Crisscross: A Repairman Jack Novel (Repairman Jack)

Book Description

Repairman Jack is back! An anonymous mercenary, with no last name and no social security number, Jack has thrilled a veritable army of readers ever since his bestselling debut in The Tomb. Jack can fix any problem, supernatural or otherwise, for a price. Now, in his latest gripping adventure, he takes on two cases at once.The first involves a nun being blackmailed by someone who has photos of her she doesn't want made public. What's in those photos, she won't say, but with her meager savings just about exhausted, she hires Jack to help her.The second seems straightforward enough, as an elderly woman hires Jack to find her missing son. But to locate his quarry, Jack must infiltrate the inner reaches of the Dormentalist Church, a secretive, globe-spanning cult whose members include some of the biggest and most powerful names in entertainment, sports, and politics. Ruthless in its pursuit of critics and enemies, the Church hides a sinister agenda known only to its ruling elite.But Jack can be ruthless, too, going to darker lengths than ever before as he crisscrosses the two fix-it jobs to settle the deadliest of scores!

Customer Reviews:

Repairs can be messy.......2007-07-24

In CRISSSCROSS, Wilson's Repairman Jack runs into two very different cases, the first involving blackmail, and the other a missing person's case. Sounds pretty pedestrian, until you factor in the nature of the blackmail case, the involvement of a cult very similar to another science fiction based organization with strong celebrity participation, and one more piece of the Adversary puzzle that Wilson has been developing since THE KEEP. Jack is an interesting character, brutal with a strong sense of justice, and in both cases things would have turned out much better if his plans were followed by all involved. But it is this human frailty that makes this book work so well. Jack, for all his planning and preternatural cunning, is still subject to the mistakes others make and when he has to improvise things can get very messy. This is my introduction to this character and to be able to pick up the threads of the series underlying themes without a study guide is a credit to Wilson's ability to incorporate elements from previous books seamlessly and while things do fall a bit predictably in place by the end, I definitely will be looking for the other books in the series.

Crisscrossing Adventures with Jack!.......2007-07-13

Crisscross is the 8th Repairman Jack novel and once again F. Paul Wilson proves to his ever-growing reading audience once again just why he reigns supreme in this genre.

Our hero Jack finds himself not only working two 'repair jobs' but also getting aquainted with his approaching fatherhood with Gia's pregnancy. Jack is still working on finding a legitimate way to get back to a semi-normal life and get back 'on the grid' so he can give Gia and her daughter, Vicky a more undangerous lifstyle.

F. Paul Wilson weaves a fantastic and never boring storyline that never lets up, getting Jack into precarious positions during his fix-it jobs that will titillate readers until the wee hours of the morning. As per norm, Wilson gives readers another little hint of the ever-emerging hidden storyline to come with the shadow war going on between the Adversary and the Otherness, of which Jack keeps finding himself embroiled and caught inbetween both conflicting entities.

This novel is yet again proof of why Wilson's beloved protagonist Repairman Jack is so popular. Unlike alot of other action/adventure writers of both sci-fi and fantasy - or a blending of both - F. Paul Wilson doesn't write the same rehashing with each and every novel, but instead of standing on his high laurels, he continues to enrich his main characters with their ever-growing relationships, thus keeping a firm grasp on his reading audience. Every book is fresh and new material, instead of rehashing what we have read already like alot of other writers of series tend to do.

Crisscross is high energy writing at its very core, emersing its readers into a story that will not only grab at your heart strings, but also send your adrenaline pumping with all its suspence and action/adventure. Fantastic revenge stuff here!

Jack Fixes a Cult - another enjoyable series instalment.......2007-06-21

Jack has agreed to work on 2 fix-its that have nothing to do with one-another, one involves contacting a man who has joined a cult to give him a message and the other is a case of blackmail. However, for Jack there are no longer any coincidences and he finds that his two fix-its cross each other in strange ways as the story progresses.

These novels continue to be entertaining and a good read. Jack is a bit darker than usual in parts of this instalment in the series, but he's still a likeable, intelligent character. If you like your thrillers with a dash of the supernatural this series is worth picking up for a read, but increasingly with each book it helps to know what has gone on in the earlier books in the series.

Jack vs. Crazed Cultists.......2007-06-15

This is the 8th Repairman Jack novel and it's just as solid as all the others. Very entertaining riff on Lovecraftian cultist trying to take over the world and bring the Otherness over to rule. Reads like a direct sequel to "Gateways". Great series here. Start reading with the "Tomb".

Best Wishes For a Speedy Recovery to FPW.......2007-01-08

The excellently-penned Repairman Jack series mixes mystery, thriller, horror, sci-fi, humor, pop culture and philosophy all together to create an alternate-universe world that works on multiple levels to keep me turning pages. I give a solid 5 stars to every book in the series!

Crisscross is another great read that furthers the RJ story along. I first read Harbingers, and have just finished reading all the RJ books, although I didn't read any of them in order, just whichever was available at the library whenever I happened to finish one and needed another.

Since the story does develop with each installment I plan to buy them all in paperback and read them again in order, starting with The Tomb.

BTW - I love Abe - he actually reminds me of my uncle :)

Book Description

The story of Lancelot is one of striving for perfection in the company of men only to fall short due to the sins of the flesh....but in Lancelot Du Lethe the most famous of the Knights of the Round Table is only partially of the mortal realm. He and Guinevere share a mystical bond of which Arthur can not be a part for they are both of the bloodline of the fey, and are immortally destined to be betrothed. This ensuing war of loyalties and love threatens not just the uneasy peace of the mortal realm, but of the entire netherworld of the multi-pantheons of gods as well.Drawing from Joseph Campbell, and from sources both historical and literary, this is a new take on the story of Camelot's most famous knight as told as only the author of Mad Merlin can.

Customer Reviews:

Loved it........2006-12-12

This book is wonderful. Guinevere, Lancelot and Otherworld take on yet greater roles in the story of Camelot and its King. Here we can understand why the triangle of king, knight and queen had such force... None was greater than the other. Three rulers*** fighting for their worlds and their hearts.

A brilliant Arthurian read.......2006-09-27

It's always a joy to find new Arthurian fiction that isn't a simple rehash of the tales we're all familiar with. This book focuses on a character that's typically marginalized and misunderstood: the oft-criticized Lancelot. The author's take on the character follows very closely with the work of Malory, but breathes a refreshing new life into his tragic relationship with Guinevere by introducing fey themes and magic that is missing in most modern 'ultra-realistic' stories of today.

As the recent 'King Arthur' movie proved, the story of King Arthur, Camelot, and his Knights loses most of its enduring appeal when you remove the mythical and magical elements. Thankfully, the author didn't fall into the same trendy trap with 'Lancelot du Lethe'.

lyric and beautiful.......2005-09-16

This book is so lyrical and breathtakingly - beautiful as to be astonishing. The author must be a poet and artist, as he conjures a series of dazzling, sensual, dreamlike images. The reviewers who do not see this are the poorer for it. The author weaves together a deep knowledge of history and legend with the insight of a philosopher or psychologist about the nature manhood, femininity, love and sexual desire. This book is deeply romantic.

Awesome Aurthurian Adventure!.......2004-07-28

J. Robert King has enlivened and energized a story that has been told and retold many times. As a fan of the fantasy genre in general and Aurthurian tales in particular, I found King's depiction of the love affair between Guinevere and Lancelot bewitching. Perhaps the strongest point of this great book is its language...it is 'high' enough to engage even the most well-read literature buff but at the same time it is 'low' enough for the first-time pre-teen fantasy reader to enjoy. This work of art provided me hours of entertainment and I am positive that it will for you as well!

Fantasy galore.......2003-12-08

As a lover of Arthurian ledgend, I snatched up Lancelot Du Lethe eager to explore the story from Lancelot's point of view. While I found the book an easy and interesting read, I also found it about 50 pages too long. I could easily have enjoyed the story with a few less descriptions of the pixies and gnomes and other woodland creatures of fantasy. They were distracting to the excitement of the story and added a childish twist that was at the very least unnecessary and at the very most - insulting. I knew King's work - having first read Le Morte D'Avalon and knew his propensity toward magic so I should have been forewarned. If you do not appreciate an abundance of spells, time warps and impossible underwater travel - this is not the book for you. With any Arthurian legend there will be some aspect of myth- but King really knocks it out of the park. I wondered if he didn't delve deeply into the unexplainable, because he lacks a grasp of any possible historical aspects on which to base his story. I found this to be a mixture of bits and pieces of the legend which other authors such as Cornwell, Bradshaw, McKenzie and even Miles tell more skillfully. Now -it was a VERY fast read and I did like the perspective. Unfortunately, I found Lancelot and Guinevere well developed while the other characters suffered. I did not read his first book Mad Merlin due to a personal disinterest in the main character. If you are eager to explore King's work - you may want to start at the beginning and see if it carries along from book one to book three.

Average customer rating:

A perfect Arthurian book...
Took awhile but finally got there...and I enjoyed it.
Get that wizard some prozac
An interesting take on the story of Arthur
Four stars for effort. . .

Mad Merlin
J. Robert King
Manufacturer: Tor Fantasy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Arthurian | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Historical | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0812584279

Book Description

In the tradition of The Mists of Avalon and Mythago Wood, J. Robert King weaves an epic tale of Avalon, Excalibur, the Once and Future king, and the magician Merlin as he draws on the ideas and writings of Joseph Campbell to shape and interpret the legendary Arthurian mythos.

Customer Reviews:

A perfect Arthurian book..........2004-10-24

I had already read "Lancelot Du Lethe", but hadn't yet gotten a chance to read this book. To put it simply, this is the story of Arthur in a mythological setting. All the gods are being killed by the Christian God, and Arthur seeks to create a land in which all of them can live in peace.

The overall feel is done well. They present Arthur as a great man, but not as invincible. In fact an unspoken truth goes through the whole book (although it may just be my knowledge of what will happen that made me imagine this), essentially you get the feeling that Arthur is just delaying the inevitable, which he is.

It's certainly an interesting twist to have Merlin be Jupiter, but one thing made the book perfect: the fact that it knows when to be serious, and when to be funny. Dagonet was hilarious, and Loki gave an interesting twist on what "pure evil" means, almost to the point where you wanted to argue against him being so, but couldn't see him doing ANYTHING that was less than amusing to himself (even when he helped others).

Took awhile but finally got there...and I enjoyed it........2003-09-15

This book took awhile to get past the normal arthur legend and moved on finally to an interesting twist. I will say I did enjoy the tale in full...but you must read the entire book to realize the writers plan for the story. I would recommend this for a nice change.

Get that wizard some prozac.......2003-05-27

Mad Merlin is yet another take on the King Arthur legends of early Britain. Sometimes, it seems like Arthurian pastiches are a dime a dozen. But King does a wonderful job of mixing the legends with other mythologies, creating a taut tale of magic, intrigue, violence and royalty that will take your breath away.

Books based on the Arthur legends can be predictable, and in a sense this isn't any different. However, King throws so many interesting side elements into the mix that the reader is constantly wondering what's going to come next. He has created, in Mad Merlin, a very interesting character that you want to read about. Not only is he destined to aid Arthur in his quest, but through Arthur he will come to know his own mind. He is truly mad at the beginning of the book, and it is only through his actions and his time with Arthur that he slowly becomes aware of who and what he is. What is his relation to Excalibur? What is the source of his power? As the book goes on, you find out more and more and the story never lets you go. I'm not going to reveal Merlin's secret, but it just adds another intriguing layer to an already interesting character.

The side elements are the flavoring for the Arthurian myths, and they make the book a great read. King throws in the Roman pantheon of gods, the Norse gods, the land of the fey (fairies, pixies, nayads, and many other mystical creatures) and tells a tale not just of personal destiny (in the case of King Arthur) but also of religious destiny. The war is not just between men, but between gods. There are a lot of Christian images that will infringe on the other pantheons if they don't fight back. Christ himself is not portrayed in any way, but the Christian mythos is portrayed as an overwhelming force that will wipe out anything that stands in its path.

I liked how this book moved beyond the typical Arthurian legends, even as it rewrote them. All of the main elements are there: Merlin, Guinevere, Excalibur, the Lady of the Lake (though she's called something different in this one), Camelot, and the Round Table. Lancelot doesn't show up until the next book, though (one which I will also review shortly). Even the origins of Morgan Le Fay and Arthur's son Mordred are detailed, probably in much the same way as the legends go, though the details surrounding these events are different. There's even the act of Arthur removing the sword from the stone, though the circumstances are very different, and it even becomes a bad thing that he does it when he does. This impulsive mistake drives the action for the rest of the book, and adds an interesting element to the mix.

The language and the prose King uses are magnificent. It took me forever to read this book (and the next one), and I thought it was because of the mood I was in. But I'm reading another, lighter book now, and I'm breezing through it. Looking back on this book, I realize that it's the beauty of the imagery and description that kept me going so slowly. King really knows how to tell a story. When the battles rage, you're right there with blood flowing, heads being caved in and swords finding their way into the seams of plate mail armour. The good times, the festive and romantic times are also well told. At times King gets a bit excessive with the description, but it's so beautiful (or chilling, depending on what is happening), that you normally don't notice. You just notice that you haven't moved very far into the book.

There is one strange thing about this book, however. It feels like it's two separate books combined into one. There's no hint that this is true, and books are divided into "Books 1 and 2" quite often. However, the second book begins with a bunch of description of the previous events, a recap of sorts, that isn't really needed considering the events in question happened just a few pages ago. It's almost like the second book was supposed to be published separately (or it was published without any indication in this book of this fact). I found it quite distracting, but thankfully that only lasted until I got into the second book. It was quickly gone again.

A couple of other minor problems mar what would otherwise be a marvelous book, both having to do with the ending. The final battle just drags on a little too long, and then the sequence with Loki in the land of the Saxon gods, while entertaining at times, seems a bit useless. I realize that Loki's exploits have a lot to do with Excalibur so they are important to the story, but the writing of these events just makes them feel extraneous. It's the only place where the writing fails a little, and it makes the final sequence more of a chore to get through than it should be. This combined with the seemingly never-ending final battle makes for a dull thud of an ending.

All in all, though, this is a great King Arthur book. I picked it up on a whim, and I'm glad I did. What a marvelous mixture of everything. You think you know King Arthur? Think again. Then read this book, and its sequel. You'll be glad you did.

David Roy

An interesting take on the story of Arthur.......2003-01-12

Stories about King Arthur and the other people of the legend can be looked at as being similar to the same situation that is being addressed in the excellent TV show "Smallville". We Know that Clark is fated to become Superman. We Know that he and Luthor will become enemies. We Know that Kryptonite will kill him, he'll have certain powers as an adult and that he will move to Metropolis and... Yet the delight in this show is its take on how Clark gets there. The stories the show tells are good on their own, but they hang together because of what We know will be. In other words, we don't really worry aobut why or how Clark is getting these powers because we Know that he is supposed to. The references placed in the show to "their" future are an extra treat. We accept this interpretation of that future will come to be because we already know what that future is and the adventure is filling in the details and seeing how it all fits into what one day will "be".

This story has to be looked at in the same vein. There are a lot of gods, godesses, Celtic and Norse mythology and even some T. H. White thrown into this mix, all hung on the framework of what we "know" of Arthur. We Know there's going to be a Modred and that Morgan will bring him into being from her hate for Arthur becuase of what Uther and Merlin did. The story doesn't have to explain her motivation for that hate more than that because we Know that hate exists. It is not a "classic" Arthur, but it fits within the frameowrk. Jack Whytes wonderful "Eagles Brood" series or Godwin's superb "Firelord" aren't "classic" either, but tehy do fit within teh History and events of Arthur as we Know them. Does the retelling under inspection remain true to the legend even if the details vary? As long as a story does this, it is OK to look at the legend though a differnt lens.

This King does, and his take is marvelous. The other reviews talk a bit how he does this, but I will just recommend this book without reservation.

Four stars for effort. . ........2002-10-23

As an avid reader of the Arthurian legend, I am always thrilled to find a different "take" than the stock retellings. And, in "Mad Merlin", J. Robert King has truly found a different take. This tale is a veritable mind barrage of conflicting theologies and mythos. Unfortunately, this strength was also a weakness for me. Thought I enjoyed the story as a story, I always felt that I was missing something by not being as versed in Norse, Roman, and Greek mythology as the author expected me to be. This is probably a personal problem, but anytime I see reference to Joseph Campbell, as I did in the liner notes of this book, I immediately think "dense and difficult". I realize that this is a weakness on my part, but, hey, I'm giving my take right now. . .

None of this is to say I didn't like the book. I enjoyed the alternative characterizations of Merlin as defrocked god and part-time madman, Guinevere as earth mother (a refreshing departure from many of the self-serving, vapid treatments we see all too often), and the more benevolent handling of Nyneve. I have "Lancelot du Lethe" in my possession and it will be the next book I read.

My favorite version of Merlin is probably the old standby of Mary Stewart, and "Mad Merlin" has done nothing to change that. But "Mad Merlin" is a welcome addition to the store of contemporary Arthurian literature and I, for one, appreciate every single one of them and enjoy the differences they offer.

Average customer rating:
Mad Merlin
J Robert King
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OTS42S

Average customer rating:

Very Nice Recepies

A book put to good use.

Authentic Italian Cookbook, highly recommend

Best Italian cookbook, possibly best cookbook ever.

Marcella Cucina, by Marcella Hazan

Marcella Cucina
Marcella Hazan
Manufacturer: William Morrow Cookbooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Italian | European | Regional & International | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking

Marcella Says...: Italian Cooking Wisdom from the Legendary Teacher's Master Classes, with 120 of Her Irresistible New Recipes

Marcella's Italian Kitchen

Every Night Italian: 120 Simple, Delicious Recipes You Can Make in 45 Minutes or Less

The Italian Country Table: Home Cooking from Italy's Farmhouse Kitchens

ASIN: 0060171030

Amazon.com

Marcella Hazan's Marcella Cucina is a jewel: the recipes glow with the diverse flavors of Italian regional dishes, the instructions are precise, and the full-color photographs are a fine complement to Hazan's writing, which is both clear and alluring. Along with recipes, tested to perfection, Hazan shares warm, personal stories along with snapshots of Italian life and her usual caring advice. The diversity of dishes in Marcella Cucina runs from Zucchini and Thyme Pasta Sauce to Fish in Crazy Water, Assunta's Beans, Stewed Beef Cubes with Pickles, Capers and Red Wine, and Yogurt and Sambuca Cake.

Book Description

Since the publication of her first book, The Classic Italian Cookbook, more than 20 years ago, Marcella Hazan has been hailed as the queen of Italian cooking in America. Marcella, whose name conjures up a splendid world of food for the devoted millions who love her books and attend her cooking classes, is back again with her finest book yet, Marcella Cucina. Filled with the passion and personality of its author, it is a book not only of fine food and its careful preparation but of personal reminiscences and penetrating commentary about the sensual pleasure of food and its place in our lives.

In vivid introductory essays and seductive headnotes, the narrative of an extraordinary culinary life unfolds. With each memory of a trip, a meal or a flavor, we are treated to the perspective of a great cook and teacher--one who believes that the finest Italian cooking is found in the home. In Marcella Cucina, she focuses on regional cooking, turning her sharp eye to every area of Italy and offering a rich array of flavors and textures from cities and villages alike. Best of all, Marcella cooks at your side with easy-to-follow instructions and lavish full-color photographs that teach you her techniques--from preparing homemade pasta to cleaning artichokes--and allow you flawlessly to re-create her magic in your own kitchen.

Customer Reviews:

Very Nice Recepies.......2007-09-19

I like the way the recepies are presented. Her book is full of technics that help one make an authentic Italian dish. I tries a risoto dish, a scallop, and a fish dish and they were total success, thanks to her suggestions.

A book put to good use........2007-01-19

This book was given as a gift to an Italian friend who had the following comments: The recipes seem to be more authentic Italian style with excellent flavors. The ingredients have been easy to find and the shopping for them fun. The narration provided is very helpful and the recipes easy to follow. The high quality pictures add to the enjoyment of trying new dishes.

Authentic Italian Cookbook, highly recommend.......2006-04-25

This book brings back memories of my wonderful experiences in Italy. The food that one can prepare from this book rivals the food you get in Italy. As Americans we seem to think that Italian American food is Italian food, which of course it is not. But since it is what we grew up eating, it is what we expect. This cookbook is the authentic article. If you love authentic Italian food, or you want to, this is a great book to add to your library.

This book even gives you are recipe for homemade hand rolled pasta. Don't be discouraged if your pasta does not get thin enough when you roll it. I tried to make pasta once without the pasta rollers, big mistake on my part. I think you need to be born in Italy to get this right. But the recipe in the book does work fine with a pasta roller (either manual or KitchenAid attachment).

I can't recommend any specific recipes over another because they have all been good. However, if you are looking for an excuse to bake something the Zaletti (Venetian Raisin and Polenta Cookies) are a nice little afternoon snack with a cup of coffee or tea.

The photographs of Venice and the food are amazing in this book. The pictures of the Rialto vegetable market made me long to be back in Venice. The book itself is well constructed of heavy paper and a stiff cover. My one minor complaint would be that I would like to see more pictures of Italy and the recipes included in the book.

If you are interested in authentic Italian cooking this book is a winner. I highly recommend this book to any serious student of Italian food.

Best Italian cookbook, possibly best cookbook ever........2005-09-30

The only cookbook that I remember the name of the author. Once you make bluefish and potatoes or pork chops with capers and anchovies you will remember her name too. (Actually I think the pork chop was supposed to be veal but we substituted. Her recipes are easily manipulated.)

Her husband liked broccoli stems so she found a way to make them. Cut up like matchsticks I never throw them stems away since.

Marcella Cucina, by Marcella Hazan.......2005-08-02

This was a present for friends, I already owned a copy and think it is one of the best Italian Cookbooks ever and always so easy to use, also brings back wonderful memories of Venice and it's markets.

Average customer rating:

Marcella Cucina
Marcella Hazan
Manufacturer: MacMillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

Average customer rating:

Marcella Cucina
Marcella, and Harris, Alison (Photographer) Hazan
Manufacturer: Morrow Cookbooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OEHOFG

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books