The Rats was published by New English Library in 1974 and sold millions of copies worldwide, establishing Herbert as the leading figure in British horror fiction. Giant, intelligent, mutant rats — black, aggressive, and organized — emerge from the derelict areas of East London and begin attacking and devouring people. The city authorities, initially dismissive, are forced into increasingly desperate measures as the infestation spreads.
Herbert’s innovation was to bring horror fiction into the contemporary urban landscape and to politicize it. The rats emerge from areas of urban decay that the government has neglected — the novel is explicitly about class, about what happens when a society abandons its poorest neighborhoods and the things that breed in the abandoned spaces. The victims are overwhelmingly working-class Londoners; the authorities are bureaucrats more concerned with public relations than public safety.
The violence was graphic and uncompromising — Herbert was routinely compared (unfavorably by literary critics, favorably by his readers) to the “video nasty” controversy of the era. He argued that horror fiction should horrify, and that sanitizing violence was more dishonest than depicting it.
Collecting The Rats
First edition (New English Library, London, 1974): Paperback original.
Market values:
- First edition paperback, fine: $75–$200
- First hardcover edition (NEL): $200–$600
- Signed copies: $300–$800
The Rats was originally published as a paperback — Herbert’s early novels were mass-market originals, not prestige hardcover releases. First edition paperbacks in good condition are surprisingly scarce because they were read to destruction.
Projected values (2026–2036): Strong appreciation. As Herbert’s debut novel and the foundation of the British horror boom, first editions are increasingly valuable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Rats based on real events? Not directly, but Herbert drew on London’s genuine rat problem. The city has always had a large rat population — estimates range from millions to tens of millions — and periodic infestations have caused public health scares. The novel tapped into a primal urban fear.
What order should I read the Rats trilogy? The Rats (1974), Lair (1979), Domain (1984). Each is self-contained but escalates the threat. Domain is set during a nuclear war and is the most ambitious.