Domain

The Rats Series, Book 3

By: James Herbert

Narrated by: David Rintoul

Length: 14 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's Summary

Book Three in Herbert’s classic ‘rats’ series. The final countdown. 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. Man has become their prey.

James Herbert was one of Britain’s greatest popular novelists and our #1 best-selling writer of chiller fiction. Widely imitated and hugely influential, he wrote 23 novels which have collectively sold over 54 million copies worldwide and been translated into 34 languages.

Born in London in the forties, James Herbert was art director of an advertising agency before turning to writing fiction in 1975. His first novel, The Rats, was an instant bestseller and is now recognised as a classic of popular contemporary fiction.

Herbert went on to publish a new top ten best-seller every year until 1988. He wrote six more bestselling novels in the 1990s and three more since: Once, Nobody True and The Secret of Crickley Hall.

Herbert died in March 2013 at the age of 69.

©1984 James Herbert (P)2013 Audible Ltd

Critic Reviews

“Herbert was by no means literary, but his work had a raw urgency. His best novels, The Rats and The Fog, had the effect of Mike Tyson in his championship days: no finesse, all crude power. Those books were best sellers because many readers (including me) were too horrified to put them down.” (Stephen King)
"There are few things I would like to do less than lie under a cloudy night sky while someone read aloud the more vivid passages of Moon. In the thriller genre, do recommendations come any higher?" (Andrew Postman, The New York Times Book Review)
"Herbert goes out in a blaze of glory" ( Daily Mail)

Not enough rats

I hate to be a wet blanket, and I hope Herbert derived income and pride and a sense of doing something important with this book.
But despite being nearly as long as both of the previous books combined, it probably has less than half of the rat content of either of those books on their own.

I wouldn't want to discourage anyone who liked other books by this author, but I do have to say, as somebody who never thought they wanted to read a horror novel about rats, or its sequel, that by the time I got to the last in the trilogy, I was really counting on tons of rats.
And there ARE tons of rats, but still...
There's so much in the book that isn't rats, that by the time the book is SERIOUSLY about rats, I barely cared anymore!
Maybe that was the point, to close this series by winding down the readers' interest in the nuclear rats of this nuclear rat fictional universe.
All I know is that the next time I want to read a book that's REALLY about RATS, I'll stick with The Rats or Lair!!!

A fitting end to a great trilogy!

"Domain" is the third and final installment of "The Rats" trilogy. It is primarily about London dealing with the fall out of Nuclear destruction and the survivors of the attack. But of course when the meek inherit the earth, in this case we're talking about the rats, who are anything but meek. They are violence, hunger and fury rolled into one.
This is 1970's style horror story telling at its best.
Read excitedly by David Rintoul.

Not what I exerted for the final chapter.

I really enjoyed the first two books but this Domain took a big left turn. It was alright and David Rantoul did a great job as usual. I would still recommend it so you can finish the story of the rats.

Just as good as I rememberd

I read these books when first published and enjoyed them, the only negative was some of the dramatization was a bit over done, however I would recommend this to James Herbert fans.

Gripping

Would you listen to Domain again? Why?

There would be no need to as every word is embossed on your brain,(excuse the pun)

What was one of the most memorable moments of Domain?

The killing of the "THING" and is offspring..

What about David Rintoul’s performance did you like?

He made you feel as though you were involved in the story.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The death of the doctor.

Any additional comments?

The story tells you what could happen when Man interfers with Nature.

great

it really was a great book i am looking forward to reading the next in my library

gripping

A great book one of Herbert's best, the narrator was very good and well paced

Breathless

Great story as usual for James Herbert but performance a bit excited and breathless for me.

very good. a must

Yes I liked it so mush, would here again when I get some time to do so.

A fitting end to the series

(providing you ignore the graphic novel)

This is an excellent final part of the Rats trilogy. While it lacks some of the more personal horrors of the first book, the vision of a destroyed world is truly unsettling.

David Rintoul's narration deserves special mention, he imparts an urgent sense of drama to the book.

Excellent

fantastic story i will read again from be start i love all the 3 books

Brilliant!

The narrator gave a brilliant performance! He made me feel like i was there. I was on an emotional rollercoaster with this one!

Strangely compelling ‘80s horror

Well delivered but not the best of Herbert. The resilience of one of the surviving heroes needed to get through the relentless torrent of gruesome description …. Enjoy!