Towonder if james herbert is "quite well"

[zombieplanmum]

Having been a real fan of his i was really excited when i got "ASH" for 20p for my kindle - oh dear, it was terrible, really really bad - i skipped swathes of it, it was cliched, boring and poorly researched (if researched at all). I honestly felt like he must be having some sort of break down to a) write that and b) allow it to be published.

I've never rated him tbh. Maybe you just realised he's shit!? I mean come on...The Rats!

I always just thought all his stuff was exactly the same -
Normal day in sleepy place.
Something odd happens and nobody notices.
Someone dies nastily and nobody notices.
Someone notices odd stuff but nobody will listen.
Odd shit escalates, more people die, people notice.
Shit happens.
Sex scene.
More shit happens in gorier manner.
Another sex scene, possibly lesbian or kinky.
Breakthrough in the fight against the odd stuff.
"Our Hero" is almost killed but makes it through.
Solution to odd shit found.
Solution applied.
All is quiet, all go home for tea.
Odd shit happens in out of the way corner, unnoticed, paving the way for sequel when mortgage is due.
The End.

I agree with Bigwitch - you've just seen a James Herbert book how the rest of us see them.

Ah, you are probably all right - the last time i read James Herbert was when i was a teenager quite some years ago So much for nostalgia!

pombear that about sums it up - you could be his ghost writer

If Stephen king is the bigmac and fries of literature then Herbert is the wimpy burger, hold the fries. Enjoyable in its own way, but it's not a bigmac and fries.