Jack: Secret Histories

This is the second Repairman Jack book I've ever read. The first was HOSTS which at the time seemed like a strange cross between science fiction, horror and crime novel. But the character intrigued me enough to maintain a small amount of interest - one of those series you want to make time to read when you have time. For those who don't know, Jack as an adult lives off the grid. He keeps a low profile, pays no taxes and keeps to himself. Literarily, he is similar to Vachss' Burke and Child's Reacher - a loner with a sense of justice and the need to be right. Or in the words of Boston Blackie, "Enemy to those who make him an enemy. Friend to those who have no friend."

Jack in this book is a high school freshman. He is not yet the man he will become, but the road ahead is clear. Set in 1983, Jack and his friends discover a body and an artifact that leads them into a conspiracy and murder. It is a nice crisp book and perfectly acceptable for the YA audience. Adult readers will enjoy it, but it is not at the same level as Doctorow's LITTLE BROTHER or Westerfeld's various series. Still it was fun. My only complaints would be the little winks and nods to the future world, such as dreams of a 2-way TV which could browse all the libraries in the world.

Devotees of Repairman Jack will definitely enjoy it. Me...I've added THE TOMB - the first RJ book - to my reading pile and I'll find a way to shoehorn the rest of the series in before Christmas.

If you are a true collector, don't forget the Gauntlet Press special edition. These guys do wonderful copies and are fully worth the extra cost.

http://www.gauntletpress.com/cgi-bin/gauntletpress/perlshop.cgi?ACTION=template&thispage=SecretHistBk&ORDER_ID=259671989