....That is what reading FPW's books are like for me. The violence and torture is a little easier to stomach because, most of the time anyway, the people who commit these acts get theirs in a big way.

I agree, Noelie. Also, as FPW said above, he doesn't write explicit scenes. He comes at them sideways, by inference, and so they are not too terribly stomach turning to read.

I have been reading this thread, and can't help thinking about Macbeth, if for no other reason than that when I think of children being tortured in literature, that is usually the first piece of work that comes to mind. Like fpw, Shakespeare does not do it explicitly, which- if anything- makes it that much more uncomfortable. The imagination is much worse that anything an author can write.

I have been reading this thread, and can't help thinking about Macbeth, if for no other reason than that when I think of children being tortured in literature, that is usually the first piece of work that comes to mind. Like fpw, Shakespeare does not do it explicitly, which- if anything- makes it that much more uncomfortable. The imagination is much worse that anything an author can write.

Another author who deals with child abuse is Andrew Vachss. I find his books hard to put down, but at the same time painful. Of course, Mr. Vachss used to be an attorney who represented abused children - so I suppose he has an axe to grind.

Another author who deals with child abuse is Andrew Vachss. I find his books hard to put down, but at the same time painful. Of course, Mr. Vachss used to be an attorney who represented abused children - so I suppose he has an axe to grind.

I believe he still is. Think I posted on the Old Board, wouldn't it be interesting to see Jack and Burke work together.

I agree with all of you. There's torture in F. Paul Wilson's books, but people always get it back. Except maybe Roma, but there was no real way to settle that anyway.

MPB, have you read NIGHTWORLD?

I couldn't agree with this string of posts more. The torture or harm of the innocent and or helpless just makes me want to hurt the person or persons doing it very badly.

It is this kind of stuff that makes you love Jack so much as a character. He gives these kind of scum what they deserve without allowing them to play the "victim" themselves.

It was this line of thinking that caused me to be so infuriated with the video from Iraq of the scumbags who kidnapped and tortured the older woman from CARE (can't remember her name at this moment). Maybe it shows me to be some sort of unconscious sexist but I would throw in anyone who would do these sort of things to women as well. I know women take care of themselves, but to see someone do harm ar attempt to do harm to a women (unless the women is a complete scumbag child abuser or something along those lines, then all bets are off) brings out a meanness in me.

I don't think you're sexist at all, Mad American. There's a fine novel by Jerry Pournelle called BIRTH OF FIRE. Maybe you've read it. The action takes place on Mars, the big plan is to start terraforming the Red Planet by releasing the sub-surface ice by triggering volcanoes with the use of nukes. A man and woman have to undertake a rough mission together to start the project. The man isn't keen about exposing her to danger. She asks why, does he not think she's competent? He replies he's sure she is, but that's not the point. So what's telling you I shouldn't be doing this, she wonders. "About three million years of evolution," is his response. "Women and children first" is in our genes. Robert Heinlein has a piece in EXPANDED UNIVERSE addressing this issue. It's obvious to me, and I'll bet to you too. Alas, folks with agile minds but no heart and no soul and no sense have managed to throw this simple truth into disrepute, along with the concepts of duty and honor and courage. Thank God their pernicious nonsense hasn't taken hold among our military, police, and firefighters--brave folk who have made the decision to put themselves in harm's way. Or among the vast majority of our gang on this board, I'll venture to say.