I have some good news and bad news for Repairman Jack fans out there. First, the bad news: In the introduction to the Gauntlet Press edition of GROUND ZERO, author F. Paul Wilson states there are only two more Repairman Jack books coming, with it all culminating in the long-promised, revised and reissued version of NIGHTWORLD.
As with the novels that have followed HARBINGERS, these stories are no longer self-contained, but telling a much larger tale while putting Jack through yet another adventure. This latest is definitely one for his longtime fans, since Wilson ties up a few loose ends while also laying the ground work of what is to come. It shares some of the ideas from the earlier CONSPIRACIES, since the major plot touches on the events of 9/11, and their connection to “the otherness.”
Using 9/11 is a touchy subject and a bold choice for Wilson to infuse into his mythology, but it fits the story well. However, it is a small part of the story after a quick fast-forward to the current year, where Jack’s past is about to make an unexpected appearance in a huge way.
Two of his childhood friends need his help desperately. A woman has been hit by a car and left a message for her brother, that if anything should happen to her, to look for “our Jack.” The brother is not sure what to make of it, and even when he contacts Jack, he is under the belief Jack is some appliance mechanic.
It’s not until they come face to face that it all comes rushing back to Jack of who this man is: Eddie, one of his best friends from his youth. Eddie’s sister, Weezy, has gone missing and needs Jack’s help. It does not take long for Jack to figure out where Weezy is. Jack also discovers she has become a 9/11 truther, as well as someone who knows about The Secret History.
From this point on, the book really delves into the mythology of the series, with characters from BLOODLINE and BY THE SWORD making appearances in subtle ways. We see the progress of a certain pregnant girl and her benefactor, while a member of the kicker movement plays a very vital role.
Not only has Weezy stumbled upon a real conspiracy, but all traces of it have been quietly erased. While plenty of action takes place, it’s balanced out by the larger story that slowly builds, especially when it goes all the way back to Jack’s youth and the people who populated his neighborhood. Some major questions are answered for longtime fans, mainly dealing with appearance of a certain woman who always seems to pop back into his life, while a certain enemy has not only started the beginning of the end, with the Twin Towers integral to his grand scheme.
Minus the opening page, the whole of the story is told over a week’s time. GROUND ZERO is not only packed with action and revelations, but told so well that fans will want the next two books now. Wilson has really started pulling out all the stops now for this series, with one portion — be it very brief — setting the record straight on something I’ve suspected: that Wilson himself is a fan of John D, MacDonald and the Travis McGee series. Jack himself states that he is just like McGee in some ways with his clients, with the big difference that McGee’s clients are way more eloquent. It gave this reviewer a nice little chuckle.
Wilson’s writing has never been sharper, with the story really focused on the main problem at hand, all leading to a climax where even Jack seems to be powerless with what he has to face. It’s truly going to make his fans giddy. In other words, this book is not the one to start with, folks — not even close. It’d be like starting to watch LOST on season four. —Bruce Grossman
OTHER BOOKGASM REVIEWS OF THIS AUTHOR:
• AFTERSHOCK & OTHERS: 19 ODDITIES by F. Paul Wilson
• ALL THE RAGE by F. Paul Wilson
• BLOODLINE by F. Paul Wilson
• F. PAUL WILSON’S THE KEEP by F. Paul Wilson and Matthew Smith
• HOSTS by F. Paul Wilson
• LEGACIES by F. Paul Wilson
Related posts:
- Bloodline
- Above Ground
- B.P.R.D.: Killing Ground
- Aftershock & Others: 19 Oddities
- Tor reopens Wilson’s TOMB
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
I’m the biggest “RepairMan Jack” fan. If at all possible never stop the series keep going as long as your mind is functioning right write. Keep Jack alive forever.