The Fog (1975 novel)

Infobox Book |
name = The Fog
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = "The Fog" (1975)
author = James Herbert
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = United Kingdom
language = English
series =
genre = Horror novel
publisher = New English Library
release_date = 1975
english_release_date = 1975
media_type = Print (Paperback & Hardback)
pages = 267 pp (first edition, paperback)
isbn = ISBN 0450030458 (first edition, paperback)
preceded_by =
followed_by =

"The Fog" is best-selling novelist and writer James Herbert's 1975 horror story about a deadly fog that drives its victims insane when they come into contact with it. It is Herbert's second book and is completely unrelated to the 1980 John Carpenter film of the same name.

The book caused much stir on its release because of its gruesome deaths and its explicit sexual references throughout. In a republished version of his book he comments in the foreword that: "The Fog" made [him] a lot of enemies but also made him a lot of friends".

Plot summary

John Holman is a worker for the Department of the Environment investigating a Ministry of Defence base in a small rural village. An unexpected earthquake swallows his car releasing a fog that had been trapped underground for many years. An insane Holman is pulled up from the crack, a product of the deadly fog.

Soon the fog shifts and travels as though it has a mind of its own, turning those unfortunate enough to come across it into homicidal/suicidal maniacs who kill without remorse, and often worse. Even respectable figures such as teachers and priests engage in illicit sexual violence such as paedophilia and public urination.

Soon a bigger problem is discovered - the fog is multiplying in size and nothing seems to be able to stop it. Entire villages and cities are in danger and the only chance left is to use the treated and immunized John Holman to take on the fog from the inside where who knows what awaits him.

Major themes

The main themes that are explored are government and military incompetence - these being the reason for the fog's existence, the fog itself being an old self-producing chemical weapon that was buried underground and released during an underground explosion caused by the military while testing arms. The government are also seen to try and cover up the fog at a point in the story, to the main character's horror.

References

External links

* [http://www.james-herbert.co.uk/fog.htm James Herbert website review of "The Fog"]
* [http://www.hamishhamilton.co.uk/nf/shared/WebDisplay/0,,214510_9_1,00.html Hamish Hamilton review of "The Fog"]