Spoilers for those Who haven't bought the book yet.







Hi FPW,

Just finished Criss Cross and enjoyed greatly enjoyed it. The Dementalist aspect was fascinating, especially since a similar group exists in the real world. It got me thinking of the episode of Millenium where Jose Chung (portrayed by Charles Nelson Reilly) was investigating the Selfology cult. I read that that real world group pressured Fox and the production company to make changes to the script. Did you experience anything like this with Criss Cross or did you slip in under their thetans?

In any case, well done. Looking forward to the next novel.

Alan

Spoilers for those Who haven't bought the book yet.






...the Selfology cult. I read that that real world group pressured Fox and the production company to make changes to the script. Did you experience anything like this with Criss Cross or did you slip in under their thetans?

I can't imagine who you're talking about. (But so far, so good.)

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I really like Jamie the reporter for "The Light" :p I usually don't care too often when someone gets whacked, but I really grew fond of that stubby finger. Is this the first book where one of Jack's clients dies, other than his sister?

I added -- for obvious reasons -- a spoiler alert to your message.

Never assume that everyone here has read all the books.

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I really like Jamie the reporter for "The Light" :p I usually don't care too often when someone gets whacked, but I really grew fond of that stubby finger. Is this the first book where one of Jack's clients dies, other than his sister?

I could tell you, but I wouldn't want to spoil it for you...

FPW has killed a lot of characters I'd grown attached to.

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I really like Jamie the reporter for "The Light" :p I usually don't care too often when someone gets whacked, but I really grew fond of that stubby finger. Is this the first book where one of Jack's clients dies, other than his sister?

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Dead customers? Let's see:

Lou in Conspiracies

The religious brother in the Haunted Air

Those are the only two customers outside of Criss Cross I can think of offhand.

My series theory (and I'm working this out as I go) is that characters not essential to the ongoing storylines must be at risk. Obviously when you start an RJ novel you can assume he'll be alive at the end. Same with Gia and Vickie and Abe and Julio. So how do you generate suspense under those circumstances?

My solution: NO ONE ELSE IS SAFE.

There is, in a sense, a war going on, and wars cause casualties on both sides. That means good guys sometimes get hurt.

Just because I've painted a sympathetic portrait of a character doesn't mean he/she will be alive on the last page.

My series theory (and I'm working this out as I go) is that characters not essential to the ongoing storylines must be at risk. Obviously when you start an RJ novel you can assume he'll be alive at the end. Same with Gia and Vickie and Abe and Julio. So how do you generate suspense under those circumstances?

My solution: NO ONE ELSE IS SAFE.

There is, in a sense, a war going on, and wars cause casualties on both sides. That means good guys sometimes get hurt.

Just because I've painted a sympathetic portrait of a character doesn't mean he/she will be alive on the last page.

**POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT**
I for one think that this is why I liked The Tomb so much and why newcomers can't get the same feel from it. I (We) had no idea whether Jack would survive at the end of that novel. You left the ending open. Not much better than a story that leaves some things open and doesn't wrap everything up in a nice little package with a bow on top.

I assume that at some point even Abe, Gia, and/or Vicky may become expendable to the story. (I don't think they are mentioned in Nightworld - somebody refresh me.) I only hope that you don't telegraph to us when you are reaching the end of the cycle and closing in on Nightworld's fateful events.

**POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT**
I assume that at some point even Abe, Gia, and/or Vicky may become expendable to the story. (I don't think they are mentioned in Nightworld - somebody refresh me.)

**POSSIBLE NW AND RJ SPOILER ALERT**
All three are in NW, but they get out of dodge pretty quickly.

I did notice Paul didn't include Vicky's new brother/sister...

Dave

PS I originally wrote sister, without even thinking it odd. Shall we have a pool about the sex and weight of the new arrival?

**POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT**
I for one think that this is why I liked The Tomb so much and why newcomers can't get the same feel from it. I (We) had no idea whether Jack would survive at the end of that novel. You left the ending open. Not much better than a story that leaves some things open and doesn't wrap everything up in a nice little package with a bow on top.

I assume that at some point even Abe, Gia, and/or Vicky may become expendable to the story. (I don't think they are mentioned in Nightworld - somebody refresh me.) I only hope that you don't telegraph to us when you are reaching the end of the cycle and closing in on Nightworld's fateful events.

Jim, don't you remember where Jack packed Gia and Vicky up and sent them off with Abe to go to his (Abe's) hide-a-way in the boonies? How, when Jack was escorting them out of the city, they were attacked by street-thugs?

Didn't Maggers say something about how good it was to have a short memory, because you can read a book more than once, and it all seems new again? She was right you know.

Ken V.