The Rats Trilogy by James Herbert

[Spender]

Often referred to as "The English Stephen King", James Herbert has been cranking out solid, dependable horror/mystery fiction for many, many years and, while living in New Zealand, I had the chance to read most of his work.

If you're new to this author, I suggest you start with the "Rats Trilogy".
Descriptions courtesy of mininova.com

James Herbert - The Rats

For millions of years man and rats had been natural enemies. But now for the first time
suddenly, shockingly, horribly the balance of power had shifted and the rats began to
prey on the human population.

----------------------------------------
James Herbert - Lair

The mutant white rat had grown and mated, creating offspring in its own image.
They dominated the others, the dark-furred ones, who foraged for food and brought it
back to the lair.
Now the dark rats were restless, and the white slug-like thing that ruled them
remembered the taste of human flesh.

-----------------------------------------
James Herbert - Domain

The long-dreaded nuclear conflict. The city torn apart, shattered, its people destroyed
or mutilated beyond hope.
For just a few, survival is possible only beneath the wrecked streets - if there is time
to avoid the slow-descending poisonous ashes.
But below, the rats, demonic offspring of irradiated forebears, are waiting.
They know that Man is weakened, become frail. Has become their prey...


These are excellent and very scary reads and I recommend them very highly.

[Shinigami_senpai]

I've read some of Herbert's stuff, but not the Rats Trilogy.
It gives me the jibblies just thinking about it.
*jubble, jibble, jibble*

[fladriss]

I can hear their scritching and screeching and twitching right now. *shiver*

[Shinigami_senpai]

I would advise investing an a cat or three.

[fladriss]

I would advise investing an a cat or three.

I have a cat but he is elderly and very lazy. Just the other day we had him in the backyard and he was happily gnawing away on some grass while a chipmunk sat about 15 feet away from him eating some corn for about 2 minutes. Cat didn't even notice. Needless to say, I won't be counting on him to defend me from any nuclear powered rats.