- Hardcover: 319 pages
- Publisher: Harper Prism (Jun 1996)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0061052116
- ISBN-13: 978-0061052118
- Product Dimensions: 23.1 x 15.5 x 3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 5,457,595 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Portent
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle .
Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
Another horror story written by the author of "Creed", "The Spear", "Shrine", "The Dark", "The Fog" and "The Jonah".
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Book Description
It is the near future and signs of an impending global disaster are multiplying. Earthquakes, floods and volcanic eruptions sweep the earth. As the storms and tempests rage, a series of ominous events signal the emergence of a new and terrifying force. While scuba-diving on the Great Barrier Reef a diver watches fascinated as a tiny light floats past him towards the surface. Moments later he is torn to pieces as the reef erupts with colossal power. On the banks of the Ganges, a young boy pauses from his back-breaking labours, transfixed by the play of a mysterious light amidst the monsoon rains, before a towering geyser of boiling water bursts from beneath the streets, scalding him to death. In the Chinese city of Kashi travellers bring back reports of a strange light seen shining above the endless dunes of the Taklimakan Desert. And as the city's inhabitants watch for its return, the desert rises up to engulf them in a tidal wave of sand. All have seen a portent. A sign of unimaginable powers about to be unleashed. A sign that something incredible is about to begin...
--This text refers to an alternate
Hardcover
edition.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Looking at the other reviews of this novel, I feel rather alone in not really enjoying it. I've read a lot of Herbert's work and feel that this is by far his weakest offering. Herbert has proved that he is a master of suspense and has an outstanding ability to create a truly dark and creepy atmosphere. Yet here Herbert seems to have by-passed such talents and put together a novel that seems to float through a thread bare plot that never really seems to develop itself. The ending just wanders into place, leaving the reader (well me anyway) with a sense of dissatisfaction. With such experience and exceptional talent, one would have thought that Herbert would have gripped the reader in some way with this novel, but I felt bored as I battled through the mundane novel chapter after chapter.
Obviously, this is only my opinion on the book and others have thought something completely different (see below), but if you are new to Herbert's work, I would strongly recommend The Rats, Lair, The Fog, The Survivor, Sepulchre and '48. All are outstanding pieces of imaginative work.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
After reading this book you will panic! The events, while perhaps fanciful, are definitely some of the most graphically described and richly portrayed of any from books of a similar ilk. So much so, that you can easily envisage elements of this story being fact rather than fiction. The characters' descriptions are great - each one is really brought to life, even those who appear for mere moments; and I can guarantee you will visualise people you know as some of them! (Particularly the lead character's work colleagues!!) The plot unfolds gently and intriguingly throughout and the central story is evenly broken up to a manageable pace by some excellent sideline events that come together as one dramatic and enjoyable whole.
There are no clumsy misplaced speed-ups - the pace is only altered when the writer emphasises the dramatic tension, which is so well done that your blood will chill! And you are thrown into the action so there is no "when will it get to a good bit?" feeling.
James Herbert captures the imagination and throws you into a world chaotic, savage, but strikingly real, leaving you feeling very much in-the-moment, the savagery only serving to increase the beauty once you know why it is that the events are happening.
The style is excellent, the descriptive writing when introducing new characters and locations is second to none, and the moments of tension will grasp you leaving your heart racing.
Though regarded as horror, this book is much, much more. It does have genuinely mouth-drying moments, but there is also an under current of love, hope and heroism - though none of which are in over-kill. The cleverly thought up fictional side is well balanced with enough perfect imagery and factual base to invoke dread and more than a little concern for the world around you, but above all it will complete capture you - "Portent" is a thrilling and enthralling, very, very clever book.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Yet another brilliantly written book by Herbert. Once again his focus is on the future mankind may bring upon itself by it's blatant disregard for the world we live in. After thousands of years of mankind's abuse of mother earth, she finally rebells. Yet even mother earth is reluctant to rid itself of it's torturers completely; there are a selected few who are shown the signs and the way mankind and mother earth can live in harmony. But will the powers that be take any notice of these lone voices or will they continue to avoid the obvious signs that something is badly wrong.
The book might as well have been glued to my fingers as I couldn't put it down!
A must read for all Herbert followers.
The book might as well have been glued to my fingers as I couldn't put it down!
A must read for all Herbert followers.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
very disappointing
I found this book a great disappointment. The characters were cardboard cut-outs, with no real substance or depth developed. Read more
Published 9 months ago by R. P. Watson
Puzzled!!
I'm not too sure what to say about Portent. The blurb at the back set the scene for a cracking good read but I'm not sure whether it lived up to such a claim. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Di
Scary!
Is this a prediction of things to come?.A scary read
just before you go to bed.Excellent stuff from Mr Herbert(again).
just before you go to bed.Excellent stuff from Mr Herbert(again).
Published 11 months ago by Dave D
Good book
I love James Herbert, but am finding it a bit difficult to get into this book. Most of his others I could hardly put down, this one I find difficult to pick up
Published on 29 Mar 2010 by M. Fisher
Ho-Hum
Well this is the first James Herbert book that I have read and maybe it will be my last. If, as others are saying, this is his best then I'm sorry but I will move on to other... Read more
Published on 27 Jan 2010 by Muzzargh
Sorry, But I Just Don't Get It
I'll say upfront that I'm not a "new age" type of person. I've read a fair amount of Herbert, and the last thing I expected was for him to take a turn to the airy fairy. Read more
Published on 14 Nov 2009 by Vaughan
Not one of Herbert's better novels
No, Chris Hall, you are not alone in giving this two stars. This novel was originally published in 1992 and, to me, reads like it. Read more
Published on 11 Feb 2009 by R. Griffiths
EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS
As a writer myself whose interest lies in all things environmental, I have been knocked for six by James Herbert's passion, in this book, about the world upon which we live. Read more
Published on 10 Mar 2008 by J. P. Henderson-Long
Mother nature will fight back
I agree with the previous reviewer. I read this book when it was first published and likewise whenever we have freak weather I remember this book vividly. Read more
Published on 29 July 2007 by Jo, Burgess Hill
You won't watch the weather in the same way again
This book is bound to be good, it is James Herbert. A very enjoyable read with a good story line and great characters. Read more
Published on 6 Jun 2007 by Sarah
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
