Portent by James Herbert

PORTENT

By James Herbert

Date of Publication	1992
Publisher	Hodder and Stoughton
Original cost of hardback first edition	£14.99
International Standard Book Number (ISBN)	0 340 50910 4
Original first print run (where known)	Hardback - Unknown - Paperback - Unknown
Name of hero in the book	James Rivers
Opening line of the book	"Midnight."
General description of the dust cover	At the bottom of the front of the dust cover, after the author's name and book title are the words "The world will never be the same again" almost as a subtitle. Jacket and book design by James Herbert. Story outline on front flap of the dust cover. On the rear flap is a photograph of the author followed by a paragraph setting out some of his other books.
Number of pages and chapter details	Story runs from page 11 to page 384. The book starts with various quotes and two newspaper cuttings before we have a chapter entitled 'PRELUDE' and then four other chapters headed with various locations in the world. Chapter one doesn't actually start until page 41. There are 32 chapters in the book numbered as "1" to "32".
Roger's Review	I really struggled through this one. I found it very hard going and a bit boring really. The plot is in fact probably more topical today than it was in 1992 being about the effect of climate change but also has elements of James Herbert's previous novel "Moon". Some good bits, but not enough and a fairly unsatisfactory ending as well. 5 out of 10.