I cannot stress this enough, absolutely DO NOT READ THIS unless you have read "Infernal" through to the very end.
You have been warned.
Most people know that I've been around for a little while now and am a HUGE F. Paul Wilson fan. That being said, I was a little disappointed with "Infernal". I don't expect each RJ outing to be non-stop action. I really liked the turn with this one being more dialogue focused. The things I had problems with are as follows:
There were no real "fix-its". The one he does is briefly explained, almost botched, and then that's it.
The terrorist plot that book-ends the story just seemed strange to me. I kept looking for that "bigger picture" in the whole thing and it just didn't seem to click. Jack went through a bunch of possibilities, including the hit being aimed directly at him and only because he went to get the car was he spared. I could just sense Big R having a hand in it, but it never materialized. I don't know whether it was a political statement about the whole stupidity of terrorism or if Big R really did pull the strings. Maybe this was intentional, but as a political statement it just showed how meeting violence with violence is just stupid in general. Nobody gained anything from it. The only thing that makes sense is it was done to take Jack's father from him and thus make him suffer. In this sense it really does feel like Big R should have been behind it. I would have liked to see a touch of the Otherness, just a whiff, to give that idea solidity.
The character of Tom didn't jell for me. He was an absolute sleaze-ball from beginning to near the end. Just the sort of person you love to hate. In this sense, I feel he was a little over the top. It's established pretty early the lengths of selfishness he is willing to go to, so all the extra POV scenes with him seemed like padding to really nail the fact home what a complete waste of space he is. It was too much, I found myself not caring anymore what he thought about anything. So when the change of heart came at the end, it didn't have any impact at all for me.
Which brings us to the end of the story. The stain can be transferred not once, not twice, but three times. Jack is screwed. I felt the hopelessness that Gia, Vicky, and Abe felt. How would Jack survive this? Would it be one of the women with the dogs who steps in and somehow sacrifices herself for him, would Charlie somehow interrupt his passage to the "other place" and deliver him back, would he end up in Monroe and somehow have a chance meeting with a certain Dr. Bulmer who at the last second takes his doom away with a power that matches that of the Lilitongue (timing probably isn't right for this, but that would have been kinda cool), or would he not escape it at all? To be honest, the last is what I thought for sure was going to happen. Tom would show up, drug his brother, get all set up to take the stain away by tricking the Lilitongue and .... nothing, it doesn't work. Jack wakes up only to feel himself slipping away and he's gone. The end. Now that would make for some interesting discussions and have fans going nuts to find out where Jack went, and how does he get back?
Most of my "criticism" is merely a fanboys wishful thinking, especially about the end of the story. Overall, I really did enjoy the story although it's not one of my favorites in the Saga.
You have been warned.
Most people know that I've been around for a little while now and am a HUGE F. Paul Wilson fan. That being said, I was a little disappointed with "Infernal". I don't expect each RJ outing to be non-stop action. I really liked the turn with this one being more dialogue focused. The things I had problems with are as follows:
There were no real "fix-its". The one he does is briefly explained, almost botched, and then that's it.
The terrorist plot that book-ends the story just seemed strange to me. I kept looking for that "bigger picture" in the whole thing and it just didn't seem to click. Jack went through a bunch of possibilities, including the hit being aimed directly at him and only because he went to get the car was he spared. I could just sense Big R having a hand in it, but it never materialized. I don't know whether it was a political statement about the whole stupidity of terrorism or if Big R really did pull the strings. Maybe this was intentional, but as a political statement it just showed how meeting violence with violence is just stupid in general. Nobody gained anything from it. The only thing that makes sense is it was done to take Jack's father from him and thus make him suffer. In this sense it really does feel like Big R should have been behind it. I would have liked to see a touch of the Otherness, just a whiff, to give that idea solidity.
The character of Tom didn't jell for me. He was an absolute sleaze-ball from beginning to near the end. Just the sort of person you love to hate. In this sense, I feel he was a little over the top. It's established pretty early the lengths of selfishness he is willing to go to, so all the extra POV scenes with him seemed like padding to really nail the fact home what a complete waste of space he is. It was too much, I found myself not caring anymore what he thought about anything. So when the change of heart came at the end, it didn't have any impact at all for me.
Which brings us to the end of the story. The stain can be transferred not once, not twice, but three times. Jack is screwed. I felt the hopelessness that Gia, Vicky, and Abe felt. How would Jack survive this? Would it be one of the women with the dogs who steps in and somehow sacrifices herself for him, would Charlie somehow interrupt his passage to the "other place" and deliver him back, would he end up in Monroe and somehow have a chance meeting with a certain Dr. Bulmer who at the last second takes his doom away with a power that matches that of the Lilitongue (timing probably isn't right for this, but that would have been kinda cool), or would he not escape it at all? To be honest, the last is what I thought for sure was going to happen. Tom would show up, drug his brother, get all set up to take the stain away by tricking the Lilitongue and .... nothing, it doesn't work. Jack wakes up only to feel himself slipping away and he's gone. The end. Now that would make for some interesting discussions and have fans going nuts to find out where Jack went, and how does he get back?
Most of my "criticism" is merely a fanboys wishful thinking, especially about the end of the story. Overall, I really did enjoy the story although it's not one of my favorites in the Saga.
APhew Wrote:I cannot stress this enough, absolutely DO NOT READ THIS unless you have read "Infernal" through to the very end.
You have been warned.
Most people know that I've been around for a little while now and am a HUGE F. Paul Wilson fan. That being said, I was a little disappointed with "Infernal". I don't expect each RJ outing to be non-stop action. I really liked the turn with this one being more dialogue focused. The things I had problems with are as follows:
There were no real "fix-its". The one he does is briefly explained, almost botched, and then that's it.
The terrorist plot that book-ends the story just seemed strange to me. I kept looking for that "bigger picture" in the whole thing and it just didn't seem to click. Jack went through a bunch of possibilities, including the hit being aimed directly at him and only because he went to get the car was he spared. I could just sense Big R having a hand in it, but it never materialized. I don't know whether it was a political statement about the whole stupidity of terrorism or if Big R really did pull the strings. Maybe this was intentional, but as a political statement it just showed how meeting violence with violence is just stupid in general. Nobody gained anything from it. The only thing that makes sense is it was done to take Jack's father from him and thus make him suffer. In this sense it really does feel like Big R should have been behind it. I would have liked to see a touch of the Otherness, just a whiff, to give that idea solidity.
Go back and reread Joey's last words. Seems like that was a hint at something bigger.
APhew Wrote:The character of Tom didn't jell for me. He was an absolute sleaze-ball from beginning to near the end. Just the sort of person you love to hate. In this sense, I feel he was a little over the top. It's established pretty early the lengths of selfishness he is willing to go to, so all the extra POV scenes with him seemed like padding to really nail the fact home what a complete waste of space he is. It was too much, I found myself not caring anymore what he thought about anything. So when the change of heart came at the end, it didn't have any impact at all for me.
I actually felt for Tom at the end.
APhew Wrote:Which brings us to the end of the story. The stain can be transferred not once, not twice, but three times. Jack is screwed. I felt the hopelessness that Gia, Vicky, and Abe felt. How would Jack survive this? Would it be one of the women with the dogs who steps in and somehow sacrifices herself for him, would Charlie somehow interrupt his passage to the "other place" and deliver him back, would he end up in Monroe and somehow have a chance meeting with a certain Dr. Bulmer who at the last second takes his doom away with a power that matches that of the Lilitongue (timing probably isn't right for this, but that would have been kinda cool), or would he not escape it at all? To be honest, the last is what I thought for sure was going to happen. Tom would show up, drug his brother, get all set up to take the stain away by tricking the Lilitongue and .... nothing, it doesn't work. Jack wakes up only to feel himself slipping away and he's gone. The end. Now that would make for some interesting discussions and have fans going nuts to find out where Jack went, and how does he get back?
Most of my "criticism" is merely a fanboys wishful thinking, especially about the end of the story. Overall, I really did enjoy the story although it's not one of my favorites in the Saga.
I love alternate endings!
KRW
I'll reiterate the SPOILER WARNING here....
We may never find out for sure, but my money's on exactly that. Remember what "the Big R" (I kinda like that) did to Father Ryan? I think he and Jack are going to have a lot more in common in Nightworld this time around....
And I've said this before, and I'll say it again: I'm terrified of what "the Big R" has in store for Jack and Gia's kid. Anything that happens to the little tyke would probably be even worse from the reader's standpoint than what happens in Reprisal. My only hope is that Paul's wife might not speak to him if he goes too far.
So he did jell as a sleaze-ball. I found him really despicable, too, but I think that was the point. And I liked the irony: The judge is a complete scumbag, but the "outlaw" Jack is a pretty straight-up, honest guy with a keen sense of ethics.
I'm not sure it was supposed to. If memory serves, Tom didn't expect it to work. He was trying to make points with Gia by making a show of offering to sacrifice himself. Not much of a change of heart, really.
Sort of. The third time was, in theory, because the stain couldn't tell where Jack ended and Tom began due to their close genetic tie. I'll grant that having the transfer work twice seemed a bit arbitrary, though.
Blake
APhew Wrote:The only thing that makes sense is it was done to take Jack's father from him and thus make him suffer.
We may never find out for sure, but my money's on exactly that. Remember what "the Big R" (I kinda like that) did to Father Ryan? I think he and Jack are going to have a lot more in common in Nightworld this time around....
And I've said this before, and I'll say it again: I'm terrified of what "the Big R" has in store for Jack and Gia's kid. Anything that happens to the little tyke would probably be even worse from the reader's standpoint than what happens in Reprisal. My only hope is that Paul's wife might not speak to him if he goes too far.
APhew Wrote:The character of Tom didn't jell for me. He was an absolute sleaze-ball from beginning to near the end.
So he did jell as a sleaze-ball.
I found him really despicable, too, but I think that was the point. And I liked the irony: The judge is a complete scumbag, but the "outlaw" Jack is a pretty straight-up, honest guy with a keen sense of ethics.APhew Wrote:So when the change of heart came at the end, it didn't have any impact at all for me.
I'm not sure it was supposed to. If memory serves, Tom didn't expect it to work. He was trying to make points with Gia by making a show of offering to sacrifice himself. Not much of a change of heart, really.
APhew Wrote:The stain can be transferred not once, not twice, but three times.
Sort of. The third time was, in theory, because the stain couldn't tell where Jack ended and Tom began due to their close genetic tie. I'll grant that having the transfer work twice seemed a bit arbitrary, though.
Blake
Please support Friends of Washoe.
APhew Wrote:I cannot stress this enough, absolutely DO NOT READ THIS unless you have read "Infernal" through to the very end.
You have been warned.
Most people know that I've been around for a little while now and am a HUGE F. Paul Wilson fan. That being said, I was a little disappointed with "Infernal". I don't expect each RJ outing to be non-stop action. I really liked the turn with this one being more dialogue focused. The things I had problems with are as follows:
There were no real "fix-its". The one he does is briefly explained, almost botched, and then that's it.
The terrorist plot that book-ends the story just seemed strange to me. I kept looking for that "bigger picture" in the whole thing and it just didn't seem to click. Jack went through a bunch of possibilities, including the hit being aimed directly at him and only because he went to get the car was he spared. I could just sense Big R having a hand in it, but it never materialized. I don't know whether it was a political statement about the whole stupidity of terrorism or if Big R really did pull the strings. Maybe this was intentional, but as a political statement it just showed how meeting violence with violence is just stupid in general. Nobody gained anything from it. The only thing that makes sense is it was done to take Jack's father from him and thus make him suffer. In this sense it really does feel like Big R should have been behind it. I would have liked to see a touch of the Otherness, just a whiff, to give that idea solidity.
The character of Tom didn't jell for me. He was an absolute sleaze-ball from beginning to near the end. Just the sort of person you love to hate. In this sense, I feel he was a little over the top. It's established pretty early the lengths of selfishness he is willing to go to, so all the extra POV scenes with him seemed like padding to really nail the fact home what a complete waste of space he is. It was too much, I found myself not caring anymore what he thought about anything. So when the change of heart came at the end, it didn't have any impact at all for me.
Which brings us to the end of the story. The stain can be transferred not once, not twice, but three times. Jack is screwed. I felt the hopelessness that Gia, Vicky, and Abe felt. How would Jack survive this? Would it be one of the women with the dogs who steps in and somehow sacrifices herself for him, would Charlie somehow interrupt his passage to the "other place" and deliver him back, would he end up in Monroe and somehow have a chance meeting with a certain Dr. Bulmer who at the last second takes his doom away with a power that matches that of the Lilitongue (timing probably isn't right for this, but that would have been kinda cool), or would he not escape it at all? To be honest, the last is what I thought for sure was going to happen. Tom would show up, drug his brother, get all set up to take the stain away by tricking the Lilitongue and .... nothing, it doesn't work. Jack wakes up only to feel himself slipping away and he's gone. The end. Now that would make for some interesting discussions and have fans going nuts to find out where Jack went, and how does he get back?
Most of my "criticism" is merely a fanboys wishful thinking, especially about the end of the story. Overall, I really did enjoy the story although it's not one of my favorites in the Saga.
Have faith. I'm sure everything will come out in the end.
http://www.northernindianacriminaldefense.com
"I don't always carry a pistol, but when I do, I prefer an East German Makarov"
It would be boring if all RJ stories looked and felt the same. I enjoy the "fix it" jobs, but INFERNAL added depth to Jack's character that you don't always see when he's on the job. I think Paul mentioned that the next novel has a lot more action.
My feelings about Infernal are much like Aphew's, except that I was not much bothered that the "Wrath of Allah" aspect seemingly went nowhere. It's pretty clearly a hook for one of the future novels. There was quite a "whiff of otherness" about Joey's last statements on the subject! ("You know stuff when you're dead." Brrrr! That gave me the willies!)
I was a little disappointed not to get any hints on the names and natures of the other "infernals", though. (Hmmm. Any relation to Ozymandius Prather's father and his "infernal machine", briefly mentioned in All the Rage?) But, Jack does still have the Compendium, so he may yet encounter more of these objects.
However, as far as Big R pulling the strings on wiping out Jack's kin, I have begun to think there's another force with a much better motive for doing so -- the Ally. Yes, Rasalom has already said that he will enjoy Jack's suffering over the coming months, but that doesn't mean he will be the cause. First, dragging Jack's kinfolk into contact with the Otherness is a good way to insure Jack's continuing involvement. Second, wiping out the kinfolk is a good way to ensure that Jack is free of ties that might keep him from replacing Glaeken as the Champion. But, I do wonder why there was no follow up in Infernal to the two apparent attempts on the life of Jack's baby in Crisscross.
I was a little disappointed not to get any hints on the names and natures of the other "infernals", though. (Hmmm. Any relation to Ozymandius Prather's father and his "infernal machine", briefly mentioned in All the Rage?) But, Jack does still have the Compendium, so he may yet encounter more of these objects.
However, as far as Big R pulling the strings on wiping out Jack's kin, I have begun to think there's another force with a much better motive for doing so -- the Ally. Yes, Rasalom has already said that he will enjoy Jack's suffering over the coming months, but that doesn't mean he will be the cause. First, dragging Jack's kinfolk into contact with the Otherness is a good way to insure Jack's continuing involvement. Second, wiping out the kinfolk is a good way to ensure that Jack is free of ties that might keep him from replacing Glaeken as the Champion. But, I do wonder why there was no follow up in Infernal to the two apparent attempts on the life of Jack's baby in Crisscross.
BrettM Wrote:However, as far as Big R pulling the strings on wiping out Jack's kin, I have begun to think there's another force with a much better motive for doing so -- the Ally. Yes, Rasalom has already said that he will enjoy Jack's suffering over the coming months, but that doesn't mean he will be the cause. First, dragging Jack's kinfolk into contact with the Otherness is a good way to insure Jack's continuing involvement. Second, wiping out the kinfolk is a good way to ensure that Jack is free of ties that might keep him from replacing Glaeken as the Champion. But, I do wonder why there was no follow up in Infernal to the two apparent attempts on the life of Jack's baby in Crisscross.
It just doesn't sit well with me to think that Jack could take the place of Glaeken. Jack is pretty awesome, but Glaeken is THE MAN. I can't see "Nightworld" coming out any other way than it did. From the snippets here and there where FPW has talked about the changes in the upcoming Borderlands edition of "Nightworld" I didn't get the impression that he was going to give Jack that much bigger of a role. Sure, he'll know things he didn't in the original version, but his basic role in the apocalypse will remain unchanged. Maybe that isn't the case anymore, but I hope it is. I guess I'm a die-hard about keeping the AC as it originally was. I see Jack as any other major character in "Nightworld" from previous novels, only he has a MUCH more fleshed out background (eight novels and counting).
I'm still hoping that we get a trilogy of Keep prequels set in the First Age and beyond...
Thanks for all the feedback and not roasting me alive. 
I wanted to say that I did go back and re-read Joey's final statement and do agree that it was definately the "whiff" of the Otherness I thought was missing. So thanks for pointing that out.
Time has tempered a little of my initial impressions. I still feel in general it wasn't one of the strongest RJ novels, but I'm making peace with a lot of the stuff I had problems with.
I wanted to say that I did go back and re-read Joey's final statement and do agree that it was definately the "whiff" of the Otherness I thought was missing. So thanks for pointing that out.
Time has tempered a little of my initial impressions. I still feel in general it wasn't one of the strongest RJ novels, but I'm making peace with a lot of the stuff I had problems with.
***SPOILERS***
Highlight to read ---> I agree. With the build up from The Keep, to Reborn and Reprisal we watch Glaeken age. Having the the end of Nightworld change to Jack defeat Rasalom reverses the ultimate tragedy of Glaeken's story.
APhew Wrote:Sure, he'll know things he didn't in the original version, but his basic role in the apocalypse will remain unchanged. Maybe that isn't the case anymore, but I hope it is. I guess I'm a die-hard about keeping the AC as it originally was.
Highlight to read ---> I agree. With the build up from The Keep, to Reborn and Reprisal we watch Glaeken age. Having the the end of Nightworld change to Jack defeat Rasalom reverses the ultimate tragedy of Glaeken's story.