail.
Somehow, Himmler took possession of the spear and brought it over to England, where he lived secretly after his body double committed suicide in his stead. With the help of a well-connected arms dealer, the neo-Nazi plot almost comes to fruition.
The main character, a private eye living near London (if I recall correctly), is called upon by the Mossad (for whom he formerly worked) to put a stop to the plot. Initially, he doesn't want to get involved, but as atrocities mount, he realizes that he has no choice.
This book is quite fast-moving and suspenseful. It's a great read which I hesitate to label as great literature. It's definitely well-written and quite enjoyable, however.
Somehow, Himmler took possession of the spear and brought it over to England, where he lived secretly after his body double committed suicide in his stead. With the help of a well-connected arms dealer, the neo-Nazi plot almost comes to fruition.
The main character, a private eye living near London (if I recall correctly), is called upon by the Mossad (for whom he formerly worked) to put a stop to the plot. Initially, he doesn't want to get involved, but as atrocities mount, he realizes that he has no choice.
This book is quite fast-moving and suspenseful. It's a great read which I hesitate to label as great literature. It's definitely well-written and quite enjoyable, however.
May 14, 2024
This book was a disappointment. The premise was good, the writing wasn’t too bad, but it became a bit too unbelievable… in a Hocus Pocus kind of way.
April 1, 2015
186/7th/12
July 16, 2025
'The Spear' by James Herbert.
Rating: 3.75/5.
Review:
After a month-long reading journey, I finally finished James Herbert's 'The Spear'. It was a gripping read, and it only took me so long to finish it was because I have been extremely busy at work lately and, also, because I took a memorable vacation with my parents to the popular tourist destinations of Western Europe—and as such, I hardly got any time to read. However, whatever little time I used to get with this book during those days, it did succeed in keeping my entertained for those short bursts of time I used to spend reading it.
'The Spear' is a weird mix of genres. It covers espionage, thriller, alternative history, and even the horror genres—all of it packed in a short 300-page long mass market paperback! The premise was interesting, with the rising tensions in the Israel-Palestine war acting as the backdrop while also focusing on the rise of neo-Nazism (especially the occult branches) in a post-WW2 era. It was an action-packed affair, pulpy to some extent, but it was sufficient enough to keep me glued to the story until the very end.
James Herbert is often known for his horror elements. This book focuses primarily on the espionage and thriller aspects, but you get an inkling of the supernatural elements after the first few chapters. These aren't prominent, but the horror aspects make their presence felt at the back end of the book. If you are scared of scary stories, please don't be afraid to pick this one up, though! While this contains some supernatural elements, it isn't as scary as some of the horror stuff out there, but there's some amount of creepiness that you must be cautioned about. James Herbert's writing, especially when it involves supernatural elements, is atmospheric, and the air is palpable with tension, so much so that you can actually sense what the characters are feeling at that moment.
All in all, 'The Spear' turned out to be a great read. The only gripe I had was that although it offered a satisfactory ending, I would have preferred to read an epilogue that would tell me what happened to the characters after this brutal ordeal. Nonetheless, I had an amazing time reading it. It definitely made me want to pick up more of James Herbert's works in the future!
‘And so the game continues, Steadman thought grimly.’
Rating: 3.75/5.
Review:
After a month-long reading journey, I finally finished James Herbert's 'The Spear'. It was a gripping read, and it only took me so long to finish it was because I have been extremely busy at work lately and, also, because I took a memorable vacation with my parents to the popular tourist destinations of Western Europe—and as such, I hardly got any time to read. However, whatever little time I used to get with this book during those days, it did succeed in keeping my entertained for those short bursts of time I used to spend reading it.
'The Spear' is a weird mix of genres. It covers espionage, thriller, alternative history, and even the horror genres—all of it packed in a short 300-page long mass market paperback! The premise was interesting, with the rising tensions in the Israel-Palestine war acting as the backdrop while also focusing on the rise of neo-Nazism (especially the occult branches) in a post-WW2 era. It was an action-packed affair, pulpy to some extent, but it was sufficient enough to keep me glued to the story until the very end.
James Herbert is often known for his horror elements. This book focuses primarily on the espionage and thriller aspects, but you get an inkling of the supernatural elements after the first few chapters. These aren't prominent, but the horror aspects make their presence felt at the back end of the book. If you are scared of scary stories, please don't be afraid to pick this one up, though! While this contains some supernatural elements, it isn't as scary as some of the horror stuff out there, but there's some amount of creepiness that you must be cautioned about. James Herbert's writing, especially when it involves supernatural elements, is atmospheric, and the air is palpable with tension, so much so that you can actually sense what the characters are feeling at that moment.
All in all, 'The Spear' turned out to be a great read. The only gripe I had was that although it offered a satisfactory ending, I would have preferred to read an epilogue that would tell me what happened to the characters after this brutal ordeal. Nonetheless, I had an amazing time reading it. It definitely made me want to pick up more of James Herbert's works in the future!
‘You had more, once, he told himself, and you foolishly expected it to last. Foolishly, because danger was all around you both then, but you still thought it couldn’t touch you.’
August 1, 2024
Spionagethriller met occult tintje en ramvol actie. Las als een trein aan de rand van het zwembad. Interessant (of eigenlijk treurig stemmend) dat de politieke intriges in deze 45 jaar oude pulproman nog steeds actueel aanvoelden. Koude Oorlog, Midden-Oosten conflict en neonazi’s all over again.
November 10, 2013
Ok this is a mixed review - confused maybe - James Herbert along with Stephen King were some of the first authors I read back at school while I was getting in to reading - and as such I have strong sense of loyalty and nostalgia for the author and his books - (along with Stephen King) and I guess to a similar extend they have both developed in their writing styles over the year - don't get me wrong I am not favouring one over the other (new verses old that is) as I have favourites with both - but this definitely is old school.
The story is a tried and tested formula - since with over the years there have been countless versions with countless villains and evil doers to choose from but there I have to stop myself - because I have to remind myself this book was written in 1978 so rather than being a hack recycling old stories he was breaking new ground - sadly time has taken that freshness (and the countless other hacks and copies) and dulled its edge - also its very content has dated itself.
That all said there are still moments to surprise and true horror which I think shows the skill of the writer that even through the years his work still has the power impress. So for
The story is a tried and tested formula - since with over the years there have been countless versions with countless villains and evil doers to choose from but there I have to stop myself - because I have to remind myself this book was written in 1978 so rather than being a hack recycling old stories he was breaking new ground - sadly time has taken that freshness (and the countless other hacks and copies) and dulled its edge - also its very content has dated itself.
That all said there are still moments to surprise and true horror which I think shows the skill of the writer that even through the years his work still has the power impress. So for
June 29, 2013
I don't normally go in for this type of genre as reading horror doesn't work for me but the vaguely historical subject matter was on a theme that interested me. Unfortunately after a promising start it degenerated into an overblown & almost comic affair. I will, however repeat that this genre is not something I'd normally read, if you're into fantasy/horror I'm sure you will love it
May 30, 2019
Not particularly engaging read, and I usually really enjoy Herbert's books. It started off quite well but soon became slow and an effort. However the one star is for the very dated and offensive language, namely the calling of the "hermaphrodite" woman a "freak" and a "creature", let alone the oversexualisation of all the women making me cringe immensely.
March 1, 2018
While the premise seems stupid, it does a good job at sucking you in. Only at the last stages does it falter, wrapping up with generic action, and a pathetic final faceoff with one real life character.
October 31, 2012
What a top class book this is. Was surprised with the amount of factual info in the story. Very well researched too. Story was brilliant. Read this and see just how good the author is.
December 17, 2019
Dopo i romanzi di orrore, diciamo così, quotidiano che gi hanno dato fama, Herbert ne scrisse uno più ambizioso, dove l’orrore si mescola alla Storia e allo spionaggio: dando origine a un bel cocktail di azione, agenti segreti, Storia misteriosa (“I predatori dell’arca perduta” sarebbe arrivato qualche anno dopo): va ricordato che quel che per noi è archeologia, nel ’78 era Storia appena passata: Martin Bormann e Hitler potevano davvero essere ancora vivi, magari in qualche rifugio sulle Ande come quelli di Eichmann e Mengele.
Dovrei sapere che leggere gli Urania fino agli anni ’70 comporta il rischio di un’edizione inadeguata.. ma questo era l’ultimo Herbert che mi mancava tra quelli pubblicati nella collana Mondadori; così, nonostante le delusioni di Nebbia, Fluke e Orrenda tana, l’ho voluto provare ugualmente.
Purtroppo la curatela Mondadori dell’epoca non si smentisce: prima il numero di pagine (222 contro quelle delle edizioni originali, che vanno dalle 252 alle 300); poi l’evidenza, durante la lettura, di tagli mal ricuciti (immagino che i traduttori, in questo caso una coppia, mettessero una traduzione integrale a disposizione dell’editore, che poi provvedeva agli aggiustamenti; ma troppi passaggi sono bruschi, compaiono nomi di protagonisti non ancora presentati.. a pag.145, si intuiscono trascorsi di Andrew e Kristina, totalmente assenti; a pag.156, Harry si chiede se i suoi arriveranno e se abbia preso sufficienti precauzioni.. ma non abbiamo letto di nulla di tutto ciò; la figura di Holly è pressochè incomprensibile); infine, il confronto con le recensioni dei lettori di lingua inglese, che segnalano un inizio lento (qui è brusco: come in Fluke, deve essere stata tagliata la parte iniziale), numerosi riferimenti storici al Terzo Reich (qui restano solo le citazioni all’inizio dei capitoli, per lo più dal “Mein Kampf”), “fin troppe scene sessuali” (di cui non resta proprio traccia.. tanto meno di quelle in cui è coinvolto l’ermafrodito; da notare una volta di più il disprezzo di Herbert per gli omosessuali, probabilmente normale negli anni 70): Brannigan è “un debole”, perché pratica con l’ermafrodito quei rapporti “innaturali”, che ad altri sono imposti come “estrema abiezione”).
Riguardo alla traduzione in sé, niente da lamentare; se non che uno dei collaboratori del protagonista è soprannominato “Sexton”, che in inglese significa “sagrestano”: viene da pensare che il soprannome non sia stato tradotto perché ne è stata tagliata la spiegazione.
Do 2 stelle non al romanzo in sé, che ne meriterebbe almeno 3, ma alla sua edizione italiana: così come do like a un video su Youtube non tanto per la canzone in sé quanto per il video che la accompagna.
Dovrei sapere che leggere gli Urania fino agli anni ’70 comporta il rischio di un’edizione inadeguata.. ma questo era l’ultimo Herbert che mi mancava tra quelli pubblicati nella collana Mondadori; così, nonostante le delusioni di Nebbia, Fluke e Orrenda tana, l’ho voluto provare ugualmente.
Purtroppo la curatela Mondadori dell’epoca non si smentisce: prima il numero di pagine (222 contro quelle delle edizioni originali, che vanno dalle 252 alle 300); poi l’evidenza, durante la lettura, di tagli mal ricuciti (immagino che i traduttori, in questo caso una coppia, mettessero una traduzione integrale a disposizione dell’editore, che poi provvedeva agli aggiustamenti; ma troppi passaggi sono bruschi, compaiono nomi di protagonisti non ancora presentati.. a pag.145, si intuiscono trascorsi di Andrew e Kristina, totalmente assenti; a pag.156, Harry si chiede se i suoi arriveranno e se abbia preso sufficienti precauzioni.. ma non abbiamo letto di nulla di tutto ciò; la figura di Holly è pressochè incomprensibile); infine, il confronto con le recensioni dei lettori di lingua inglese, che segnalano un inizio lento (qui è brusco: come in Fluke, deve essere stata tagliata la parte iniziale), numerosi riferimenti storici al Terzo Reich (qui restano solo le citazioni all’inizio dei capitoli, per lo più dal “Mein Kampf”), “fin troppe scene sessuali” (di cui non resta proprio traccia.. tanto meno di quelle in cui è coinvolto l’ermafrodito; da notare una volta di più il disprezzo di Herbert per gli omosessuali, probabilmente normale negli anni 70): Brannigan è “un debole”, perché pratica con l’ermafrodito quei rapporti “innaturali”, che ad altri sono imposti come “estrema abiezione”).
Riguardo alla traduzione in sé, niente da lamentare; se non che uno dei collaboratori del protagonista è soprannominato “Sexton”, che in inglese significa “sagrestano”: viene da pensare che il soprannome non sia stato tradotto perché ne è stata tagliata la spiegazione.
Do 2 stelle non al romanzo in sé, che ne meriterebbe almeno 3, ma alla sua edizione italiana: così come do like a un video su Youtube non tanto per la canzone in sé quanto per il video che la accompagna.
May 23, 2021
This is my fourth James Herbert read and my third in about two weeks. I might be suffering from Herbert fatigue, because while the first two (The Rats and The Fog) were great, the third one (The Survivor) wasn’t particularly good, and this one was just okay.
It’s basically a political thriller involving the Thule Society, a sort of conspiracy theory secret organisation that supposedly was related to the Nazis and which Hitler was hoping would give him a kind of ultimate power over the allies. It’s all a load of honk, of course, but it makes for a good synopsis for a book.
There’s also the fact that there are tie-ins with the troubles going in in Palestine at the moment, although only tangentially. It features a ton of different intelligence agencies from around the world, including groups like Mossad.
Overall though, it mostly focusses on the spear that supposedly pierced the body of Christ when he was on the cross, along with what the Nazis were planning on doing with it. There’s a lot of weird mystical shit going on that I’m not particularly into.
By the time that we reach the end, it’s almost anticlimactic, with crazy stuff all happening super quickly before it suddenly wraps up and you’re done. That made it a mediocre read for me, and a second Herbert in a row that didn’t live up to my expectations.
It’s basically a political thriller involving the Thule Society, a sort of conspiracy theory secret organisation that supposedly was related to the Nazis and which Hitler was hoping would give him a kind of ultimate power over the allies. It’s all a load of honk, of course, but it makes for a good synopsis for a book.
There’s also the fact that there are tie-ins with the troubles going in in Palestine at the moment, although only tangentially. It features a ton of different intelligence agencies from around the world, including groups like Mossad.
Overall though, it mostly focusses on the spear that supposedly pierced the body of Christ when he was on the cross, along with what the Nazis were planning on doing with it. There’s a lot of weird mystical shit going on that I’m not particularly into.
By the time that we reach the end, it’s almost anticlimactic, with crazy stuff all happening super quickly before it suddenly wraps up and you’re done. That made it a mediocre read for me, and a second Herbert in a row that didn’t live up to my expectations.
February 5, 2023
Not for the squeamish!
Reading this reminded me why I found this authors’ books so entertaining as a teenager! If you’ve enjoyed the likes of Sepulchre, Portent, Creed and/or Survivor, then this needs to be on your read-list.
Don’t expect any high morals here. It’s a rather macabre thriller, littered with violence and gore. With mystery, crazy cultists and a hint of supernatural lore, The Spear is classic James Herbert.
This one throws you in at the deep end, with the opening chapters hitting hard. The middle third slows the pace somewhat, with character development and backstory, leading to a fast paced finale that will have you hooked till the last page!
Side note - at times Herbert’s writing comes across as sexist in its treatment of the female characters. This is more apparent in his earlier works from 70s and 80s. This book isn’t overly so, and I was still able to enjoy the read.
Reading this reminded me why I found this authors’ books so entertaining as a teenager! If you’ve enjoyed the likes of Sepulchre, Portent, Creed and/or Survivor, then this needs to be on your read-list.
Don’t expect any high morals here. It’s a rather macabre thriller, littered with violence and gore. With mystery, crazy cultists and a hint of supernatural lore, The Spear is classic James Herbert.
This one throws you in at the deep end, with the opening chapters hitting hard. The middle third slows the pace somewhat, with character development and backstory, leading to a fast paced finale that will have you hooked till the last page!
Side note - at times Herbert’s writing comes across as sexist in its treatment of the female characters. This is more apparent in his earlier works from 70s and 80s. This book isn’t overly so, and I was still able to enjoy the read.
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