The Dark

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

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...

As the title suggests, this is a story which explores the darker side of human nature. People coming into contact with a dark force carry out their innermost longings. Full of strong characters, suspense and excitement, plus the genuinely disturbing knowledge that anybody could be harbouring unpleasant thoughts of murder, rape and violence. A well-written and unputdownable book.

Short and sweet. James Herbert is a best selling author due to his many apocalyptic horror novels. And this is his "best" by far, in my opinion. Similar to 'The Fog' in tone, it is different because the mass madness does not come from external forces. It surges out from the very souls of the characters who become one with the *Dark*. They have chosen to embrace the evilness of their natures. We all have two sides of our personality. But are we really secure in the knowledge that we would head towards the *Light* when given the chance? Are you sure?