Llainy Swanson there was a John Carpenter movie called The Rats but not based on the Herbert book I don’t think. ?update just checked and couldn’t find it in Carpenter’s list. He did do the Fog movie but that wasn’t based on Herbert’s book either ?
My first ever horror book. I was in 2nd year seniors so around 12yrs old. I remember reading the ‘sexy bits’ out to mates in art class ? Read lots more James Herbert books after that one
Oh I loved this book. Read it in my early teens (so obviously only a few years ago ?) and I was hooked onto horror books from that point on. I read the trilogy and raved about it to my friends One day I’ll re-read them
Absolutely loved all three in the series, you get so engrossed in them, was reading “the Domain” one evening few years back , just got to the point where a farmer is being eaten alive when my black cat jumped up on to back of sofa next to my head…….I absolutely s**t myself !! lol ??
This was the first serious grown up book i ever read. Brilliant. Changing the subject i read the whole book the child by sharon bolton in one day. She is an excellent author and now working my way through all her books. Totally recommend
Crikey that’s a blast from the past. I read it as a teenager and loved it. I got hooked on his books until I discovered crime and detective fiction. I completely lost interest in horror at that point and don’t even enjoy horror films.
I read all of Herbert’s book as a young lad. To this day (and I’m old), I have an abhorrent fear of rats as a result of “The Rats” and “Lair,” but most of all, “Domain.” Another great one of his is “The Survivor,” which thankfully contained no rats, if I recall correctly.
I managed Rats, sadly I couldn’t finish Lair. I was only 16 at the time… I have them all on kindle now and keep meaning to revisit them… when I pluck up the courage…!
@Steven Yeah, the brutal opening sequences were off putting, but essential to highlight what was then a major concern – the dumping of toxic nuclear waste in the oceans.
Great read the series
Loved it
Puts me off gojng to London underground
I love his writing but he would be more horror
He went to my school. The school the rats attack is (based on) St Aloysius in Highgate.
Finished the book on a Friday night and went in to play rugby on a Saturday morning.
We had to wait by the stairs to the boiler room where the rats flood up from…
Good read
Definitely horror but loved his books. Such a shame we lost him so young. Have re-read all of the books more than once.
I agree. I was gutted at his passing and knowing I’ll never read another one of his books.
Fantastic novel, way before its time……the best trilogy ever and the reason I began writing.
Loved the whole trilogy
I only discovered it was a trilogy in the last 10 years. Great books, scared the crap out of me. There was a movie too? Xxx
Llainy Swanson there was a John Carpenter movie called The Rats but not based on the Herbert book I don’t think. ?update just checked and couldn’t find it in Carpenter’s list. He did do the Fog movie but that wasn’t based on Herbert’s book either ?
James Herbert sadly missed the fog was my favourite
Loved Herbert’s books, Rat trilogy was one of the first books I read, they got me interested in books.
same here!
Loved it. Read all three books (The Rats, The Lair, The Domain) one after the other when I was in my teens. Couldn’t put them down.
I’m struggling with Haunted though
The first book i read proper was ONCE and then read all is books the rest is history
Haven’t read it since my 20s but I loved it.
Scared the crap out of me when I was younger!!
Loved it!
Oh yes loved his books…. The Rats was a brilliant read…. stayed in my mind for months!
Scared the wotsits out of me in my teens ?
Brilliant one of the 1st books I read in 1976 think it was his 1st book read it in a day ?
Loved it 30 yrs ago. Wonder if it’s any good?
Love James Herbert’s books
I liked his last one ASH quite tongue in cheek i thought
Fantastic book, as others have said the whole trilogy is.
Read it years ago, have you read the Lair ..just as good x
Wow I can’t remember when I read his books, I know it’s many years ago, once you started them it was hard to put them down, quite scary too.
About 30 years since I read it,but marvellous book.
I was reading The Rats when I was about 13 and my Mum came in, read the back of it and confiscated it! I eventually read it all another time!
Read it about 40 years ago and it scared me to death, but recently bought the Kindle version so will re-read
Superb – James Herbert was a superstar, yet at the same time oddly underrated.
My first ever horror book. I was in 2nd year seniors so around 12yrs old. I remember reading the ‘sexy bits’ out to mates in art class ?
Read lots more James Herbert books after that one
Oh I loved this book. Read it in my early teens (so obviously only a few years ago ?) and I was hooked onto horror books from that point on. I read the trilogy and raved about it to my friends
One day I’ll re-read them
I live close to Epping Forest and dread going through it… ? James Herbert is one of my favourite writers, so sad he is no longer with us. ?
Brilliant book I’ve read all his books
Fab. But all his books are superb ??
Loved it and most of his other books
Loved
Absolutely loved it, it gave me nightmares lol. I was about 14 though
Brilliant
Apparently the only thing he ever regretted writing was the scene with the baby and that’s the one that sticks with me!
Read this along time ago brilliant
Excellent read. Ground breaking and the start of a genre populated by Guy N Smith and others. Just good entertainment.
Read these books in my teens. I not sure if I could read them as too scary.
Loved it in fact bought it again a few months ago to re read!!
Absolutely loved all three in the series, you get so engrossed in them, was reading “the Domain” one evening few years back , just got to the point where a farmer is being eaten alive when my black cat jumped up on to back of sofa next to my head…….I absolutely s**t myself !! lol ??
Brilliant
loved it but did find it a tad scary!!
Really enjoyed it. Mind you, it was about a million years ago! ?
Wow! It’s been years since I read that. I still remember being scared ?
The book that got me into horror stories as a teenager. A timeless classic
A treasured part of growing up!!
Loved it one of the first horrors i read. ?
Yep read it in the 1980 really scary as was the follow up Lair
I think this was the first James Herbert book I read, didn’t everyone read it at school………..
I was hooked from that day forward
This was the first serious grown up book i ever read. Brilliant.
Changing the subject i read the whole book the child by sharon bolton in one day. She is an excellent author and now working my way through all her books. Totally recommend
I love James Herbert , one of my faves , especially the rats
Crikey that’s a blast from the past. I read it as a teenager and loved it. I got hooked on his books until I discovered crime and detective fiction. I completely lost interest in horror at that point and don’t even enjoy horror films.
I really enjoyed it ? got the second and third in the trilogy on my TBR pile ?
Loved it too. Read it about 30 years ago. It scared the bejasus out of me. The lair and Domain were also top notch. I still have a fear of rats.
My fave, read it so many times, plus lair and domain
I love James Herbert books, especially 48… he died way too early 🙁
Read it many years ago and really enjoyed it.
First book I read after I left school.Dad found it on a train.Classic as are many of his others.
Loved his books back in the day
My favourite author. Gone too soon. The partner books are “Lair” and “Domain” My all-time greatest read of his was “The Dark”
@Ray I loved the dark and the fog
I have re read the series many times
Oh wow read this about 30 odd years ago!!! Loved it, remember being scared and having nightmares, have bought it since to reread some day..
Enjoyed it
I read all of Herbert’s book as a young lad. To this day (and I’m old), I have an abhorrent fear of rats as a result of “The Rats” and “Lair,” but most of all, “Domain.” Another great one of his is “The Survivor,” which thankfully contained no rats, if I recall correctly.
This was one of the best books I’ve ever read. The series is brilliant
Loved all his books when I was a lot younger !!
Read in my teens and loved it
I managed Rats, sadly I couldn’t finish Lair. I was only 16 at the time… I have them all on kindle now and keep meaning to revisit them… when I pluck up the courage…!
James Herbert was a master. The Rats trilogy is amongst his best work.
the fog was mine
No other author has come as close to perfect story telling as James Herbert.
Domain is my all time favourite book.
Just reading, the secret of crickley Hall
Couldn’t put it down. Screamed like hell when my two 8 week old black kittens ran up my legs when I went to the loo in the dark. ??
loved the whole series…
Loved his books.
Brilliant book. Almost as good as The Fog!
@Carmen i didn’t like the Fog at first stopped reading it after a couple of chapters then went back to it glad i did great read
@Steven Yeah, the brutal opening sequences were off putting, but essential to highlight what was then a major concern – the dumping of toxic nuclear waste in the oceans.
Loved The Rats.