James Herbert, RIP.

[Harry Gypsna]

Well, another of my favourite authors has died, aged 69.
James Herbert is top of my list of favourite authors of fiction, ever since I read "The dark" aged 12. He was the 1st author who I followed and built a collection of his books. As far as I'm concerned, he pissed all over King in terms of books that make you keep reading them, King bores the shit out of me.
A real loss to the Horror/Thriller genre, and I know I'm not the only one who will miss waiting for the next book to drop. He had a massive influence on the modern British Horror/Thriller scene and inspired countless other authors to get the typewriter out.
23 novels, in 34 languages and over 54 million copies sold worldwide, that's nearly 10 million per book, which most authors only ever dream about.
I can wholeheartedly recommend
The rats
Lair
Domain.
The fog (nothing to do with the film of the same name, it would make a great film though)
Portent
The Spear
Shrine
Sepulchre
The Jonah
The dark
The others
Once
Fluke(yes, this is the story about the guy who dies and comes back to his family as a dog, which was made into a film)
Creed

These are what I can think of off the top of my head, but I have read loads more and have never put one down thinking "Well that sucked".

So, gone but definitely not forgotten, here's to James Herbert.



Hopefully George RR Martin can Finish SOIAF before he snuffs it too.

 

[LubdaNugs]

Too bad, I'll have to check out some of his books. I've read a lot of King and Barker, but have yet to read any Herbert.

 

[Harry Gypsna]

Too bad, I'll have to check out some of his books. I've read a lot of King and Barker, but have yet to read any Herbert.

The rats was the 1st one, I would recommend reading the 3 rats books (The rats, Lair and Domain) then whatever you come across. Definitely read "The fog"
I haven't read much Barker, but I do like his kids horror story, "The thief of always".

 

[Wiggs Dannyboy]

Wow..too young to go in this day and age. RIP Mr. Herbert. Condolences Harry, I know it really sucks when a person's "hero's" dies. My favorite author, Tom Robbins, is about 80 now, and at that age death can happen at any time. I sometimes forget how old he is because his writing suggests a much younger man.

I had never heard of James Herbert. I'll have to check his stuff out, if it's as good as you say, that's a lot of good books to put on the list.

 

[LubdaNugs]

Wow..too young to go in this day and age. RIP Mr. Herbert. Condolences Harry, I know it really sucks when a person's "hero's" dies. My favorite author, Tom Robbins, is about 80 now, and at that age death can happen at any time. I sometimes forget how old he is because his writing suggests a much younger man.

I had never heard of James Herbert. I'll have to check his stuff out, if it's as good as you say, that's a lot of good books to put on the list.

I was reading the Wheel of Time series, had been waiting on the new book for a couple of years when I heard Robert Jordan died. My response was " That SOB".

 

[Harry Gypsna]

Wow..too young to go in this day and age. RIP Mr. Herbert. Condolences Harry, I know it really sucks when a person's "hero's" dies. My favorite author, Tom Robbins, is about 80 now, and at that age death can happen at any time. I sometimes forget how old he is because his writing suggests a much younger man.

I had never heard of James Herbert. I'll have to check his stuff out, if it's as good as you say, that's a lot of good books to put on the list.

If you like fast paced thrillers with lots going on, you should enjoy Herbert.
He has a good mix of topics too, from government research gone bad, to fairies, to cults.

I buy a lot of books used, from charity shops, and I carry a list of the James Herberts I've already got, in my wallet, so I know which ones to grab when I see them. I periodically go through my books and get a big bag to take back to the charity shops so they can sell them again, the Herberts never go back.
I've been thinking about trying to collect JH 1st editions for quite some time, and now I think this has spurred me on to do just that.

 

[mpd]

It seems young to me because I am getting older. I am reminded that Mrs. MPD is only 68 and the next spring will be one that she is not likely to see. Mr. Herbert was a prolific author and his continued contributions to the literary world will indeed be missed.

 

[Harry Gypsna]

It seems young to me because I am getting older. I am reminded that Mrs. MPD is only 68 and the next spring will be one that she is not likely to see. Mr. Herbert was a prolific author and his continued contributions to the literary world will indeed be missed.

I am really sorry about Mrs MPD. My sincere best wishes to you both.

 

[ryanbradly]

r.i.p. I'll always remember 'The Dark', he had a great sence for touching on images that could really sicken and provoke thought as well. I read a few during my teens, and he never dissappointed...

 

[TBL420uk]

RIP
The rats, Lair & Domain were the first 3 books i read for pleasure when i was 15. I fell in love with reading then & still have 2 books on the go at any one time.