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La reliquia

James Herbert,

Marco Paggi (translator)

Dida Paggi (translator)

3.56 · Rating details · 2,304 ratings · 86 reviews

James Herbert è l'autore di Nebbia (Urania n. 702), Il superstite (n. 724), L'orrenda tana (n. 854), memorabili storie di horror tra il fantascientifico e il soprannaturale. Ecco alcuni giudizi di quotidiani inglesi su questo suo nuovo romanzo:

Un incubo... Una lettura che vi incatena col fascino dell'orrendo.
London Daily Mirror

Un culto magico di neo-nazisti in ...more

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Mass Market Paperback, Urania #862, 226 pages

Published November 16th 1980 by Mondadori (first published 1978)

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Average rating 3.56 ·

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· 2,304 ratings · 86 reviews

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Sep 18, 2019 Jade rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: physically-owned-books, read-in-2019, favourites

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 ...more

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Oct 08, 2017 Leo . rated it really liked it · review of another edition

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 ...more

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Jul 08, 2013 Ashley Brown rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

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 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. ...more

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Jun 26, 2013 Bandit rated it liked it · review of another edition

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 ...more

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Jul 19, 2009 F.R. rated it did not like it · review of another edition

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 ...more

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May 13, 2016 Stephen McQuiggan rated it liked it · review of another edition

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 ...more

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Sep 17, 2008 Lynne - The Book Squirrel rated it liked it · review of another edition

Just a couple of James Herbert's novels left to read

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Jan 19, 2016 Alexander Draganov rated it it was ok · review of another edition

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

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May 17, 2009 Dreadlocksmile rated it really liked it · review of another edition

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). 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. ...more

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Feb 05, 2009 Dark Recesses added it · review of another edition

THE 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 THE 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.
...more

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Nov 09, 2013 Andrew rated it liked it · review of another edition

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 - ...more

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May 30, 2019 Ursula rated it did not like it · review of another edition

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.

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Feb 14, 2018 Rick Samps rated it liked it · review of another edition

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.

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Jan 13, 2018 Shirley Revill rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, horror, scary

I read this book some time ago and I enjoyed every word that was written in the book.
Recommended.

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Apr 25, 2011 Devilyn (Emily) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, horror-thriller

At first i wasn't sure i was even going to like this book, as the edition i own doesn't have a blurb and i was reading it as a recommendation from my mom, but i did like it. I was told that alot of Herberts book were chilling and that he is a highly recommended horror writer, and this book did give that impression. During the first few chapters i was slightly annoyed as i was told the book was chilling as i hadn't really found anything to back that up, but by the end of the book there was a bit ...more

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Sep 26, 2012 Pasi Rahko rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: horror-fantasy

Powerful occultist neo-Nazis society has sinister plans to revival of Nazi Germany and unite all the radical right-wing political parties under swastika flag in Europa. The very secret inner circle of this group is attempting to contact the evil spirit of Heinrich Himmler, none other than the Reichsführer-SS himself, one of Hitler's most loyal men and incarnation of evil. This ghoulish abomination should then aid and lead them to conquer first the Europe and then the whole world. Herbert's ...more

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Mar 06, 2012 Jeremy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

With its Mossad agents and antagonists' plot to exploit the political divide between left and right and bring about a 'counter-revolution', 'The Spear' is very much of its time. For all that, however, it's engaging enough and Herbert knows how to write a good chiller - which this most certainly is. Some bits made me smile, but, on the whole, it was an enjoyable read.

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Oct 18, 2015 Kingfan30 rated it liked it · review of another edition

This was a slightly different novel to the others I have read by Herbert. This is more of a spy mystery and less of a supernatural tale, although it does have a little in it. I wasn't sure I'd like it at first but it soon got my interest. It is quite dated now but I would imagine at the time it was before its time. At times it was very predictable but was an entertaining read none the less.

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Apr 29, 2012 David rated it liked it · review of another edition

I swayed between two and three stars for Spear. The narrative is certainly well conceived if a little predictable though actions and motivations of the characters seem questionable at best, completely illogical at other times. Overall not as satisfying a read as the magic cottage but not as bad as chart throb, my last book to get two stars so it gets a three.

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Jun 24, 2013 Vaughan Wyn rated it liked it · review of another edition

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

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Jun 01, 2010 Laura rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2010

I found this a really enjoyable book. As always James Herbert has added in just a little of a supernatural twist (just to juice things up).

I liked the historical background and content the spear had.

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Feb 26, 2014 Scott rated it liked it · review of another edition

Didn't seem like the usual James Herbert as the supernatural element didn't really have much of an impact until pretty near the end, was more like a typical spy thriller which was quite enjoyable. Gotta love a bit of Nazism, even 70 years later it is still powerful stuff.

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Dec 10, 2010 Richard rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: horror, ghost, stories

grubby little horror thriller - passes a day or so

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Apr 10, 2017 Rhona Crawford rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Readable and gripping. Herbert has the habit of lingering on his favourite scenes, but I appreciate the flashbacks and the "getting into the other character's head" narrative

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Apr 03, 2013 J.F. Penn rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: thrillers, religious, horror, paranormal

Some good Herbert parts to this, but is dated now. Weird to read it takes 24 hours to get a photo from Israel!

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Oct 06, 2012 Tanya rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I was a huge James Herbert fan in the late 80's early 90's. Still have the books so must put them on my re read list.

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Aug 02, 2011 Mark Farbrother rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: horror

This is the 1st James Herbert book I picked up, dark

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May 21, 2015 Scott Weatherly rated it liked it · review of another edition

Interesting concept but not enough plot / story to fill it out. One of Herbert's second tier books.

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Nov 23, 2015 Phil Hodgkiss rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Very enjoyable -sadly the last of his books I had left to read :(

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May 02, 2016 Gaz Bennett rated it liked it · review of another edition

James Herbert does it again....didn't think I would enjoy this one as much as the others I have read but it had me gripped from the start.

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About James Herbert

James Herbert

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James 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 ...more