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Creed
Sometimes horror is in the mind and sometimes it's real. Telling the difference isn't always easy. It wasn't for Joe Creed. He just photographed the unreal. Now he had to pay the price, because he always thought that demons were just a joke. But the joke was on him and it wasn't very funny. It was deadly.
376 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1990
About the author
James Herbert
96 books2,251 followersJames Herbert was Britain's number one bestselling writer (a position he held ever since publication of his first novel) and one of the world's top writers of thriller/horror fiction.
He was one of our greatest popular novelists, whose books are sold in thirty-three other languages, including Russian and Chinese. Widely imitated and hugely influential, his 19 novels have sold more than 42 million copies worldwide.
As an author he produced some of the most powerful horror fiction of the past decade. With a skillful blend of horror and thriller fiction, he explored the shaded territories of evil, evoking a sense of brooding menace and rising tension. He relentlessly draws the reader through the story's ultimate revelation - one that will stay to chill the mind long after the book has been laid aside. His bestsellers, THE MAGIC COTTAGE, HAUNTED, SEPULCHRE, and CREED, enhanced his reputation as a writer of depth and originality. His novels THE FOG, THE DARK, and THE SURVIVOR have been hailed as classics of the genre.
He was one of our greatest popular novelists, whose books are sold in thirty-three other languages, including Russian and Chinese. Widely imitated and hugely influential, his 19 novels have sold more than 42 million copies worldwide.
As an author he produced some of the most powerful horror fiction of the past decade. With a skillful blend of horror and thriller fiction, he explored the shaded territories of evil, evoking a sense of brooding menace and rising tension. He relentlessly draws the reader through the story's ultimate revelation - one that will stay to chill the mind long after the book has been laid aside. His bestsellers, THE MAGIC COTTAGE, HAUNTED, SEPULCHRE, and CREED, enhanced his reputation as a writer of depth and originality. His novels THE FOG, THE DARK, and THE SURVIVOR have been hailed as classics of the genre.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews
December 7, 2023
“Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.” John 14:30
Creed of the tale is a photographer… He earns his living photographing unusual scenes… Now he is in a cemetery… And there he observes a truly queer personality…
The novel begins quite provocatively…
And right away Creed enters the lair of supreme evil… And the prince of this world is ready to use any bait to catch another soul… And his best, the most seductive bait is sex… And Satan there rules the ball…
Evil sleeps in the crypt of time but it’s enough to make just one unwary step and it will wake up.
Creed of the tale is a photographer… He earns his living photographing unusual scenes… Now he is in a cemetery… And there he observes a truly queer personality…
The novel begins quite provocatively…
What was he up to? Fumbling at his clothes again. He – oh no, he wouldn’t. Creed raised the camera again. Shit, what a great shot it would have been if only the man had been facing the other way. Unusable, of course, no newspaper would use it. No British newspaper anyway. But certain European journals might love to have a picture of someone pissing on the great Lily Neverless’ grave.
Wait a minute, that wasn’t it… Oh no, not that. No one would do that in broad daylight, let alone in a graveyard! That was obscene! Creed almost grinned. That was bloody disgusting!
And right away Creed enters the lair of supreme evil… And the prince of this world is ready to use any bait to catch another soul… And his best, the most seductive bait is sex… And Satan there rules the ball…
And then there were the demons among them.
These came in all shapes and sizes and all manner of images. With the Nikon’s zoom lens, Creed was able to pull in close and he had to admit that the make-up and disguise of some of the guests was quite incredible, if somewhat over the top.
Creed thought they must be hired masqueraders, there to lend fantastical atmosphere to the revelry, for they were treated with almost mock reverence as they wandered through the crowd. Oddly, their clothes – robes, tunics, or loincloths in some cases – seemed lacklustre and shabby, like well-worn jumble from a village sale, and the creatures themselves appeared weary, as if the evening was a little too much for them. They shuffled rather than walked, their bodies stooped and uncertain. In truth, they looked dreary rather than exotic.
Evil sleeps in the crypt of time but it’s enough to make just one unwary step and it will wake up.
December 17, 2020
I really enjoyed the writing of this, but the story was a little underwhelming. Only I don't know if it was the story itself or just the 2020 bug. I think, from a distance, it should be a 4-star book, but my experience was a 3-star. So let's call it 3.5.
The Good
1. Creed is a Jerk
He's such a brilliant anti-hero. He's self-centred, smokes and drinks far too much, treats people like dirt, and he delights in his job of snapping embarrassing photos of the rich and famous. He excels at his job. Because he has no shame. He is a despicable human being and totally doesn't care.
2. Creed is a Cynic
This guy doesn't believe anything he can't see with his own eyes. And even when he does see it himself, he'll still try to find a logical explanation for it. This made for an interesting mind-f*ck. Because it makes us, the reader, cynical as well. Are we going to believe in the supernatural occurrences? Or are we going to believe whatever thin logical explanation Creed finds?
3. The Storytelling is Fantastic
More than anything, I loved the way this was written. This is a proper story-telling narrative, with the author explaining things for us and injecting some brilliant humour in the process. It's clever, witty, and I found myself just really enjoying the narrator as a character himself.
4. The RANDOMNESS
Honestly, most of the time I had no idea what was happening, where it was going, what it was trying to set up. Zero ideas. It was hectic. There was so much random stuff happening - demons and vampires and bugs and faces at windows and evil toilets and ... SO MUCH. I thoroughly enjoyed how disturbing it all was, but I found it more amusing than terrifying. Did I mention the evil toilet??
The Bad
1. The Plot is ... What?
I still am not 100% sure of what the heck was happening here. It begins with Creed snapping a photo he shouldn't have, and it leads to this absolute chaos that is basically Creed being terrorised for reasons I couldn't work out. It was strange and hard to follow and it lessened my motivation to pick it up because the drive wasn't really there for me.
2. The Scare Factor is Low
I was hoping for a horror story but this definitely felt more like comedy. There are some creepy moments but the way Creed (and the narrator) deals with everything just makes it more humourous. I think, because Creed never entirely believed any of this horrific stuff was happening, it took the threat out of it. It was hilarious, but never raised a single goosebump for me.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I won't lie, the 2020 bug has really affected my reading experiences this year, and I find I'm a lot harder to please. I suspect this story lost a star to that. On paper, this book is everything I should have enjoyed, but it took me a lot longer to read than I anticipated, because I never really had the urge to pick it up again. I think that's part the fault of the plot, but also part me.
It's funny and unique, and Creed is a brilliant character, but as a horror novel it does fall a little flat. Still, there are some really interesting monsters here and the writing is truly brilliant, so others are likely to be more impressed than me.
The Good
1. Creed is a Jerk
He's such a brilliant anti-hero. He's self-centred, smokes and drinks far too much, treats people like dirt, and he delights in his job of snapping embarrassing photos of the rich and famous. He excels at his job. Because he has no shame. He is a despicable human being and totally doesn't care.
2. Creed is a Cynic
This guy doesn't believe anything he can't see with his own eyes. And even when he does see it himself, he'll still try to find a logical explanation for it. This made for an interesting mind-f*ck. Because it makes us, the reader, cynical as well. Are we going to believe in the supernatural occurrences? Or are we going to believe whatever thin logical explanation Creed finds?
3. The Storytelling is Fantastic
More than anything, I loved the way this was written. This is a proper story-telling narrative, with the author explaining things for us and injecting some brilliant humour in the process. It's clever, witty, and I found myself just really enjoying the narrator as a character himself.
4. The RANDOMNESS
Honestly, most of the time I had no idea what was happening, where it was going, what it was trying to set up. Zero ideas. It was hectic. There was so much random stuff happening - demons and vampires and bugs and faces at windows and evil toilets and ... SO MUCH. I thoroughly enjoyed how disturbing it all was, but I found it more amusing than terrifying. Did I mention the evil toilet??
The Bad
1. The Plot is ... What?
I still am not 100% sure of what the heck was happening here. It begins with Creed snapping a photo he shouldn't have, and it leads to this absolute chaos that is basically Creed being terrorised for reasons I couldn't work out. It was strange and hard to follow and it lessened my motivation to pick it up because the drive wasn't really there for me.
2. The Scare Factor is Low
I was hoping for a horror story but this definitely felt more like comedy. There are some creepy moments but the way Creed (and the narrator) deals with everything just makes it more humourous. I think, because Creed never entirely believed any of this horrific stuff was happening, it took the threat out of it. It was hilarious, but never raised a single goosebump for me.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I won't lie, the 2020 bug has really affected my reading experiences this year, and I find I'm a lot harder to please. I suspect this story lost a star to that. On paper, this book is everything I should have enjoyed, but it took me a lot longer to read than I anticipated, because I never really had the urge to pick it up again. I think that's part the fault of the plot, but also part me.
It's funny and unique, and Creed is a brilliant character, but as a horror novel it does fall a little flat. Still, there are some really interesting monsters here and the writing is truly brilliant, so others are likely to be more impressed than me.
December 14, 2023
Well that was a quick romp of a read. After reading ‘Ash’ the authors last work some months back it was time to read another.
This story has a great lead character. A paparazzo called Joseph Creed with absolutely no redeeming features. The book starts with him photographing a man who was hanged years ago desecrating a grave. This scene reminded me of a scene in the horror film ‘Phantasm.’
The book ends with a Satanic gathering not unlike that in Dennis Wheatley’s ‘To the Devil a Daughter.’ But that said the characters are all rich and the story is humorous as well as scarey. Creed comes across well as a wise cracking pap.
This story has a great lead character. A paparazzo called Joseph Creed with absolutely no redeeming features. The book starts with him photographing a man who was hanged years ago desecrating a grave. This scene reminded me of a scene in the horror film ‘Phantasm.’
The book ends with a Satanic gathering not unlike that in Dennis Wheatley’s ‘To the Devil a Daughter.’ But that said the characters are all rich and the story is humorous as well as scarey. Creed comes across well as a wise cracking pap.
May 24, 2014
4.5 stars!
This book was a rocking good time! Any fan of 80's style horror would dig this novel.
We have a paparazzo named Creed that is generally disliked. He is greedy, selfish and obnoxious. Thing is, you are rooting for him anyway. Mr. Herbert created a deeply flawed, but likable protagonist.
The best part, next to the 80's pulp feel, is the humor. Herbert somehow manages to have you laughing, sometimes even in the midst of dire situations. Then there's a few inside jokes; at one point Creed spots a rat and thinks: "Didn't he read somewhere that rats were taking over the city? Good idea for a book there. Somebody ought to do it." Anyone familiar with James Herbert's works chuckles right there.
I'm not going to get into the plot, the description does that. I will say that this book stoked up my Herbert jones and I can't wait to read more of his books. Highly recommended for fans of 80's horror.
For a good time, call Creed!
This book was a rocking good time! Any fan of 80's style horror would dig this novel.
We have a paparazzo named Creed that is generally disliked. He is greedy, selfish and obnoxious. Thing is, you are rooting for him anyway. Mr. Herbert created a deeply flawed, but likable protagonist.
The best part, next to the 80's pulp feel, is the humor. Herbert somehow manages to have you laughing, sometimes even in the midst of dire situations. Then there's a few inside jokes; at one point Creed spots a rat and thinks: "Didn't he read somewhere that rats were taking over the city? Good idea for a book there. Somebody ought to do it." Anyone familiar with James Herbert's works chuckles right there.
I'm not going to get into the plot, the description does that. I will say that this book stoked up my Herbert jones and I can't wait to read more of his books. Highly recommended for fans of 80's horror.
For a good time, call Creed!
October 9, 2019
The first half of this is unadulterated 80's era horror fun (yes, it is from the early 90's, but you know what I mean). I really enjoyed the build up and quite low-key start and no matter your feelings for Joe Creed (loads of reviews talks about him being too unsympathetic for words and I agree, but I don't have any issues as such with a protagonist like him), he really did not bargain for what he got. The odd occasions when the third person narrator breaks through the 4th wall did not overly bother me (even if it interrupted the flow of the story to some extent).
However,...
Following the obligatory explicit horror sex and ordinary (well...) sex scenes, the second half of the book seems to go nowhere and our (anti)hero makes the most ludicrous decisions and takes the oddest actions. I'm happy to suspend disbelief when it comes to the supernatural, but not when it comes to non-logic. The ending is OK, but way to drawn-out, not a story killer, not a book saver either.
Quite fun in parts, but much as I suspected the artwork is the best feature of this.
May 28, 2014
A photographer lives for that one shot. The picture that's worth a thousand words.
Joe Creed is a paparazzo. He lives for that one shot. Sadly, his involves celebrities caught with their pants down. Preferably literally.
The shot he gets, while in the right place at the wrong time, thrusts him into a waking nightmare.
Reading like the unholy offspring of "Dirty Jobs" and "Tales from the Crypt" on speed, the horror is unrelenting, as Herbert keeps the creepy factor on high, while managing to blend in a healthy dose of dark humor (including one of the most hysterically shameless bits of author self promotion ever committed to paper).
This one has it all: from a mysterious maniac who was hanged before World War II, the original Nosferatu, shapeshifting succubi, a killer toilet, costume parties in loony bins, a grinning cat, the legacy of Aleister Crowley, guest appearances by Jack Nicholson and Princess Fergie, plus so much more!
A rollicking, retro romp of a horror novel that reminds me of how much fun the genre was back in the 80s.
Highly recommended!
Joe Creed is a paparazzo. He lives for that one shot. Sadly, his involves celebrities caught with their pants down. Preferably literally.
The shot he gets, while in the right place at the wrong time, thrusts him into a waking nightmare.
Reading like the unholy offspring of "Dirty Jobs" and "Tales from the Crypt" on speed, the horror is unrelenting, as Herbert keeps the creepy factor on high, while managing to blend in a healthy dose of dark humor (including one of the most hysterically shameless bits of author self promotion ever committed to paper).
This one has it all: from a mysterious maniac who was hanged before World War II, the original Nosferatu, shapeshifting succubi, a killer toilet, costume parties in loony bins, a grinning cat, the legacy of Aleister Crowley, guest appearances by Jack Nicholson and Princess Fergie, plus so much more!
A rollicking, retro romp of a horror novel that reminds me of how much fun the genre was back in the 80s.
Highly recommended!
September 9, 2017
3.5 stars
I read this several (many?) years ago and loved it then - it was a bit naughty and shocking and funny!
It is a bit dated but I still like the sass and the style of writing. Creed is an anti-hero, a paparazzo who thrives on the downfall and dirty secrets of others.
The story is not too gory but it is gross in places and very far-fetched. The story is dark and twisted but delivered in a humorous tongue-in-cheek style.
I have read most of James Herbert's books and with the exception of 'Once' and 'Ash' I think I'll be re-reading them all again soon.
I read this several (many?) years ago and loved it then - it was a bit naughty and shocking and funny!
It is a bit dated but I still like the sass and the style of writing. Creed is an anti-hero, a paparazzo who thrives on the downfall and dirty secrets of others.
The story is not too gory but it is gross in places and very far-fetched. The story is dark and twisted but delivered in a humorous tongue-in-cheek style.
I have read most of James Herbert's books and with the exception of 'Once' and 'Ash' I think I'll be re-reading them all again soon.
January 30, 2017
When I was about 11 and at boarding school, I bought a boxset of James Herbert's books. In the boxset of three, were The Fog, The Rats and Lair. Actually, I should say I was given them by my parents; an 11-year-old boy would not have been allowed to purchase such books in those days. My parents, bless them, would also have been blissfully unaware of their content and would have been happy just in the fact that I was reading. Had they known what the books contained they would have refused, point blank, to buy them for me. I didn't deliberately misguide my parents by not telling them that they were horror books, it was just that I had read other books by James Herbert in the past and loved them that much that I was dying to read these.
We were allowed half-an-hour of reading before 'lights out' at boarding school and after the assistant headmaster had roamed the corridors doing his nightly checks I whipped the boxset out and took one of the books to read. I was about thirty pages into 'The Fog' and already engrossed when Mr Rowland, the assistant head, came back into the dormitory to talk to one of the boys he had forgotten to relay a message to. He saw what I was reading and bellowed for me to hand the book and the boxset over. He said that I could have them back at the end of term. The next day I was called to the headmaster's office and consequently given 'six of the best', a term used when a pupil is caned, using a three foot long bamboo cane, across the palms of the hands, six times. It smarted a little.
I went back to class, feeling sorry for myself, but mainly wondering why I had been so severely punished for wanting to read a book. It made me want to read the books even more, though, and at the end of term, having received my books back, and having read them, I realised why. They were brilliant! Mr Rowland was clearly jealous that I had the books, and he hadn't, and he had confiscated them all for his greedy self, the rotter! Ever since then I have loved James Herbert.
Until, that is, I read 'Creed'.
Now, I knew what to expect when I picked this book up off of my TBR shelf. I knew that it would be gory, and that it would have a good story, and that I would be engrossed. But none of these things occured. It was a bit of a rollercoaster, to be honest, parts were a four star and I 'got into' it, and others were a two star, especially the last eighty or so pages, the pages you expect to be the most enthralling, and I couldn't wait for it to end. It was too over the top, too unrealistic. All in all it was disappointing. And I'm disappointed not just because the book was bad but because James Herbert was one of my favourite authors, an author I remember fondly as a child, because I had an amazing childhood (apart from the several canings I received) and in a way this book has spoiled a tiny bit of my childhood; not a massive amout, just a tiny bit.
If you were to ask me if I would read any more books by James Herbert my honest answer would be, unless it was recommended to me, I would have to say no. However, to you, the reader who is reading this review, do not let this put you off reading Herbert's earlier works; The Fog, Lair and The Rats are a must. Just dont waste your time with this one.
We were allowed half-an-hour of reading before 'lights out' at boarding school and after the assistant headmaster had roamed the corridors doing his nightly checks I whipped the boxset out and took one of the books to read. I was about thirty pages into 'The Fog' and already engrossed when Mr Rowland, the assistant head, came back into the dormitory to talk to one of the boys he had forgotten to relay a message to. He saw what I was reading and bellowed for me to hand the book and the boxset over. He said that I could have them back at the end of term. The next day I was called to the headmaster's office and consequently given 'six of the best', a term used when a pupil is caned, using a three foot long bamboo cane, across the palms of the hands, six times. It smarted a little.
I went back to class, feeling sorry for myself, but mainly wondering why I had been so severely punished for wanting to read a book. It made me want to read the books even more, though, and at the end of term, having received my books back, and having read them, I realised why. They were brilliant! Mr Rowland was clearly jealous that I had the books, and he hadn't, and he had confiscated them all for his greedy self, the rotter! Ever since then I have loved James Herbert.
Until, that is, I read 'Creed'.
Now, I knew what to expect when I picked this book up off of my TBR shelf. I knew that it would be gory, and that it would have a good story, and that I would be engrossed. But none of these things occured. It was a bit of a rollercoaster, to be honest, parts were a four star and I 'got into' it, and others were a two star, especially the last eighty or so pages, the pages you expect to be the most enthralling, and I couldn't wait for it to end. It was too over the top, too unrealistic. All in all it was disappointing. And I'm disappointed not just because the book was bad but because James Herbert was one of my favourite authors, an author I remember fondly as a child, because I had an amazing childhood (apart from the several canings I received) and in a way this book has spoiled a tiny bit of my childhood; not a massive amout, just a tiny bit.
If you were to ask me if I would read any more books by James Herbert my honest answer would be, unless it was recommended to me, I would have to say no. However, to you, the reader who is reading this review, do not let this put you off reading Herbert's earlier works; The Fog, Lair and The Rats are a must. Just dont waste your time with this one.
February 18, 2020
Herbert creates an interesting person in paparazzi Joe Creed and that's the best it gets for me, as the main 'demons are amongst us' story line didn't really resonate with me. Overall with Herbert I seem to have immortalised his early writings like The Rats, The Fog and Fluke as none of his later writings have had much of an effect on me, if at all! 3 out of 12, I'm afraid.
October 25, 2020
“Terror was the key, of course, for there's a fine line between paralyzing dread and galvanizing fright.”
3.5*
3.5*
October 30, 2013
I'm a huge fan of the late great James Herbert and this was definitely one of his best. For one thing, Creed showcases Herbert's writing so well, it's a lighter book than his norm in terms of horror, but it has all the signature Herbert's strengths, well developed backstory, interesting (if not particularly likable or traditionally good)characters, action, sex that's actually plot driven, humor (this book in particular) and a boombastic finale. Creed is not a typical hero, not a her at all actually, he looks like a preworked on (mercy there)Mickey Rourke, makes a living as a paparazzo and is somewhat of a scoundrel in general. One day he takes a photo he shouldn't have taken of a person who couldn't possibly be and his whole world begins to unravel. From there on it's all demons, cemeteries at night, dark spooky (as if there are other kinds) dungeons, dangerous ladies, menacing creeps, parties with a cast of Universal Monsters and flash photography. Seriously, all that. Herbert narrates this book in a sly clever humorous let's tell you a story kind of way that really works here and makes the reading experience so much fun. Very entertaining and enjoyable read. Highly recommended.
June 3, 2024
A decent start with James Herbert's books, good easy to read writing style. I wanted more demons, more scary stuff, funny horror is not really my cup of tea. Paparazzi are a big part of this story and I can't say I enjoyed this very much. 3.25*
November 29, 2020
It has been sometime since I read Creed. But the book with its unusual tale has stayed with me, in part because of its cleverly crafted mix of horror and comedy. The main character is a photographer by the name of Joe Creed, a member of the paparazzi, Creed embodies the worst elements of the profession, caring little for the privacy of others, and going to extreme lengths to get the best photos. To make matters worse Joe is also a neglectful father, spending little time with his son.
But Joe’s life is about to change when he attends a funeral of a once famous starlet. While hiding amongst the headstones and tombs, Creed witnesses an elderly man commit a sex act over the grave of the woman. Quickly snapping several photos of the obscenity, Joe is driven from the graveyard by what looks like supernatural activity when the man becomes aware of him.
What follows is both terrifying and funny at the same time, you see Creed witnessed something he should not have, something demonic, and he has the evidence to prove it. But the man who Joe saw at the funeral, who bears more than a passing resemblance to a serial Killer who was hung just before World War Two, wants the photo’s back, and he will do anything to get them. Including targeting Joe’s son.
The story itself has several laugh out loud moments, in part owing to Joe’s dry wit and cavalier attitude. The book also manages to blend the supernatural, with the already dark and sleazy world of tabloid journalism, which is a shadowy world in its own right.
But Joe’s life is about to change when he attends a funeral of a once famous starlet. While hiding amongst the headstones and tombs, Creed witnesses an elderly man commit a sex act over the grave of the woman. Quickly snapping several photos of the obscenity, Joe is driven from the graveyard by what looks like supernatural activity when the man becomes aware of him.
What follows is both terrifying and funny at the same time, you see Creed witnessed something he should not have, something demonic, and he has the evidence to prove it. But the man who Joe saw at the funeral, who bears more than a passing resemblance to a serial Killer who was hung just before World War Two, wants the photo’s back, and he will do anything to get them. Including targeting Joe’s son.
The story itself has several laugh out loud moments, in part owing to Joe’s dry wit and cavalier attitude. The book also manages to blend the supernatural, with the already dark and sleazy world of tabloid journalism, which is a shadowy world in its own right.
September 20, 2015
Ah, Creed. It is a book filled with the usual Herbert charm… and yet somehow it falls short therefore preventing it from earning a spot in my top three Herbert books.
For me Creed was a battle between three and four stars. I felt as though there was not much action, with things moving at a much slower pace than I would have liked, therefore leaving me to give it the three rather than the four stars.
Don’t get me wrong, it did have enough good points to prevent me from giving it an even lower rating. The amusement, for one. I’m not the only one to notice the reference to Herbert’s Rats. It is certainly a giggle worthy moment, and that is just one of the moments to be mentioned. The main character, whilst a terrible person, is entertaining in many ways.
Overall, it is a good book for those who are fans of Herbert yet it does not show the writer at his best.
For me Creed was a battle between three and four stars. I felt as though there was not much action, with things moving at a much slower pace than I would have liked, therefore leaving me to give it the three rather than the four stars.
Don’t get me wrong, it did have enough good points to prevent me from giving it an even lower rating. The amusement, for one. I’m not the only one to notice the reference to Herbert’s Rats. It is certainly a giggle worthy moment, and that is just one of the moments to be mentioned. The main character, whilst a terrible person, is entertaining in many ways.
Overall, it is a good book for those who are fans of Herbert yet it does not show the writer at his best.
April 10, 2014
This is Herbert at his best...all twisted, evil, demonic tale. It left me feeling quite disturbed indeed. What struck (actually always strikes me) of Herbert's heroes, are that they are always so REAL. Not huge, bulky, adonis-like creatures, all rippling muscles and dark, smoldering good looks....they are people, with faults and demons of their own; like you and me. Joe Creed, like David Ash, is a realistic guy, yet something extraordinary happens to him, something that changes his outlook on life and the dimensions there of forever - but not so much that he does not, kind of, relapse quickly into his old habits. James Herbert didn't so much create a hero in this dark, evil tale, no, he told a story about the human condition itself. He managed to recreate the old battle between darkness and light in an entirely new and refreshing way. (Refreshing yes, but bloody frightening!)
As always, it was a sad moment when I closed the book, finished...and I thought, oh, I simply cannot wait for the next time Joe Creed catches up with these horrors he discovered in front of his camera lens. But then I remembered...there will never be more Herbert stories. He is, quite possibly, giggling hysterically at my stupid mistake...sitting there, in front of a large fire, his own book in hand, in another dimension.
I can definitely recommend this read. It did not disappoint at all, but please, if you do decide to take a stab at it (and if you can stomach horrors beyond belief)....don't read it in the dark, before bed, should you be one to scare easily. And, especially this, be careful when you take pictures; things can look quite different when you stare at it through the lens of a camera....ask Joe, he'll tell you. So....I dare you! Read this....you'll be gasping for breath by the end of it, I guarantee!
As always, it was a sad moment when I closed the book, finished...and I thought, oh, I simply cannot wait for the next time Joe Creed catches up with these horrors he discovered in front of his camera lens. But then I remembered...there will never be more Herbert stories. He is, quite possibly, giggling hysterically at my stupid mistake...sitting there, in front of a large fire, his own book in hand, in another dimension.
I can definitely recommend this read. It did not disappoint at all, but please, if you do decide to take a stab at it (and if you can stomach horrors beyond belief)....don't read it in the dark, before bed, should you be one to scare easily. And, especially this, be careful when you take pictures; things can look quite different when you stare at it through the lens of a camera....ask Joe, he'll tell you. So....I dare you! Read this....you'll be gasping for breath by the end of it, I guarantee!
October 2, 2008
As I have already explained, my choice of books are limited to those left by our members. Hence, the horror story which is not my usual genre pick. It was a well-paced if unbelieveable story of modern demons and and arch-demon Belial as seen through the eyes of a papparazzi determined to seek out the "great photo". I have to admit I enjoyed it. Theere was even a familiar demon, Nosferatu, from the 1920's/30's era. The only thing I didn't like was the nailing of a cat to a door lintel. However, it survived. Phew!
September 17, 2014
Probably not your expected average Herbert horror novel, it came at a change in his direction of style. Before the very gothic tales, after the really graphic horror terrors. It did take a fair while to really get going, but eventually it was entertaining mostly thanks to a sleazy anti-hero lead character. Almost goes into a classic Dennis Wheatley tale toward the grand final chapters.
October 24, 2015
Not the best Herbert book- a bit ridiculous/sensational for me, however I loved the character Creed himself! Saved the book IMO
October 19, 2018
This is James Herbert on form.
A photographer takes a photo of something unthinkable, unfathomable and it destroys his life slowly by increments. That's as vague as I can be about the plot because to reveal more would do a disservice to the book.
I have a special fondness for this title because my own novella followed a similar vein; seedy ungrateful character learns the value of things through one moment that threatens his entire existence. Herbert has crafted a main 'hero' here we don't even need to like in order to follow and enjoy his story. The horrors, when they come, are as grounded as anything as Herbert has done before but this novel lays on a further layer of humour that makes the terrors somewhat more effective.
For me, Herbert's masterwork is still Fluke, a title that isn't even a horror - but Creed is oh so worthy of your time to see English horror done RIGHT!
A photographer takes a photo of something unthinkable, unfathomable and it destroys his life slowly by increments. That's as vague as I can be about the plot because to reveal more would do a disservice to the book.
I have a special fondness for this title because my own novella followed a similar vein; seedy ungrateful character learns the value of things through one moment that threatens his entire existence. Herbert has crafted a main 'hero' here we don't even need to like in order to follow and enjoy his story. The horrors, when they come, are as grounded as anything as Herbert has done before but this novel lays on a further layer of humour that makes the terrors somewhat more effective.
For me, Herbert's masterwork is still Fluke, a title that isn't even a horror - but Creed is oh so worthy of your time to see English horror done RIGHT!
December 31, 2016
When freelance photographer Joe Creed sets out to capture a series of photos at the funeral of a famous actress, he gets the chance to take a few snaps of a strange old man at the graveside. But developing the pictures leads him into a mystery - one he can't easily explain. Learning the name of his unwitting subject and what it could mean if turns out to be true, only adds inconceivable reasoning to an already unsettling tale. With the help of an attractive ally, Creed sets out to discover just what the hell is going on.
Sometimes the very thing that grabs a reader's attention (in terms of an author's style), is the same thing that can get a little annoying after a while - similar scenarios, use of language etc. And when that happens, sometimes it's best to just leave that particular writer alone for a while and spread your readery wings further afield.
I first got into James Herbert's books in the late Seventies, when horror novels were coming back into fashion. With books like 'The Rats', 'The Fog' and 'The Dark', I found stories that had just the right amount of blood, guts and scary stuff to keep me interested for several years. Nevertheless, as I grew (perhaps) a little too familiar with the plots, other authors caught my attention and I veered away from Britain's most prolific horror writer. Now, with a suitable gap of twenty-odd years, I'm getting back to where my interest in the genre started.
Joe Creed is a fascinating and realistic character and his chaotic exploits kept me eagerly turning the pages as the plot developed arms, legs and devilish tails, but I did find the author's inclination to comment on the story as it went along a little irritating. So while I'm more than happy to give the book five stars for its entertainment value alone, I don't think this is James Herbert's best work - it doesn't quite capture the audacity and excitement of his early writing and the unexpected twists are less twisty and not so unexpected.
Nonetheless, this novel did renew my interest and those early books will, I'm sure, stand up to another look, so I'll be returning to James Herbert again soon - The Rats are coming...
Sometimes the very thing that grabs a reader's attention (in terms of an author's style), is the same thing that can get a little annoying after a while - similar scenarios, use of language etc. And when that happens, sometimes it's best to just leave that particular writer alone for a while and spread your readery wings further afield.
I first got into James Herbert's books in the late Seventies, when horror novels were coming back into fashion. With books like 'The Rats', 'The Fog' and 'The Dark', I found stories that had just the right amount of blood, guts and scary stuff to keep me interested for several years. Nevertheless, as I grew (perhaps) a little too familiar with the plots, other authors caught my attention and I veered away from Britain's most prolific horror writer. Now, with a suitable gap of twenty-odd years, I'm getting back to where my interest in the genre started.
Joe Creed is a fascinating and realistic character and his chaotic exploits kept me eagerly turning the pages as the plot developed arms, legs and devilish tails, but I did find the author's inclination to comment on the story as it went along a little irritating. So while I'm more than happy to give the book five stars for its entertainment value alone, I don't think this is James Herbert's best work - it doesn't quite capture the audacity and excitement of his early writing and the unexpected twists are less twisty and not so unexpected.
Nonetheless, this novel did renew my interest and those early books will, I'm sure, stand up to another look, so I'll be returning to James Herbert again soon - The Rats are coming...
June 13, 2022
James Herbert and Stephen King were the royalty of 70’s horror. I devoured their books, Carrie, Salem’s Lot and The Shining from King, The Rats, The Fog and The Survivor from Herbert. Both writers though evolved during the 80’s Herbert’s books for example became less blood and gore and more diverse with books such as The Jonah, Shrine and The Magic Cottage. The 1990’s would see him continue to move away from the blood & gore of his beginnings. Creed, his first book of the 90’s exemplified this.
For a start, Creed has humour, witness a man being attacked by a toilet for example! And then there’s the scene in which Joe Creed, the protagonist, is confronted with Laura, which is pure Carry on Screaming! I could not stop myself from seeing Fenella Fielding as Laura especially when she utters the line ‘Let me breathe you, Joe.’ The scene then morphs into classic 1970’s Herbert with ‘phantoms of emissions’ or ‘Semen demons’, Herbert however still keeping tongue firmly in cheek. He called Creed his ‘Abbot & Costello Meets Frankenstein’ novel.
Joseph Creed is a paparazzi, he is a low life, ‘a sleaze of the First Order - maybe the Grand Order, considering his trade.’ His also the hero of this book and nothing like any of the heroes of Herbert’s previous novels, he is a likeable rogue. His troubles start when he does what he is paid to do - he takes a candid photo of someone in an embarrassing situation.
James Herbert’s Abbot & Costello analogy is a good one. Just like that movie it still has all the monsters and ghouls, Frankenstein, the Mummy, Dracula and the Wolfman all make an appearance in a finale reminiscent of a classic universal horror movie. But there is a sense of fun in all of it. Even the sex scenes are hilarious, I am thinking of Laura again.
For a start, Creed has humour, witness a man being attacked by a toilet for example! And then there’s the scene in which Joe Creed, the protagonist, is confronted with Laura, which is pure Carry on Screaming! I could not stop myself from seeing Fenella Fielding as Laura especially when she utters the line ‘Let me breathe you, Joe.’ The scene then morphs into classic 1970’s Herbert with ‘phantoms of emissions’ or ‘Semen demons’, Herbert however still keeping tongue firmly in cheek. He called Creed his ‘Abbot & Costello Meets Frankenstein’ novel.
Joseph Creed is a paparazzi, he is a low life, ‘a sleaze of the First Order - maybe the Grand Order, considering his trade.’ His also the hero of this book and nothing like any of the heroes of Herbert’s previous novels, he is a likeable rogue. His troubles start when he does what he is paid to do - he takes a candid photo of someone in an embarrassing situation.
James Herbert’s Abbot & Costello analogy is a good one. Just like that movie it still has all the monsters and ghouls, Frankenstein, the Mummy, Dracula and the Wolfman all make an appearance in a finale reminiscent of a classic universal horror movie. But there is a sense of fun in all of it. Even the sex scenes are hilarious, I am thinking of Laura again.
September 24, 2014
Its been many, many years since I read a James Herbert book and I'm not sure whether my tastes have changed a lot more than I thought they had or whether this just isn't a good example of a Herbert book.
On the plus side, it's a quick read which rattles along well after a slow start and far more information than you'd actually ever need about the profession of the book's 'hero'.
Now, obviously no-one would or should try to make a paparazzo an entirely sympathetic figure but Joe Creed is so unrealistically loathsome, boneheaded and obsessed with sex (even while his son seems to spend forever in mortal danger) that it's impossible not to want him to die in all kinds of inventively hideous ways.
Herbert's own interjections as the storyteller are a slightly irritating mis-step but the story is decent enough. Some of the creature descriptions veer too far into silliness, undermining any threat or fear they might hold.
Sadly, Creed is disappointing enough that I doubt I'll be trying another of Herbert's books for a while yet.
On the plus side, it's a quick read which rattles along well after a slow start and far more information than you'd actually ever need about the profession of the book's 'hero'.
Now, obviously no-one would or should try to make a paparazzo an entirely sympathetic figure but Joe Creed is so unrealistically loathsome, boneheaded and obsessed with sex (even while his son seems to spend forever in mortal danger) that it's impossible not to want him to die in all kinds of inventively hideous ways.
Herbert's own interjections as the storyteller are a slightly irritating mis-step but the story is decent enough. Some of the creature descriptions veer too far into silliness, undermining any threat or fear they might hold.
Sadly, Creed is disappointing enough that I doubt I'll be trying another of Herbert's books for a while yet.
August 24, 2018
Well, this was a quick read! I really got into this story immediately.. First time I read about a freelance photographer and his quirks, but I was instantly sold..
We follow Creed as he goes to several jobs, but at one of them he witnesses quite the bizzare scene.. which will be the start of a thrilling ride through a new world .. We meet several interesting characters, once in a while even told from their point of view, but the main focus will be our "hero" ..
The story was definitely well told and all was written very detailed.. I'm a fan!
I'll be following Mr. Herbert and reading more of his works ;)
We follow Creed as he goes to several jobs, but at one of them he witnesses quite the bizzare scene.. which will be the start of a thrilling ride through a new world .. We meet several interesting characters, once in a while even told from their point of view, but the main focus will be our "hero" ..
The story was definitely well told and all was written very detailed.. I'm a fan!
I'll be following Mr. Herbert and reading more of his works ;)
October 18, 2017
Really enjoyed this one.
Creed is a paparazzi, one of those photographers we love to hate. While on assignment, hiding in a mausoleum and hoping to get a gossip-worthy shot at a celebrity's funeral, he takes a picture of something that isn't supposed to exist.
These photos take him into a world of demons and monsters, beings who at first are eager to reclaim this evidence of their existence, but then begin to want more from him.
Herbert makes thrilling use of the image of the vampire Count Orlock from Murnau's 1922 filem Nosferatu.
Creed is a paparazzi, one of those photographers we love to hate. While on assignment, hiding in a mausoleum and hoping to get a gossip-worthy shot at a celebrity's funeral, he takes a picture of something that isn't supposed to exist.
These photos take him into a world of demons and monsters, beings who at first are eager to reclaim this evidence of their existence, but then begin to want more from him.
Herbert makes thrilling use of the image of the vampire Count Orlock from Murnau's 1922 filem Nosferatu.
February 22, 2013
Like much of James Herbert, just a tad too heavy on the sex. Enough that it dropped a star with me. Well, that and the fact that the book seemed to get slower as it went on. I mean, I love a quick start, but I also like the author to at least try to keep it up, or what's the point? The lack of character development was kind of a fun idea, actually I liked the whole concept; it's the execution that was lacking.
June 4, 2019
Joseph Creed is not a nice man. He treats women like playthings, never follows up on his promises and is a terrible father. Both boy is he good at his job as a paparazzi, a profession very suitable to someone with his unsavory character traits. Oh and James Herbert really wants you to know like Mickey Rourke, back when he didn't have his face smashed in by boxers and the terribly botched plastic surgery after. Think of Angel Heart, 9 ½ weeks Mickey Rourke.
Herbert really wants you to love/hate the novel's main character. He is introduced urinating in a crypt he hid in, at a graveyard a famous actress is being buried. So even for a paparazzi, Creed is a special kind of awful. When he sees a man violate the freshly dug grave afterwards, he can't believe his luck and takes a couple of pictures. This is when his life takes a turn fort he worse. The man on the pictures is someone who can't be there, who did horrible things in the past. And now he is going after Creed.
I loved this book. I loved to hate and at times sympathize with Joe Creed. Only to hate him the next paragraph. The extreme lengths he went to mess with people, or to get the perfect picture were entertaining. I wouldn't even call him an anti-hero, he's just an asshole that looks like Mickey Rourke, a chain smoking, alcoholic Mickey Rourke. Atleast he treats everyone equally shitty, his co-workers, his kid, women he meets, they all get the Creed treatment of being used and quickly forgotten. It's just that the stuff happening to him is at times so disturbing and gross that I couldn't help but still feel sorry for him.
I loved the creepiness, there are a lot of disturbing scenes in the book. I found three books by Herbert at Goodwill and read all three in a row. Creed was the last, and the one I enjoyed the most by far. The other ones "Haunted" and "The Magical Cottage" were kind of .. quaint. Not much happened for most of it, and when it did. It was so dated and Haunted House-like that it didn't really disturb or creep me out that much. I still enjoyed the books, but not like Creed.
It's kinda fun to see how dated the book is at times, the book was published in 1990. So some of the references to celebrities Creed is trying to photograph are hilarious; Jack Nicholson and Anjelica Huston were still a thing.
The only somewhat odd thing was the sudden switch to sex-scenes about halfway trough the book. For most of the story, any reference of intercourse was pretty tepid. The kind of sleazy stuff you expect from a guy like Creed. But all of a sudden there are like multiple chapters of detailed sex, with different people in various locations.
The book was a good read from start to finish and I definitely recommend it to fans of strange, vintage horror!
Herbert really wants you to love/hate the novel's main character. He is introduced urinating in a crypt he hid in, at a graveyard a famous actress is being buried. So even for a paparazzi, Creed is a special kind of awful. When he sees a man violate the freshly dug grave afterwards, he can't believe his luck and takes a couple of pictures. This is when his life takes a turn fort he worse. The man on the pictures is someone who can't be there, who did horrible things in the past. And now he is going after Creed.
I loved this book. I loved to hate and at times sympathize with Joe Creed. Only to hate him the next paragraph. The extreme lengths he went to mess with people, or to get the perfect picture were entertaining. I wouldn't even call him an anti-hero, he's just an asshole that looks like Mickey Rourke, a chain smoking, alcoholic Mickey Rourke. Atleast he treats everyone equally shitty, his co-workers, his kid, women he meets, they all get the Creed treatment of being used and quickly forgotten. It's just that the stuff happening to him is at times so disturbing and gross that I couldn't help but still feel sorry for him.
I loved the creepiness, there are a lot of disturbing scenes in the book. I found three books by Herbert at Goodwill and read all three in a row. Creed was the last, and the one I enjoyed the most by far. The other ones "Haunted" and "The Magical Cottage" were kind of .. quaint. Not much happened for most of it, and when it did. It was so dated and Haunted House-like that it didn't really disturb or creep me out that much. I still enjoyed the books, but not like Creed.
It's kinda fun to see how dated the book is at times, the book was published in 1990. So some of the references to celebrities Creed is trying to photograph are hilarious; Jack Nicholson and Anjelica Huston were still a thing.
The only somewhat odd thing was the sudden switch to sex-scenes about halfway trough the book. For most of the story, any reference of intercourse was pretty tepid. The kind of sleazy stuff you expect from a guy like Creed. But all of a sudden there are like multiple chapters of detailed sex, with different people in various locations.
The book was a good read from start to finish and I definitely recommend it to fans of strange, vintage horror!
April 23, 2022
I don’t think this book was James Herbert’s best, but it also wasn’t exactly terrible. It’s just that when he has a big hit, his books are next level and better than anything that most other authors can come up with. When he doesn’t connect, they’re just pretty average. But I kind of like that, because it makes his skill level seem more attainable and doesn’t leave me feeling as though I’ll never be anywhere near the writer that he is.
Part of my feelings towards this one are due to the protagonist, who’s a deliberately unlikeable character. He’s a member of the paparazzi, and a particularly sleazy one who’s hated even by other photographers. That means that when he gets himself into hot water, it’s kind of a joy to read. This isn’t a protagonist where you’re going to want him to have a happy ending. You’re going to want to see him get screwed over by the forces of hell.
Speaking of which, the book does a pretty good job of blending the biblical and the supernatural with our own world, creating a story in which it feels as though almost anything could happen. The stakes are pretty high, but perhaps not as high as they are in books like The Rats where the future of humanity itself is at stake, and the plot keeps on plodding along towards the finish line with an unstoppable momentum.
But it isn’t particularly memorable, and I doubt it’s something that I’ll come back to again in the future. With so many other James Herbert books for you to choose from, you’d be mad to go for this one when you could go ahead and pick up one of his better known and more enjoyable reads. This one is more for completionists, which is what I am.
And because of that, I can’t really fault the story too much, because I did still enjoy it. It’s just that it was something of an anti-climax after so many other great reads from Herbert, and it felt more as though I was reading it to tick it off a list than because I actually wanted to. So I guess you can make of that as you will. It’s just okay.
Part of my feelings towards this one are due to the protagonist, who’s a deliberately unlikeable character. He’s a member of the paparazzi, and a particularly sleazy one who’s hated even by other photographers. That means that when he gets himself into hot water, it’s kind of a joy to read. This isn’t a protagonist where you’re going to want him to have a happy ending. You’re going to want to see him get screwed over by the forces of hell.
Speaking of which, the book does a pretty good job of blending the biblical and the supernatural with our own world, creating a story in which it feels as though almost anything could happen. The stakes are pretty high, but perhaps not as high as they are in books like The Rats where the future of humanity itself is at stake, and the plot keeps on plodding along towards the finish line with an unstoppable momentum.
But it isn’t particularly memorable, and I doubt it’s something that I’ll come back to again in the future. With so many other James Herbert books for you to choose from, you’d be mad to go for this one when you could go ahead and pick up one of his better known and more enjoyable reads. This one is more for completionists, which is what I am.
And because of that, I can’t really fault the story too much, because I did still enjoy it. It’s just that it was something of an anti-climax after so many other great reads from Herbert, and it felt more as though I was reading it to tick it off a list than because I actually wanted to. So I guess you can make of that as you will. It’s just okay.
February 27, 2018
'Creed' is the first book I have read of the late James Herbert's and although it may not be the last, I can only say that I enjoyed it much of the time but not all of the time.
Herbert has created a really 'human' main character in the paparazzo, Creed, who finds himself drawn into a sinister world. It was Herbert's humour, the bits that made me laugh out loud, that made me continue to read. However, there were times that the scenes and dialogue seemed somewhat amateurish for such a renowned author and they reminded me of soap opera scripts. The storyline was interesting enough but it lapsed into farce now and then, and even for a book of this genre, fantasy/horror, it seemed far too over the top.
Creed is written in third person with the unknown narrator very much in the picture. While the narrator's frequent asides and explanations, (mostly about Creed, reminding us what a flawed character he is - although I actually liked him) are often funny, the narrator sometimes feels intrusive and unnecessary. I felt that Herbert, by way of character or narrator, kept explaining scenes to his reader as if we are somewhat lacking in the brain department.
Herbert has created a really 'human' main character in the paparazzo, Creed, who finds himself drawn into a sinister world. It was Herbert's humour, the bits that made me laugh out loud, that made me continue to read. However, there were times that the scenes and dialogue seemed somewhat amateurish for such a renowned author and they reminded me of soap opera scripts. The storyline was interesting enough but it lapsed into farce now and then, and even for a book of this genre, fantasy/horror, it seemed far too over the top.
Creed is written in third person with the unknown narrator very much in the picture. While the narrator's frequent asides and explanations, (mostly about Creed, reminding us what a flawed character he is - although I actually liked him) are often funny, the narrator sometimes feels intrusive and unnecessary. I felt that Herbert, by way of character or narrator, kept explaining scenes to his reader as if we are somewhat lacking in the brain department.
March 26, 2023
I'm a huge James Herbert fan. He's the most important writer to me. Sadly something I never got to tell him before he died. I thought I'd re-read CREED as I haven't read it since the book came out. Upon the re-read, it hasn't held as well as many of his other books. CREED is one of those books where James changed his style from multiple POVs and it focuses on the main character only and that's where the problems lie. This book centers more on Joe Creed's life as a paparazzo than it does on the horror. There's a lot of exposition too. The result is there isn't a lot of action or horror driving the story forward. I kept willing for something to happen. Still a mega fan but I don't think I'll read this one again.
December 26, 2014
It was quite good and original. Wish they'll make a nice horror movie based on this one. I find this book bit more horrific than some of the Stephen King novels I've read. But I'm not comparing Herbet with King yet. Currently I'm reading another book by James Herbert, "The Ghosts of Sleath". Would love to compare the two books once I'm done with it. Then I can think about 'Herbert' vs 'King'... Boy, that would be so interesting...
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