The Rats is a true classic which created a spin off of loads of Animal Vs Humanity type books - like The Cats (1977) by Nick Sharman. Another author you may enjoy is a another British one is Graham Masterton. I do recall you read two of his books in the past The Manitou and the Revenge of The Manitou. Have to say I love this author. One of his books you may enjoy is called Ritual (although I think the American version has a different name). Another great review 👍
Thank you! I really want to get into more animal based horror books. Thr Cats have been on my TBR for a while. I also need to get more of Masterton and Herbert.
Great review, Alex. The Rats was a fun and very gory novel. While I liked it, I too hated how the characters try using dogs infected with toxic chemicals to kill the rats which is a lame idea if you ask me. Why not use flamethrowers? But still, it was a fun story. And this would be the novel that would open the flood gates for future killer animal novels. However, I can't say the same about the sequels. The Lair has the same plot of the first novel just has the setting changed from the city to the countryside. And the 3rd novel, Domain has a great idea of a post apocalyptic, horror novel set in the ruins of London, while it had some cool scenes. But the story was so boring, hardly any scenes of these killer mutated rats as the story focus way too much on the human characters which most were unlikeable. And, Herbert ripped the story off from Threads as I notice how some of the scenes were similar to the TV film. And when the characters are stuck in the ruins of subway system, Herbert has to have a whole page describing how a sub machine works when one character picks one up. It was a damn shame, Herbert dropped the ball on this as he could had one hell of sequel to The Rats but didn't execute it well.
@ Bookworm of the Damned Have you had a chance to find The Fly yet? It’s in The Mammoth Book of Body Horror, something that could be reviewed on its own :-) Thank you!
I am a little squeemish when it comes to gore, but this one really peeks my curiosity. I might give it a go. I was wondering if you ever got to reading "Road of bones" from Christopher Golden? I have and I really liked it. Right now, I'm reading a true crime résumé of the infamous Dr. Cream who commited murders in the UK, Canada and the USA. His family was from Quebec, but I had never heard of him before. He used to prey on sex workers and he tricked wome in need of an abortion into performing it for them, but killing them in the process. What a bastard!
I haven't read it yet, but I recently read a short story by golden that I love! I can't wait to read more of his work! Tbh, I need to get into true crime more.
@@bookwormofthedamned Yeah. I'm writing a short story collection taking place in medieval times, titled "INVADR". One of the stories have rats in a dungeon, and they were used in torture methods. I think you know what I'm talking about. One of my favorites I'm writing now is called "The Ballad of Springheel Jakk", which is a revenge story against the pompous rich. *Eat the rich* comes to mind. 😉
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Yessssss you have brought me to the dark side! This book was such a wild ride. The review was superb as always♡
Great to see your face in my feed Alex! Great review as always…..I’m curious but I’m not sure I have the stomach for this 😳😱😱😱
The Rats is a true classic which created a spin off of loads of Animal Vs Humanity type books - like The Cats (1977) by Nick Sharman. Another author you may enjoy is a another British one is Graham Masterton. I do recall you read two of his books in the past The Manitou and the Revenge of The Manitou. Have to say I love this author. One of his books you may enjoy is called Ritual (although I think the American version has a different name). Another great review 👍
Thank you! I really want to get into more animal based horror books. Thr Cats have been on my TBR for a while. I also need to get more of Masterton and Herbert.
just got the book 'shrine' by James Herbert.
Great review, Alex. The Rats was a fun and very gory novel. While I liked it, I too hated how the characters try using dogs infected with toxic chemicals to kill the rats which is a lame idea if you ask me. Why not use flamethrowers? But still, it was a fun story. And this would be the novel that would open the flood gates for future killer animal novels.
However, I can't say the same about the sequels. The Lair has the same plot of the first novel just has the setting changed from the city to the countryside. And the 3rd novel, Domain has a great idea of a post apocalyptic, horror novel set in the ruins of London, while it had some cool scenes. But the story was so boring, hardly any scenes of these killer mutated rats as the story focus way too much on the human characters which most were unlikeable. And, Herbert ripped the story off from Threads as I notice how some of the scenes were similar to the TV film. And when the characters are stuck in the ruins of subway system, Herbert has to have a whole page describing how a sub machine works when one character picks one up.
It was a damn shame, Herbert dropped the ball on this as he could had one hell of sequel to The Rats but didn't execute it well.
Great book, great review!
Thank you! I appreciate your views!
@ Bookworm of the Damned Have you had a chance to find The Fly yet? It’s in The Mammoth Book of Body Horror, something that could be reviewed on its own :-) Thank you!
I haven't! But now I need to find it!
I am a little squeemish when it comes to gore, but this one really peeks my curiosity. I might give it a go. I was wondering if you ever got to reading "Road of bones" from Christopher Golden? I have and I really liked it. Right now, I'm reading a true crime résumé of the infamous Dr. Cream who commited murders in the UK, Canada and the USA. His family was from Quebec, but I had never heard of him before. He used to prey on sex workers and he tricked wome in need of an abortion into performing it for them, but killing them in the process. What a bastard!
I haven't read it yet, but I recently read a short story by golden that I love! I can't wait to read more of his work! Tbh, I need to get into true crime more.
This book series gives me Pied Piper vibes but done a million times better! 10/10
That's actually a good way to put it, the first two books of this series were my faves.
@@bookwormofthedamned Yeah. I'm writing a short story collection taking place in medieval times, titled "INVADR". One of the stories have rats in a dungeon, and they were used in torture methods. I think you know what I'm talking about.
One of my favorites I'm writing now is called "The Ballad of Springheel Jakk", which is a revenge story against the pompous rich. *Eat the rich* comes to mind. 😉