Nightworld: A Repairman Jack Novel
F. Paul Wilson
Tor Books
Hardcover, 400 pages, $25.99
Review by Sheila M. Merritt

F. Paul Wilson and his character Repairman Jack have some things in common. They are not, for example, content to be confined to a single series. If Wilson and Jack were bees, it could be said that they enjoy cross pollinating. In this heavily revised edition of Nightworld (which was originally published in 1992), The Adversary Cycle and Repairman Jack saga again converge. Another instance of comparison between author and creation: neither metaphorically cries “uncle.” These are guys whose warped sense of humor laughs in the face of harsh realities – and complicated story lines. It’s hard to imagine Jack’s voice without hearing Wilson’s sardonic whisper in the ear. That makes for quite a hoot, even when the protagonist is faced with dire straits. And in Nightworld, the dilemmas are most dire indeed. In this version of the tale, Jack ain’t just riding shotgun. His role is expanded considerably. The rewritten novel provides him with ample participation opportunities, and melds the two series into a highly entertaining and cohesive whole.

The apocalypse is near. Rasalom, the evil being who first appeared in The Keep, is back with a vengeance. As he decreases the length of daylight hours, he curtails the courage of humankind. Feeding on insecurities and fears, Rasalom becomes stronger and increasingly odious. Unleashing a plethora of horrific insects, the guy revels in their people-feasting: “The jawed things were like airborne piranhas, swooping in, sinking their teeth into an arm, a leg, a neck, an abdomen, ripping a mouthful of flesh free, and then darting away. Blood spurted from a hundred wounds.”

But wait, there’s more. If the deeds of the vile insectoids don’t repulse, consider this depiction of an encounter with their glob-like countenance: “He angled the lamp. Yes, wings – translucent, at least a foot long, fluttering like mad. And eyes. A cluster of four black, multifaceted knobs at the end of a wasplike body the size of a jumbo shrimp, lined with rows of luminescent dots. Eight articulated arms terminating in small pincers stretched across the mucus-filled membrane.”

These horrors ascend from enormous holes on the East Coast, wreaking havoc on New York City while one of the holes absorbs The Pentagon. The narrative, though, isn’t all about beastly bugs and centuries old vendettas. People matter most profoundly in the book. Interpersonal relationships are salient to the storyline. Reactions are based on feelings as well as on intellect. The author beautifully illustrates that strength can be intensified by solidarity of sentiment.

Lingering emotions and former plotlines mingle with facility in the yarn. Scenarios are neatly tied together, and residual hostilities are addressed and heightened for maximum dramatic potential. There is an emphasis on stark horror that makes for compelling reading. In the Author’s Note of this edition, F. Paul Wilson states that he’s “agreed to write three more Repairman Jack novels” set in earlier periods, to fill in historical gaps. Then he concludes: “I need to move on.” That’s all well and good. Who can complain considering how long Jack’s been around? With Nightworld, Jack again figures prominently and, bless him, makes a world of difference to an already fine tale.

Kate Jonez is proud to present Odium Media, the publisher’s new imprint dedicated to horror fiction. It’s mission: to publish only the highest quality fiction in the genre. Look for titles released under this imprint beginning Summer 2012.

The goal of Odium Media, an imprint of Omnium Gatherum Media, is to selectively build a title list with some of the most well-known names in the genre, as well as promising up-and-comers. The imprint will release books in trade paperback, ebook and audio book. (Availability varies with title.)

Upcoming titles include (in order of release):

• Deep Dark Woods by Ty Schwamberger, Critically-acclaimed author of For After Midnight, The Fields and DININ’.
• The Wildman by Rick Hautala, recipient of the 2012 HWA Lifetime Achievement Award, international bestselling author, and multiple Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Nightstone, The White Room and Looking Glass.
• Dead Souls by Michael Laimo, Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of Sleepwalker and Return to Darkness. Look for Dead Souls coming to NBC/Chiller October 2012.
• Additional titles will be announced at a later date.

Find out more about this exciting imprint at: Odium Media

They’re alive! Douglas Clegg’s Breeder, The Children’s Hour, Nightmare House, Mischief, Bad Karma, Red Angel, The Necromancer, Afterlife, Goat Dance, Purity, The Words, Wild Things, Dark of the Eye have all done digital … with more to come.

“One of the best things about writing fiction for more than 25 year is … like a madman in an October graveyard after midnight, playing with otherworldly influences and jars full of homunculi, I get to resurrect all the novels and novellas I’ve written, some of which you’ve probably missed,” says Clegg. “And I don’t want you to miss them. No novel need ever remain among the dead and buried.”

There’s something for everyone – from the whisper of Nightmare House to the scream of Breeder, and everywhere in between in these horror and suspense novels and novellas.

“I decided to bury my pen name, Andrew Harper,” says Clegg. “in the old crypt out behind the ancient pagan ruins, and just let my own name sit on the covers for Bad Karma and Red Angel (with Night Cage coming very soon.) On their way: The Hour Before Dark, The Infinite, The Abandoned, Naomi … and still more.”

Get started here: Douglas Clegg

JournalStone Publishing has announced their partnership with Cycatrix Press on a new publishing venture, [Nam3less] Magazine, a biannual (twice yearly), perfect-bound, 6”x9” magazine. It will be printed in limited quantities in the Spring and Fall of each year. Along with each print issue there will also be a simultaneous (or nearly so) electronic edition.

The material in [Nam3less] Magazine is wide-ranging. Each issue will vary as to the theme, but all issues will provide fascinating commentary on topical subjects, politics, science, criticism, philosophy, and reviews of current media.

The intended goal of [Nam3less] Magazine is to meld divergent perspectives on a variety of subjects – fiction, music, art, film, social commentary – and simultaneously present them in combination with the best content we can muster from the genres of horror, science fiction, magical realism, slipstream, and dark fantasy.

The magazine was conceived from the outset as a thought-provoking biannual print periodical, as well as a year-round online destination for the intellectually adventurous.

“We strive to achieve this via the alchemy of innovative discourse, high production values, and rigorous editorial standards,” says JournalStone President Christopher C. Payne.

Though the focus will always be on the macabre, weird, uncanny, and esoteric, [Nam3less] Magazine will also be a bastion for underappreciated ideas, unexplored possibilities, uncommon perspectives. That stated [Nam3less] Magazine is open to any and all concepts, reflections, and points of view concerning the Cosmos, our place in it, and insights into the human condition.

It is a state of mind as much as anything, and as such is accepting of anyone that is curious, thought-provoking, and rational.

“We at JournalStone Publishing couldn’t be more pleased to partner with Cycatrix Press on this new adventure,” adds Payne, “and are looking forward to the launch of the first, of what we hope to be many, issue of [Nam3less] Magazine.”

Zombie Girl Diary is a phenomenal film in the making. It is a story about a mother and daughter fighting to survive throughout a zombie apocalypse. Along the way they encounter other survivors and come together to make their way through the crazy world, now turned upside down. Watch the film and see who makes it out alive.

Here’s the teaser:

Keep up with them on Facebook: Zombie Girl Diary

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