The Fog (1975 novel)

The Fog is a horror novel by English< writer James Herbert's, published in 1975. It is 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.

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 crimes such as minor public urination to as drastic as paedophilia.

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.

External links

• James Herbert website review of The Fog
• Hamish Hamilton review of The Fog