I'm afraid I'm done with the Repairman Jack novels.

This isn't a spur of the moment decision. I've only read four of the books (The Tomb, Legacies, Conspiracies and The Haunted Air), and I'm sure I'm missing out on a lot of great storytelling, but I just can't bring myself to continue.

The really perverse thing? I love every facet of these books.

The characters are among the best I've found. Repairman Jack is one of my favorite characters in any series. He's tough, cunning, yet very, very human at his core. Gia is a sweet, sexy love interest and, most importantly, is completely believeable as a character. I'm not too fond of Vicky (I've never enjoyed the baggage a child character brings to an adventure series, but that's just me), but the rest of the supporting cast is great. Dr. Wilson makes each character a person, and that's what carries any book.

The plotting and pacing are top notch. Many young writers would do well to study how each book is laid out. Mechanically, Dr. Wilson is as sound an author as I've ever read, and his dialogue (when not trying to write "street" - sorry, but Charlie Kenton's lingo was awful) is lean, crisp and believable. He also has a great hand at action writing. Rarely do I turn pages as fast as when Jack's doing his physical thing.

The grand themes at play in the series are great. I love the idea of a one-man "A-Team", divorced from society and yet still serving it, cleaning out undesirables like a human white blood cell. I also love the "lone human drafted into a supernatural shadow war" bit. Lots of room there for some gritty, butt-clenching drama.

So if it's all hearts-and-flowers, why am I dropping the series? Simple. I don't like the way they mix.

If Jack stayed within the bounds of the human world, using his "fixing" skills to solve human problems, I'd likely be a fan for life. Dr. Wilson has great writing chops and I'm sure he'd have no problem writing gutwrenching, hard-hitting stories that have no supernatural twist. Likewise, I'd most likely be equally rapt with the "shadow war" stories, knowing how he crafts his stories. As long as the main character wasn't Repairman Jack. They're two great tastes that don't taste great together, sort of like the anti-Reeses's-Peanut-Butter-Cup.

I made this decision while reading "The Haunted Air". Every time the "Otherness" was mentioned, I cringed. Whenever it was Jack "fixing" something, I was rapt. But for me the pain isn't worth the pleasure, and I'm very sorry to say that Repairman Jack has now gone the way of Dirk Pitt, Anita Blake, Remo Williams, and so many others whom I just couldn't bear to hold on to.

Heck of a first post. Don't imagine it'll be well received, but hey - it's just my opinion.

No problemo here, but he has many other great novels worth reading outside of the RJ books that feature all of the things you say he does well. Not to put words in FPW's mouth, but he has mentioned on several occasions that he would probably have more notoriety if he just ditched the supernatural elements from his books, but that isn't the type of writing he wants to do and I thank him for it. I love anything that blurs genres to create something original.

I'm afraid I'm done with the Repairman Jack novels.

This isn't a spur of the moment decision. I've only read four of the books (The Tomb, Legacies, Conspiracies and The Haunted Air), and I'm sure I'm missing out on a lot of great storytelling, but I just can't bring myself to continue.

The really perverse thing? I love every facet of these books.

The characters are among the best I've found. Repairman Jack is one of my favorite characters in any series. He's tough, cunning, yet very, very human at his core. Gia is a sweet, sexy love interest and, most importantly, is completely believeable as a character. I'm not too fond of Vicky (I've never enjoyed the baggage a child character brings to an adventure series, but that's just me), but the rest of the supporting cast is great. Dr. Wilson makes each character a person, and that's what carries any book.

The plotting and pacing are top notch. Many young writers would do well to study how each book is laid out. Mechanically, Dr. Wilson is as sound an author as I've ever read, and his dialogue (when not trying to write "street" - sorry, but Charlie Kenton's lingo was awful) is lean, crisp and believable. He also has a great hand at action writing. Rarely do I turn pages as fast as when Jack's doing his physical thing.

The grand themes at play in the series are great. I love the idea of a one-man "A-Team", divorced from society and yet still serving it, cleaning out undesirables like a human white blood cell. I also love the "lone human drafted into a supernatural shadow war" bit. Lots of room there for some gritty, butt-clenching drama.

So if it's all hearts-and-flowers, why am I dropping the series? Simple. I don't like the way they mix.

If Jack stayed within the bounds of the human world, using his "fixing" skills to solve human problems, I'd likely be a fan for life. Dr. Wilson has great writing chops and I'm sure he'd have no problem writing gutwrenching, hard-hitting stories that have no supernatural twist. Likewise, I'd most likely be equally rapt with the "shadow war" stories, knowing how he crafts his stories. As long as the main character wasn't Repairman Jack. They're two great tastes that don't taste great together, sort of like the anti-Reeses's-Peanut-Butter-Cup.

I made this decision while reading "The Haunted Air". Every time the "Otherness" was mentioned, I cringed. Whenever it was Jack "fixing" something, I was rapt. But for me the pain isn't worth the pleasure, and I'm very sorry to say that Repairman Jack has now gone the way of Dirk Pitt, Anita Blake, Remo Williams, and so many others whom I just couldn't bear to hold on to.

Heck of a first post. Don't imagine it'll be well received, but hey - it's just my opinion.

No problemo here, but he has many other great novels worth reading outside of the RJ books that feature all of the things you say he does well. Not to put words in FPW's mouth, but he has mentioned on several occasions that he would probably have more notoriety if he just ditched the supernatural elements from his books, but that isn't the type of writing he wants to do and I thank him for it. I love anything that blurs genres to create something original.

I agree with Scott, and probably most members of this forum will also - that the blurring of genres is in large part what draws us in and keeps us.

Nevertheless, to each his own and you gotta read what you enjoy. I'd suggest keeping an eye open though for the upcoming Young Adult Repairman Jack series (as yet untitled). These will be about Jack in his much younger days and he will not be aware of the Otherness in them. You might enjoy those more. I know a lot of us here are anxious to read them.

I agree with Scott,

A rare occurrence and in public even. Can I use you as a reference?

A rare occurrence and in public even. Can I use you as a reference?

I've agreed with you before this. On something or other.....

[SIZE="3"]Excelsior, I wish you to be fruitful and multiply.

But not necessarily in those words.[/SIZE]

I've agreed with you before this. On something or other.....

That breathing is necessary to living?

That breathing is necessary to living?

Umm, which thread was that? Oh well, I'll agree to it now -- I agree with Scott - breathing is necessary to living!

To each their own. Your opinion is yours, and we can respect that. Civil, we are here.
You could try for some of FPW's other works. There are many to choose from. Also, try doing as Webby suggested. Wait for the YA book series. You never know, it may re-kindle your interest.

Thanks for the replies, folks (and FPW, that's my fondest hope!).