Say what you will about his work (not exactly high brow literature I guess) but I grew up on his Rats-books. RIP.
My sisters leant me The Fog when I was about 11 or 12, pivotal moment in my life, then The Rats and Lair. Was able to wait for Domain to come out with excitement whilst discovering the other obvious peers like King, Barker etc. RIP.
I am so fucking out of touch! He was one of the writers that got me into horror along with John Saul, Stephen King and Graham Masterton.