Wapitikev Wrote:BTS was a fine effort...except for the continuity fudge on who can be a shoten...it would have made for a far more horrific ending. I found BTS to be less interesting than the previous two novels however, I enjoyed it more than anything I've read, by someone other than FPW, in the last 2 or 3 years.

-Wapitikev

Karithna Wrote:I agree. I think the earlier, less "othernessy" books like Legacies and All the Rage focused more on Jack and his mental process in doing his fixes. Since I see him as the meat of the novels, BTS (and to a lesser degree Bloodlines) seem a little too vegetarian.

Karithna Wrote:I agree. I think the earlier, less "othernessy" books like Legacies and All the Rage focused more on Jack and his mental process in doing his fixes. Since I see him as the meat of the novels, BTS (and to a lesser degree Bloodlines) seem a little too vegetarian.

Karithna Wrote:I had problems with Bloodlines. One of those "no more coincidences" things. Kinda creeped me out. Not enough to drive me away though. I'm a die hard!

Turanthor Wrote:Many of the negative, or just mediocre, reviews at Amazon for By The Sword seem to not like the new focus of the series. Many seem to feel that now that the books are focused more on the Otherness, that they are not as worthwhile.

Another common complaint is that since there are so many characters in BTS, that Jack takes a backseat too much, and Gia and Vicky are almost completely absent (vicky is actually). Also, that it was the every day fixits that people liked, and they are not as interested in the larger Cosmic battle, that it is too conventional.

Now, I am not one of those people. By The Sword was one of my favorite books of the series, and I did not really miss Gia or Vicky. I feel I would if they were gone indefinitely, but I do not mind them taking on a lesser role.

I really enjoy the Otherness, it is what drew me to the series. If not for that aspect, I do not think it would have ever appeared on my radar. The Otherness: Glaeken, The Lady, Rasolom etc, really adds something to the series, that in my mind it would lack with just the Urban Mecenary angle. Something I also enjoy about long-running series is growth. I get tired of the character doing the same old same.

If Jack just kept on doing normal fixits in the face of the end of the world and all, it wouldn't seem right with his character. Now that he knows how much is out there, and how big it all is and it isnt going away, it seems natural to me that he would do his best, in his own way, to fix things.

but between the action, the Japanese Samurai elements, and Glaeken, I just thought By The Sword was excellent. I really love Samurai stories, so it was a real crossover treat. I am encouraged by it and Bloodlines. I feel that as long as they stay this good, the big Cosmic Battle will just be awesome.

Afterall, for me Jack is it, he is the Cake. All the other characters are the icing, and I do not even like icing that much, give me extra cake any day.

Deni Wrote:If all RJ did was fix-it's like those critics expect then the series would definitely be repetitive. I think with the "otherness", it allows for an interest twist and let's us see the RJ character evolve. If not for the "otherness" surely Jack would simply be Jack and nothing else.

I actually discovered RJ through reading "The Keep". I found Rasalom and Glaeken fascinating characters and through them I found RJ. They are all needed.

Wapitikev Wrote:Welcome, Deni. You'll like it here.

Character development...a creature seldom encountered in today's genre fiction. As such it is often hard for many readers to identify. Congratulations. You are worthy.

Heh.

-Wapitikev

Wapitikev Wrote:Welcome, Deni. You'll like it here.

Character development...a creature seldom encountered in today's genre fiction. As such it is often hard for many readers to identify. Congratulations. You are worthy.

Heh.

-Wapitikev