Customer Reviews

Ground Zero: A Repairman Jack Novel (Repairman Jack Novels)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Thirteen books in and Repairman Jack is still going strong. While this is probably the worst book possible for anyone new to RJ to read, it is a nice continuation for those of us in the loop! This time Jack deals with a mess of conspiracies surrounding 9/11, and discovers a whole lot more about the Secret History of the World.

This book draws heavily from the story and characters that FPW created for the Young Jack novels. Jack's "client" in Ground Zero, is none other than Weezy, his good friend from childhood. Turns out that Weezy has hit upon a small but critical part of The Otherness' minion's "Opus Omega". Rasalom and The Order of Septimus are attempting to expedite the descent into Nightworld with a new evil targeting The Lady. Weezy has stumbled upon a kernel of truth behind the 9/11 attacks, and her life is put in danger: Enter Jack.

I would have to say that of the last few books, Ground Zero suffers the most from Wilson's self-described "River novel" approach to the end of the Jack series. While I found myself enjoying the book very much, there was much less Jack action and adventure in this book. I believe that taken in full context, once the series is complete, this one will seem better, but as a stand alone it is definitely one of the weakest in the series. It is missing any real RJ "fix" moments, and is very light on the action, with only a couple scenes of butt-kicking. Jack also seems to spend way too much time just walking around in this one, even takes a trip out West and basically just walks around!

But do not get me wrong, I still very much enjoyed this book, and there was a TON of action in By The Sword, so really being only one chapter in a much larger novel, this one was bound to be more expository. That is the true strength of the book. By this time there are MANY unanswered questions and secrets about the True History of the World, and this book really delves into many of those. In a sense, much of the book is as if the reader is actually reading from the Compendium of Srem!

Jack has had that ancient tome for a while now, and it has kinda sat there just waiting to be explored. With Weezy's brains and perfect memory, we finally have a guide through the First Age. So much has transpired without taking a moment to catch the reader up on all the elements and concepts introduced into the series, so this book is essential in that regard. Many answers are finally given about The Lady, Glaeken and The Conflict.

It was inevitable to have a book that answered the questions and delved into the Compendium, so in that sense the book is great. It was also inevitable that the closer the end came and the more involved Jack became in The Conflict, that the less time there would be to dedicate to the minor "fixes" he used to do, which is somewhat disappointing. I was also somewhat disappointed that Jack was more like Jake Fix than Repairman Jack in this book. He was just like an ex-CIA badazz, instead of manipulating people into doing his work for him. That was one of the things I enjoyed about By The Sword, even though the conflict was huge he still utilized his Repairman Jack skills to have disparate problems resolve one another!

What makes this book is the character and the writer. Jack is a fun character to read about, even just walking around, and F Paul Wilson is never boring, whether writing exciting action or mundane exposition, it is still compelling reading. And, again, I have a feeling this one will age better in context. So I am willing to take Mr Wilson at his word in his introduction, that things may not be wrapping up as we would like, but it will all fall into place once the series is complete.

I eagerly anticipate the last 2!:( Repairman Jack novels, and the two remaining Young Jack novels as well. I have faith in FPW and RJ that they will not let me down! :)

366 HC pages 4 out of 5 stars

As some said, this one seemed light on action, and though there is plenty, it just doesn't seem like the usual Jack story, with any fix-its. This is purely about Jack and the back history and the leading up to the final 15th book. A lot of questions are answered as well as a few new questions that come out. Throughout this, Mr. Wilson keeps the story moving and it progresses just fine.

Weezy is new to the cast and I wonder how she is going to develop from this point on. Gia and Vicky didn't have a lot to do in this one except being referenced to, more than anything. Abe just made a brief appearance near the beginning.

About half of the story was from the POV of the bad guys as they grow the Finntmanchka. There would be a few chapters of that then it cuts back to Jack or Weezy. All in all, Jack only had about a third of the book in his POV.

Mr. Wilson is building background for the big ending and I think he managed to pull it off while still keeping some kind of story flowing.

It was a very enjoyable read and it kept me glued to my seat. If you've never read any of the other books, I wouldn't suggest you start with this one as you will be scratching your head trying to figure out what they are talking about. In that respect, it isn't that great of a stand-alone novel. However, if you take it as part of the series, it answers many questions and made me happy. Highly recommended.

Publishers Weekly says this book is less than satisfying and I totally agree. I am a hardcore RP Jack fan so that is strange coming from me. I have every book Wilson has written that is available on Amazon.

I'am sorry......this book does not grab and hold your attention.

It is about 9-11. It is about Bin Laden not knowing the truth about who financed the bombings. It is about Diana and the Oculi. Symbols on a pillar (the columns -Opus Omega) & the Septimus Order.

We learn about the Fhinntmancha and the Orsa. I was not impressed. Weak.

++ The only thing that I truly loved in this book was finding out who the LADY & DOG are. That was worth buying the book just for that.

You will meet Weezy who was Jack's first and only friend. She is from his hometown of Johnson, NJ. She was the very first to tell Jack about the Otherness but at the time she did not know what to call it. Weezy is in trouble because of her 9-11 writings. Jack will help her. Jack makes an interesting side trip to Calif. We all know how hard this was for Jack to get on a plane.

There are no fix its, very little Abe, Julio, Gia and Vicki. Dawn and Rasalom/Mr Roma make a very brief appearance.

This is book 13..series will end at 15..but Mr Wilson is re-writing NIGHTWORLD which in reality is the Final book.

Jack has been and is a GREAT character. I miss him and he has not even left us yet. Thank You Mr. Wilson for giving us Jack.

We can only hope that books 14 and 15 will be better and more of what we are used to.

With only two books to go in the Jack series (a fact which deeply saddens me), it's not surprising that Ground Zero offers a lot of answers and some major revelations, twists, and surprises. Nor should it be any surprise that this is not a book for new fans; if you haven't read at least the previous two books, Bloodline: A Repairman Jack Novel and By the Sword: A Repairman Jack Novel, this won't make any sense at all (and really, the YA Jack book, Jack: Secret Histories (Repairman Jack Novels), helps a lot too). As a longtime fan of the series, it all makes glorious, dreadful sense to me, but I can't deny that I kind of miss the lighter tone and greater fun of the earlier books in the series. The newer books - especially these last three, which are one long, continuous story which still has two books to go - are a little more frustrating, both in their lack of immediate closure and in their sense of Jack's being somewhat powerless against the forces massing against him. All of that being said, I can't deny that I was gripped from page one, and my only true gripe is wanting more (especially given the non-ending of the book). I may miss the "fix-its" of the earlier books, but Wilson's plotting, mood, and character development has really shone through in these latest books, and as soon as one ends, I'm ready for the next. And while I say that Ground Zero isn't for new fans, that's a bit of a shame - from turning conspiracy theories on their head to his ever-expanding cosmology, from Jack's reunion with an old friend to his relationships with Gia, Abe, and Vicky, from the unsettling scenes in a basement to the spectacular finale, Ground Zero is a perfect example of the kind of thing Wilson does well. In short, here's the most telling thing I can say: I wish the next book were out already.

I'm giving Ground Zero 4 stars with a caveat. The Publishers Weekly reference above to "Wilson's less than satisfying 13th Repairman Jack novel" is harsh. I'm satisfied with it. I'd not merely be satisfied but thrilled to have written it. It is true, however, that this is not a novel to hand to a reader new to the Repairman Jack series. The early novels in the series are sufficiently self-contained as stories that a new reader can read them singly or in any order, though it certainly is best if he or she starts with The Tomb. Ground Zero does not stand alone. The references to earlier events in other books are thick enough to lose a first-timer. This is a risk with the 13th novel in any series, however -- especially a series designed build to a climax in (so rumor has it) number 15.

The writing and plotting are solid, as in all Wilson's novels. Ground Zero is full of the usual humor, suspense, and action. Some of the mysteries in earlier novels are explained. If you're already a fan of the Repairman Jack series, you won't want to miss this one. If you're not, pick up The Tomb and become one. Then work your way to Ground Zero. You'll like it.

This Repairman Jack left a bad taste in my mouth. The novel started out so strong and the introduction of Weezy, Jack's childhood friend, added to the plot. The problem was the ending fell flat to my way of thinking. This was sad I felt. The book finally filled the reader in on what has actually being happening throughout this long series. This also is not a book to pick up and try to understand the arc of this series thus far. F. Paul Smith tells us there are two more Repairman Jack novels left to the readers. I hope these books will be better than this offering.

This is the best book I've read in some time.

I hope to be able to write a book this well someday. Prior to this, the only Repairman Jack book I'd read was The Tomb (Adversary Cycle/Repairman Jack). Although not familiar with a lot of the storyline in between, I was pulled into this novel and finished it quickly. Rather than leaving me confused, the references to prior story elements piqued my interest and I picked up Bloodline: A Repairman Jack Novel and By the Sword: A Repairman Jack Novel.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thrillers, especially those with paranormal elements - even those who haven't read any of the previous Repairman Jack stories.

Looking forward to the final few books in the series and very interested to see how the new Nightworld will compare to the original. If you pick up this book, I think you'll get hooked on the series too!

I've become a big fan of F. Paul Wilson's "Repairman Jack" novels over the last several books for both the overarching story and the eponymous main character. But how can Wilson handle something as horrible as the attacks on the World Trade Center? In Ground Zero, Wilson manages to play with the Truther movement and make it interesting yet avoids giving it any actual credence. That takes talent in a writer, and it makes this book an excellent novel.

A decade after the horrific events of September 11, 2001, the world is going crazy. The dark plot that Jack has been fighting seems close to fruition, and the pieces are falling into place. In the meantime, Jack's childhood friend Weezy Connell has joined the 9/11 Truther movement, piecing together little facts and discrepancies that seem to lead to an inevitable conclusion: the true story of 9/11 has not been told yet. She posts her conclusions anonymously on the Internet, but somebody knows who she is. In desperation, she calls Jack, not knowing that he is the same Jack she knew all those years ago. Jack finds himself immersed in the Truther movement and discovers that they have no idea how far off they are while still being right. What's really behind 9/11 - and many other recent events - is part of a war millennia old, a war that may be catching fire again soon.

While Ground Zero delves deep into the Truther movement, Wilson ties everything into the mythos that he's created, with the Adversary, the Lady, and other beings from the dawn of time caught up in their ongoing struggle and catching us up in it as well. Wilson avoids the conspiracy cliche that "the government was behind it all!" Instead, he goes deeper into the motivations behind the terrorists themselves, revealing them to be as much pawns in the game as anybody else.

The events initiated in By the Sword begin bearing fruit. Wilson has said that he has two more books left in the series (he graciously warns readers at the beginning of the book that he's not going to be tying up stories as he did in the past, since he is leading up to the ultimate book), so this is to be expected. The war hits home for Jack as one of his eternal benefactors takes a major hit from what began in the previous book. The pursuit through New York City at the end of this book is breathtaking as you sense Jack's desperation to stop the seemingly unstoppable.

The only thing that brings Ground Zero down is that it spins its wheels trying to catch everybody up on the story behind the series. There are portions of the book where nothing really happens, harming the pace of the novel.

When things do pick up, though, they really kick into high gear. Wilson's plotting and prose are wonderful, making the wait for the next novel almost excruciating: the hallmark of a great writer.

Ground Zero is a must-read. While you can certainly understand things well enough if this is your first book, I recommend against that. Check out at least the previous two books before picking this one up. You'll be richly rewarded.

Originally published on Curled Up With A Good Book. © Dave Roy, 2011

To continue to follow this end of world scenario has simply become too much. Compared to earlier works liked "Haunted Air" and "All the Rage" this book is simply not interesting. Repairman Jack kicks butt way too seldom these days. I read the follow on to this, and felt it was even weaker. Wilson needs to wrap this up.

Wow. Just... wow.

I absolutely love how F. Paul takes the whole Truther movement and actually makes them right about a conspiracy but wrong about the perpetrators.

The only thing I didn't like about this book is that it's going to be one of the last in the Repairman Jack series. I do agree with others that this is not the best RJ book to start out with. Taken as part of the whole, though, it fits quite nicely.