Customer Reviews

The Dark

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is one of Herbert's earlier books, with lots of sex and danger and intrigue, but it follows the pattern of books like The Fog just a little too much. Otherwise...a great story and better than the John Carpenter movie of the same name.

This British author is immensely popular for his horror fiction. Having read a number of his other books and enjoyed them, I delved into this one with much anticipation. I was not disappointed, as it is similar thematically to another of his books, "The Fog", which is one of his best books. While in that book, a fog sweeps across the United Kingdom, causing those it touches to commit insane acts of mayhem, here, a dark entity, best described as infinite blackness, does the same.

Initially confined to Beechwood, a mansion on Willow Road and the site of mass murder and suicides, it feeds on those whom it touches and causes them to perpetrate acts of horrific violence, releasing man's most primal fears and instincts. When Beechwood is demolished, this darkness ventures out beyond the parameters of the house, causing those with whom it come into contact to act out their basest instincts and destroy those who remain unaffected. This novel engages the reader, as the protagonists in the book try to sort things out and defeat this evil entity. Well-written and interesting, devotees of the horror genre, as well as fans of the author, will enjoy this book.

I recently started to read James Herbert novels. I have read The Fog, Magic Cottage, Portent, and now, the Dark. This is a great book. It is pretty creepy in parts, but overall it is well written and a joy to read. I read it in three sittings, and it isn't exactly a short book...check this one out, if you are a longtime fan, or just beginning to read his works...

This is one of the more unsettling books that I've read in a long while. The last book to give me the shivers like this was House of Leaves. The build up is very slow, ratcheting up the tension bit by bit until all Hell breaks loose. One always hopes that the forces of Light prevail over the Dark since that's how we in the West have been cultured to believe, yet Herbert makes you doubt this supposedly obvious conclusion. That is the hallmark of a good suspense writer, and I will definitely be picking up more books by Herbert in the future.

great conditions. the best ever written by james herbert. a must reading for all who love fear.

I think I may have read a more recent book of Herbert's, but I'm not certain. I do know that I found this book to be great - creepily atmospheric and nicely "English" in feeling (I don't like when they "Americanize" British books). At times, however, the story felt like it was overly complicated when Herbert would jump from scene to scene, perspective to perspective and person to person - often with little rhyme or reason, and sometimes with no apparent cause (as in the Ministry person who went into the park to wait through the night for the Dark, along with other people, only to go back home in the morning - what was the purpose to that??). This is why I rated it a 4 instead of a 5 - the overall story could have been a bit more seamless. I also found the ending to be a bit . . .abrupt. There is no explanation given for exactly what happened or why, and we're left a bit unsettled. Then again, that could have been his point. At any rate, for those who enjoy horror or simply creepy books, this is a great little gem to add to your collection.

Item arrived less than a week after ordering, in great shape. A good transaction.

James Herberts VERY REAL expose' cleverly hidden inside a supposedly fictional "horror" novel.

About what might conceivably happen when people on Earth - in the not too distant future - are suddenly ENGULFED by "DARK FORCES"!!!

For EXISTENCE consists of both "Heaven" and "Hell" FORCES.

I have had PERSONAL experience that the "DARK FORCES" James writes about is REAL!!!

I urge EVERYONE to swot up on - try to SENSE - the POWER of the "DARK". You will KNOW that I am NOT kidding! This is NOT a wind up!

I'm sure James wrote his book for that very reason?

To warn EVERYONE and to enable us to be FULLY MENTALLY

prepared, ahead of time!!!

Don't worry, because the "FORCES OF LIGHT" ALWAYS win!!!