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

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.

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.

I agree with what you're saying here. Legacies and All The Rage are among my favorite RJ books as well. But -- as I see it -- Jack is being dragged into a battle with the Otherness, and he doesn't want any part of it.

It's still a darned fine series of novels.

Ken V.

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.

I agree to a degree. Bloodlines was my favorite RJ novel since The Tomb. It felt more like the old stuff.

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!

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!

Bloodlines showed George Lucas how to properly introduce a plot element like midiclorians.

Plus I loved that Jonah (from Reborn) grew a pair and tried to build a better Rasalom using low-tech eugenics.

Those are only two reasons that pop into my head.

Yes Bloodlines was creepy, but that's why I read FPW and not Danielle Steel.

Heh.

Perhaps that's why the shoten thing was such a letdown for me.

-Wapitikev

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.

If all RJ did was fix-its like those critics expect then the series would definitely be repetitive. I think with the "otherness", it allows for an interesting twist and lets 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.

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.

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

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

Thank you Wapitikev, I'm very happy to be here. Just to mention, I've edited my post above for bad spelling and grammar, considering that I'm a writer myself (screenwriter), I should know better (is there an embarrassed "smiley"?).

Anyhow, I'm on my through the series. I'm just now on "All The Rage" and I'm enjoying it.

I have so many questions about Rasalom and Glaeken though. Is there a special thread for them?

Once again, thank you for the welcome and I look forward to visiting this forum more in the future.

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

Thank you Wapitikev, I'm very happy to be here. Just to mention, I've edited my post above for bad spelling and grammar, considering that I'm a writer myself (screenwriter), I should know better (is there an embarrassed "smiley"?).

Anyhow, I'm working my way through the series. I'm just now on "All The Rage" and I'm enjoying it.

I have so many questions about Rasalom and Glaeken though. Is there a special thread for them?

Once again, thank you for the welcome and I'm looking forward to visiting this forum more in the future.

Jack is awesome, and I could never get too much of him. The backstory is what really keeps things exciting for me though.

One of the things I really love about King's books is that they were almost all part of the same giant story being weaved together by the Gunslinger books.