The Dark

by James Herbert

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Description

It came like a malignant shadow with seductive promises of power. And somewhere in the night, a small girl smiled as her mother burned. Asylum inmates slaughtered their attendants. In slimy tunnels, once-human creatures gathered. Madness raged as the lights began to fade and humanity was attacked by an ancient, unstoppable evil.

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Member Reviews

4 reviews
It's pure candy. We know it's not good for us but we crave it anyway. This book is pure horror candy. Monsters and zombies. Mediums and ghosts. A post apocalyptic world. A cliffhanger at the end of every chapter like the old penny dreadfuls and the deus ex machina riding in the back seat to keep it all going. Herbert is a master at gore and he lays it on thick here along with plenty of unnatural sex acts.

In the end it was like fudge, the first bite is great, the second and third just okay, and by the tenth you want to throw the thing away, but you have to finish it. In other words, fun but overlong. The ending was like, "I've written enough now."

This edition from Centipede Press also had a story, a Hallowe'en spooker that was good and show more an interview where Herbert wishes he would be remembered for a book about a dog, which he won't. Centipede does a nice job with the graphics, a Klimt cover and the original paperback cover.

The description for this book is incorrect, as usual for goodreads. There is at least one copy that is not signed, mine.
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Some of the imagery in this book is truly terrifying. A good horror read
Good book. Nice and creepy.
Dans la banlieue sud de Londres, une avenue paisible... où l'on n'a pas oublié cependant le suicide collectif qui ensanglanta, il y a six mois, la maison Beechwood désormais inhabitée. Et soudain la violence resurgit, se déchaîne : en une nuit deux crimes et deux suicides - ceux-là mêmes des meurtriers. Le Mal vient-il de la vieille demeure? Non loin, d'autres assassinats sont commis, atroces, délirants, et la destruction de Beechwood est ordonnée... C'est alors que, venue de nulle part, une masse ténébreuse et sans cesse grandissante obscurcit le ciel de Londres. Et quand elle s'abat sur la ville, commence le règne du Sombre - celui de la peur, du sang et de la folie…

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Author Information

Picture of author.
41+ Works 15,093 Members
Horror writer James Herbert was born in London, England on April 8, 1943. Before becoming a full-time writer, he worked as a singer and an art director for an advertising agency. His novels have sold more than forty-two million copies worldwide and have been translated into thirty-three languages, including Russian and Chinese. His stories are show more simple, yet compelling and usually have a young, jaded man as the hero. Besides writing his novels, he also designs the book covers and handles the publicity. He currently lives in London, England with his wife and children. (Bowker Author Biography) show less

Some Editions

Barrett, Sean (Narrator)

Work Relationships

Common Knowledge

Canonical title
The Dark
Original title
The Dark
Original publication date
1980
People/Characters
Chris Bishop; Jacob Kulek; Jessica Kulek
Important places
London, England, UK
Epigraph
...And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness...
Genesis 1:4  (R.S.V.)
First words
It was a bright, sunny day.
Last words
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)The thought makes us happy, for we know he will be able to see as we do.
Original language*
Englisch
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.

Classifications

Genres
Horror, Fiction and Literature
DDC/MDS
813Literature & rhetoricAmerican literature in EnglishAmerican fiction in English
LCC
PR6058Language and LiteratureEnglishEnglish Literature1961-2000
BISAC

Statistics

Members
718
Popularity
39,348
Reviews
4
Rating
½ (3.66)
Languages
5 — Dutch, English, French, German, Polish
Media
Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
ISBNs
23
ASINs
18