Horror Book Reviews

Compare at: $15.95 (New)
Buy Now: $10.85 (New)

You Save: $5.10 (32%)

Add to Cart

Title: Jack: Secret Histories (Repairman Jack Novels)
Score:
Author: F. Paul Wilson
Rating: Not available
Hits: 115

Review of Jack: Secret Histories (Repairman Jack Novels)

[ Back to Homepage | Back to Horror Book Reviews Index ]

HellHorror.com not responsible for reviews/comments and they may be removed at any time.

Comments for Jack: Secret Histories (Repairman Jack Novels)

• Posted on 2009-09-14
  Disappointing even for a diehard Jack fan
  
  I really liked the "Repairman Jack" series; I really, really did. At some point, however, Wilson decided that he was going to start making the books significantly less self contained, where the story from one would start to spill more and more to the next (see 'Legacies' vs. 'Bloodline' for an example of each, respectively).
  
  Had he been doing that from the get-go, I doubt that I would have read and purchased the nearly dozen books in the main series; I would have given up after the first two or three.
  
  I bring this up as my main issue with 'Jack: Secret Histories' is not only that the plot continues into the next book with very little chance for resolution until the THIRD in this prequel series - there is also the fact that the reader is pretty much assumed to know who Jack is in the first place and thus why one would care about any of this at all.
  
  On top of that, it would appear that Wilson is has been taking a pafe from George Lucas' playbook and deciding to insert all sorts of characters and events from future books/the overall related "Adversary Cycle" plot into this novel without any apparent reason.
  Is it supposed to indicate that Jack has had a lot more experience with supernatural craziness in the past? If that's so, then a good deal of the earlier "RJ" novels don't make much sense (with Jack tending to be very skeptical of all the weirdness, having never seemingly dealt with it before).
  Is it to make the "Adversary Cycle" seem like a much greater whole? Seems like a poor reason to include a character from 'The Touch' (I think - it was either that book or the story "Dat Tay Vao," but both works deal with the same power in question). Shoehorning in characters from other parts of the story doesn't make it seem more well thought out - it just seems cluttered.
  
  My other big problem with the book was that it seems like very sketchy material for the YA crowd. The "RJ" stories - for the most part - at their core are dealing with significantly grey areas of moral and social norms; Jack not being a part of larger society, Jack having to hurt people or otherwise break the law to save others... While adults can parse this more effectively (just because of how we are wired vs. kids/adolescents), the younger audience is likely to take away a very different message from the story.
  
  I am so not looking forward to reading the rest of this.
  
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
• Posted on 2009-07-22
  F. Paul Wilson review
  
  I love F. Paul Wilson's stuff, so all I can say is another good read.
  
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
• Posted on 2009-06-25
  prequel to repairman jack
  
  This book is for young adults. But you ADULTS must read
  it if you are a Repairman Jack fan.
  
  Jack is JACKIE here. A pre-teen. This is where he has his
  first experience with the OTHERNESS, secret organizations,
  & a lady with a dog.
  
  You meet his mom, dad, sister Kate and the terrible brother Tom.
  You will meet his best friend- Weezy. She is a secret history nut.
  You will also meet Mrs. Clevenger, Mr. Foster & Walter.
  
  You will learn about the Pine Barrens near his home town. It is a
  magic mystical place. There is OTHERNESS in the Barrens.
  
  Jack does his very 1st FIX IT here.
  
  This book starts it all.
  This is the beginning of him becoming REPAIRMAN JACK.
  
  It is a nice read.
  
  YA- SECRET CIRCLES is coming out next. I plan to read it also.
  
  Jacks book will end with nbr 15. Wilson is going to re-write
  NIGHTWORLD. I will miss JACK.
  
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
• Posted on 2009-04-25
  Teenage Repairman Jack
  
  I've been a Repairman Jack fan for a number of years. This book helps with perspective on the Jack's mysticism and the origins of his gifts/talents.
  
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
• Posted on 2009-04-16
  Jack: Secret Histories
  
  even though the book was meant for the younger reader, I thought it was a good insight on how Jack learned his stuff.
  
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10