"
F. Paul Wilson
Gauntlet, May 2001, 50.00, 366 pp.
ISBN: 1887368469
Repairman Jack is a non-person who does not exist in any databases. He owns no credit cards and has never been fingerprinted making it near impossible to track him down. He enjoys his anonymous life, but that ends on the New York subway when someone opens fire slaughtering everyone in his path. Since Jack is the only person besides the lunatic to possess a gun, he kills the maniac becoming a transit hero.
One of the other passengers is a reporter who sees Jack as major stepping stone to fame and fortune. He tracks down Jack and subtly blackmails him. To free his mind from the pesky journalist, Jack accepts a job from an unknown woman. When they meet, Jack learns that his new client is the sister he has not seen in fifteen years. Her lover has changed into something not quite human. Becoming an Other and desires Jack's sibling to become one too. Jack, a cosmic warrior, fights evil once again to keep humanity safe.
All the Repairman jack novels are exciting science fiction thrillers but HOSTS is the best tale to date. It is more of a hars science fiction tale than the usual Jack story. The science is laid out so that the reader easily understands what is going on. F. Paul Wilson also provides more background into Jack's personal life and a glimpse of his future. If you don't know Jack, you are missing one of the stranger, but better ongoing series in which every entry enthralls the audience proving that Mr. Wilson is quite a storyteller.
Harriet Klausner
"
Harriet Klausner, Resident F. Paiul Wilson Scholar
Click above for the new Obama Girl Parody video!
Overall Review
Our unique search engine breaks down books and movies into
dozens of literary elements, all of which are searchable.
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- science fiction story
Spying & Investigations
Yes
What is main char. doing?
- spying/espionage in enemy territorry
- unraveling a conspiracy
If an invasion, from Earth/human POV:
- fighting overt invasion (attacking aliens)
- subtle invasion (mind control, lookalikes)
War or Invasion
Yes
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- champion of justice
Age:
- 40's-50's
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- an entire race
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- an average amount
Setting
Earth setting:
- 20th century
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only)
- a moderate amount of scientific explanation
How much dialogue?
- significantly more descript than dialog
