We are messing up the Earth; we are polluting the environment and we are not showing enough respect for this, the great planet on which we live. Yes. I know. This is not a new concept… nor was it a new concept back when Herbert wrote the book. The concept of the next evolution of human beings ... Read review
Advantages: It's not a bad book. Disadvantages: This book could have been so much better. There are angles which you want to explore but the book never gets there.
We are messing up the Earth; we are polluting the environment and we are not showing enough respect for this, the great planet on which we live. Yes. I know. This is not a new concept… nor was it a new concept back when Herbert wrote the book. The concept of the next evolution of human beings isn’t a new idea either, it just happens to be a better one. I suppose mixing the new together was a good idea but I’m sure it could have been done better. ...is that it spends too much time describing the “ potentially “ strange disasters. I was more interested in the story behind the children and the certain other powers and how, if at all, they might be connected to the condition of the Earth.
However, I shouldn’t be too harsh. I did read the entire book and I did, in some ways, enjoy it. I wanted more. I expect Herbert to amaze me each and every time and he didn’t reach that high standard ... more
We are messing up the Earth; we are polluting the environment and we are not showing enough respect for this, the great planet on which we live. Yes. I know. This is not a new concept… nor was it a new concept back when Herbert wrote the book. The concept of the next evolution of human beings isn’t a new idea either, it just happens to be a better one. I suppose mixing the new together was a good idea but I’m sure it could have been done better.
I think the problem with this book is that it spends too much time describing the “ potentially “ strange disasters. I was more interested in the story behind the children and the certain other powers and how, if at all, they might be connected to the condition of the Earth.
However, I shouldn’t be too harsh. I did read the entire book and I did, in some ways, enjoy it. I wanted more. I expect Herbert to amaze me each and every time and he didn’t reach that high standard this time.
Advantages: Its by James Herbert Disadvantages: Not as good as his usual work
This is a bit of a strange one, it's not the normal scary stuff that we
associate with James Herbert but is more of an apocalyptic type book,
there is some gory scenes in it which Herbert graphically describes but
overall the book is more of a "thinking mans" view of what could happen if the environmentalists warning are not heeded, albiet with a touch of supernatural thrown in.
The story centres around James Rivers quest to discover why unusual
... ...by a bright ball of light.
There is plenty of "natural" disaster type action, from volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, tornados, tidal waves, forest fires and hailstorms as big as tennis balls.
Rivers search ends up with him "finding" a pair of gypsy orphan who
have been adopted by 'Diane'. Her father, 'Hugo Poggs' believes that
Mother Nature is finally taking her revenge on mankind for not looking
after the worlds atmosphere.
I wont spoil it for ...
Mickm9 04.02.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Portent - James Herbert
Advantages: pulls you in deep Disadvantages: quite depressing in an 'end of the world' kind of way
Why is the Earth going through this huge change??? It seems that balls of light, sometimes one and sometimes loads are preludes to disastrous events. Plenty of destruction, from volcanic eruptions and explosions, hurricanes, tornadoes, tidal waves, forest fires and killer hailstorms. This brilliant story takes 'James Rivers' on a search to find out why, first by surviving a plane crash after flying through a Hurricane! It also involves a pair of ... ...'Diane', a daughter of eccentric 'Hugo Poggs', who believes the Earth is one breathing organism and that it is finally lashing back after all these years of man made harm. Rivers finally meets up with Poggs and sets about finding out that there are many kids who have to power to heal the earth, but according to the 'Dream Man', there are also those out there to do evil, as is the case with 'Mama Pitie', a big woman from New Orleans who seeks the ...
loulou6 27.08.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Portent - James Herbert
Advantages: By James Herbert. 'A great second read' Disadvantages: mankinds darkest nightmare coming true!
I have read a lot of bad reports on this book! which is a shame, because I think its got a bad reputation. But you can't forget that James Herbert is Britain's No 1 bestselling writer of chiller fiction, and has sold over 48 million copies worldwide. So this book must have more to it.
I was 'slightly disappointed' on first reading this book. BUT I re-read it to be sure, and let me tell you, it gets better the second time and I'll let you know if ... ...story starts set in Queensland Coast, Australia on the Great Barrier Reef, with a surprising outcome, thats ends in a swirls of red, and hundreds of fragments for all at sea!
Its moves quickly to the gulf of Mexico where we meet the main male character James Rivers. where he is the Doctor working for the NOAA (National Oceananic and Atmospheric Administration). The story is set in the future (only a short few years) the effects of global warming ...
Sammy45999 18.07.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Portent - James Herbert
Advantages: So apt for our current climate change Disadvantages: Don't read it at bedtime, the night will pass quickly, and you'll still be reading when it's time to goto work
...over evil. In Portent the world is a changing place, unexplained phenomena are occuring all over with disasterous results for the humans living on this planet, but as Herbert says the planet is trying to heal itself. Mixed in to the storyline are a set of gypsy twins, Mama Pitie a dark and foreboding figure hell bent on getting to the twins, James Rivers a Doctor working for the NOAA (National Oceananic and Atmospheric Administration, The Dream Man ... ...Diane, Father and Daughter who aid James while he unravels what exactly is happening. I whole heartedly recommend this book to anyone interested in what is happening now to our planet it's so apt, and although it may be pure fantasy it's amazing how James Herbert wrote about, what we are only now experiencing. ...
Starshine8 31.03.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Portent - James Herbert
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Advantages: Small book, good read ! interesting and makes you think! Disadvantages: Similar to other work! More characters may have been interesting.
The Survivor is about David Kellor who is the Only person to escape from a flaming wreckage of a Jumbo Jet.
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David Kellor starts putting the story together and as all JamesHerbert Books the tale soon turns to evil and death with a strange twist regarding Kellor's involvement in the plane and the crash!
A average book for JamesHerbert, I have read better ('48, Portent, and The Others)
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Advantages: Hugely imaginative, untold possibilities and areas of exploration Disadvantages: Abrupt prose, loose ends, weak and rushed ending
, the story is full of hidden twists and turns to keep the reader interested, but the chosen literary style means that it takes some time for the pace to pick up and you can be forgiven for being slightly confused at first as the author misleads you in to thinking that the book is about something else entirely. Even the cover inlay is written in such a way that it gives up very little about the story.
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