By the Sword: A Repairman Jack Novel (Repairman Jack)

One of the other reviewers said it and I agree: The Best Part of the Repairman Jack Books Is NOT the Otherness.

The best parts are when Jack actually gets to repair a problem for a normal client. I'm talking the theft of donated Xmas toys, dropping tires from a chopper, and even avenging the death of Jack's mother. The mundane problems and the inventive way Jack repairs them is what drew me to the series.

All the Otherness stuff is frustrating for both Jack and me as a reader. It seems like everyone and their brother knows more about what's going on than Jack and like to remind him of that fact (but never explain anything) whenever they can. I'm looking at you, Glaeken and Dog Lady. I don't care! I just want Jack to stick up for the little guy, you know?

The fact that BY THE SWORD starts with a note to 'hang in there' is not a good sign. An author should not have to beg the reader to stay with the story. I know things are on track for heading in to Nightworld and it really shows in Wilson's work. His characterization has dropped way, way down. Thugs are one note cardboard cut outs and villains are mustache-twirling black hats.

This book is not very good. It's not as bad as HARBINGERS, but it's pretty bad. After HARBINGERS, I downgraded my buying of RJ novels from Must Get ASAP (see my limited edition of GATEWAYS, for example) to 'pick up in paperback.' After being pleasantly surprised with BLOODLINES, I decided to go back to picking up the hardcovers. No more. Paperback or library for me from now on.

I think this is the best Repairman Jack Book yet. This book starts to tie in all the story lines of F.Paul Wilsons' previous RJ books. Fantastic job. If you live in NYC all the better.

Is there a reason some publishers think they can charge the same price for an electronic edition of a book as they can for a physical printed copy....and expect people to pay for it...The normal kindle editions of F. Paul Wilson's books, I have paid for. If they are a reasonable price. Bloodlines isn't even being offered in Kindle form.

Can't publishers realize that they will make the same profit if they just charge that amount, instead of adding non-existing hard costs? They might actually have more purchasers...

I guess I'll just wait and buy the paperbacks of both books next year.

I recently finished this novel and was very pleased with the way it answers some questions from the previous Repairman Jack Novels and how it begins to set up the remaining novels that are coming. For those of you who have never read a Repairman Jack novel before, please go back and start with THE TOMB and go from there. I guarantee that you won't be disappointed.

Now on to my assessment of other reviews of this novel. Mr. Wilson succinctly explains at the very beginning of this novel that this novel is not like the rest of his Repairman Jack novels because it is actually more like a serial leading up to the end of the series. I can see why a lot of people have an issue with this novel, because we've become so used to the cast of characters that we've come to know and love in the series. However, Mr. Wilson is using this series now to set up his reworked Nightworld novel.

This is a fun novel. It has action, Ninjas, the Yakuza, utter death and destruction and the usual Jack quips. It also answers who the woman with the dog is and begins to incorporate Glaeken's role leading up to Nightworld. If you've read all of the other Jack Novels you should be able to truly enjoy this one as well.

I can't remember when I've enjoyed a book more. Repairman Jack is not your ordinary fix-it man. He's a man that fixes things, but he won't clean the lint out of your dryer if that's what you're looking for. He's more of a man that fixes... situations.

I was sort of skeptical when this book was selected by Freedom Book Club, but this book did not disappoint. Up until this book was chosen all the selections of the FBC had been non-fiction titles. Boy was this book a change of pace. It holds up to the lessaiz-faire premise set for the club, and it is highly entertaining.

If you happen to be a Hawaiian plantation owner that has lost a sword (stolen by his father), and you can't have any police involvement, Jack's your man! After the stage is set, Wilson lets it rip. Hold on tight for the convergence of the mercenary fix-it man, immortal beings, Japanese hit men, and a clash of the wacked-out cults.

If violence hurts your sensibilities, this book may not be to your liking, as it has a high body count. Also there is a sexual situation.