Re-Reading James Herbert #2 - The Fog (1975)

The Difficult Second Book

In my quest to re-read James Herbert's horror novels in the order they were first published, I move on to his second novel, The Fog, released in December 1975.

After the phenomenal success of his debut novel, The Rats, it was always going to be a difficult ask to write a second novel that was as good if not better than the first, and with The Fog, it was a case of close but no cigar.

I first read this book in my teens, attracted no doubt to the original cover artwork of a hand holding up the severed head of a woman. Unfortunately, the modern cover (above) certainly leaves a lot to be desired and is only memorable for its blandness. It was the first book I had read by the author, and it didn’t compel me to read more of his until I later discovered The Rats trilogy. Having re-read it as I approach 50, it still falls short compared to a number of his other novels.

The book tells the story of a strange fog that descends upon the English county of Wiltshire, bringing with it a terrifying and deadly force. A force that compels its victims to give in to their primal urges and instincts, infecting everyone in its path as it moves up and down the country before settling on London.

One thing that sets The Fog apart from other horror novels written at the time is how Herbert incorporates elements of science fiction into the story, and it is also a cautionary tale of man interfering with the environment and its consequences. The fog itself is not just a natural phenomenon but is instead the result of a mysterious experiment gone wrong. This adds an extra layer of intrigue to the story and at least compels you to read to the end.

Herbert's writing is as tight and descriptive as it was in The Rats, maybe more so. However, it is lacking something when compared to his previous book, it just isn’t engaging enough, plus the sex scenes in the book are shockingly bad in their descriptions, bordering on hilarious at times.

In terms of scares, The Fog left me wanting more. Whereas The Rats was a rollercoaster ride of scares and gore up to the finish, this story leans towards gore, and tension is very much lacking in parts.

This is a solid enough effort and is certainly worth a read, but it is not a patch on his debut offering and is probably one for die-hard Herbert fans. If you have never read a James Herbert book, then don’t start with this one.