Scan barcode
topdragon's review against another edition
4.0
The previous books I’ve read in the Adversary Cycle by the talented F. Paul Wilson have all been stand-alone books (although part of the larger Secret History of the World) but this novel really gets us started on the larger mythos of the battle between the “Otherness” and the “Ally”. For those that read this one without benefit of having read previous books in this series or the Repairman Jack series, it can still be enjoyed as a fairly straight-forward horror tale. I think there would be some confusion and a feeling of “missing something” that might be frustrating but it can still be a good read.
Like many horror novels, this novel begins with a lengthy build-up of normal family situations, allowing the reader to build an affinity with the main characters and come to feel for them, especially when they are later faced with horrific situations. I do feel that there is more traditional horror in this one than most of Wilson’s work. He is adept at genre-bending and I often classify his work as adventure or even science fiction as much as it is horror. But this one is clearly of the horror genre. The final 50 pages or so are filled with blood splattering, ax-wielding, anti-Christ religious fervor, and so forth.
A very enjoyable read but I do recommend it be experienced as part of the two larger series to really grasp the multiple layers of the story.
Like many horror novels, this novel begins with a lengthy build-up of normal family situations, allowing the reader to build an affinity with the main characters and come to feel for them, especially when they are later faced with horrific situations. I do feel that there is more traditional horror in this one than most of Wilson’s work. He is adept at genre-bending and I often classify his work as adventure or even science fiction as much as it is horror. But this one is clearly of the horror genre. The final 50 pages or so are filled with blood splattering, ax-wielding, anti-Christ religious fervor, and so forth.
A very enjoyable read but I do recommend it be experienced as part of the two larger series to really grasp the multiple layers of the story.
lancefestivalen's review against another edition
2.0
Nu börjar det gå utför för F. Paul Wilson. Det är fortfarande habilt hantverk, och intrigmässigt fungerar det trots allt rätt så bra i det här hopkoket av Rosemary's Baby och The Omen. Och vändningen i mitten - med det minst sagt oväntade dödsfallet - gjöt ny energi i berättelsen. På det stora hela var dock det här lika trist som [b:The Touch|219416|The Touch (Adversary Cycle, #3)|F. Paul Wilson|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1196998102s/219416.jpg|212443], men med ett antiklimax som pay-off.
Wilson är en intelligent författare och han har mycket intressant att säga om religion och tro, vilket kommer fram väl i mötet mellan många av karaktärerna i berättelsen. I det större perspektivet blir det bokens stora behållning. Satan/Antikrist degraderas bryskt till symboler, endast avsedda att kontrollera massan eller som ett misslyckat försök att beskriva ett större hot mot människan, ett hot bortom begrepp om ont och gott.
Reborn är en del i en serie berättelser i den löst sammanhållna 'Adversary'-cykeln. Har jag rätt är det förresten i den här boken som Wilson för första gången medvetet placerar en roman i den här serien, även om det är den fjärde i serien. Här presenteras antagonisten (The Adversary - så beskriven i ett försök att undvika kristenhetens banalare Satan och/eller Antikrist) och seriens övergripande konflikt.
Det här är den del jag hittills tyckte sämst om, mest för att slutet inte alls motsvarade de förväntningar resten av romanen byggt upp. Men nu är det bara två böcker kvar, så det vore ju dumt att sluta nu.
Wilson är en intelligent författare och han har mycket intressant att säga om religion och tro, vilket kommer fram väl i mötet mellan många av karaktärerna i berättelsen. I det större perspektivet blir det bokens stora behållning. Satan/Antikrist degraderas bryskt till symboler, endast avsedda att kontrollera massan eller som ett misslyckat försök att beskriva ett större hot mot människan, ett hot bortom begrepp om ont och gott.
Reborn är en del i en serie berättelser i den löst sammanhållna 'Adversary'-cykeln. Har jag rätt är det förresten i den här boken som Wilson för första gången medvetet placerar en roman i den här serien, även om det är den fjärde i serien. Här presenteras antagonisten (The Adversary - så beskriven i ett försök att undvika kristenhetens banalare Satan och/eller Antikrist) och seriens övergripande konflikt.
Det här är den del jag hittills tyckte sämst om, mest för att slutet inte alls motsvarade de förväntningar resten av romanen byggt upp. Men nu är det bara två böcker kvar, så det vore ju dumt att sluta nu.
posies23's review
5.0
The threads from THE KEEP, THE TOMB, and THE TOUCH all start to come together in this novel, another chapter in The Adversary Cycle by the very talented F. Paul Wilson.
What's interesting about Wilson's writing is the way he mixes genres and juggles multiple storylines so deftly. This book is something of a ROSEMARY'S BABY meets FRANKENSTEIN by way of THE NAME OF THE ROSE. Above all, though, it's a compelling thriller, featuring characters you really come to care about, and enough plot twists to make even an avid reader like myself say, "Woah!"
Highly recommended, but not for the weak of stomach!
What's interesting about Wilson's writing is the way he mixes genres and juggles multiple storylines so deftly. This book is something of a ROSEMARY'S BABY meets FRANKENSTEIN by way of THE NAME OF THE ROSE. Above all, though, it's a compelling thriller, featuring characters you really come to care about, and enough plot twists to make even an avid reader like myself say, "Woah!"
Highly recommended, but not for the weak of stomach!
mattabee's review
4.0
Make sure you’ve read The Keep first. This is billed as #4, but the author recommends this as #2.
Multiple POVs between incredibly likeable, and sometimes sinister characters, keeps every chapter fresh. Ryan the Priest is a stand out.
Multiple POVs between incredibly likeable, and sometimes sinister characters, keeps every chapter fresh. Ryan the Priest is a stand out.
hollydoesstuff's review
3.0
This book got crazy at the end! But it still wasn't enough to make me feel wowed.
As I've said while reading it, none of the characters were likeable, so I wasn't as into it. The Adversary series has yet to impress me. I almost forget it's by the same guy who does Repairman Jack, because Jack is so likeable. Onto the next in the series.. hope it is better.
As I've said while reading it, none of the characters were likeable, so I wasn't as into it. The Adversary series has yet to impress me. I almost forget it's by the same guy who does Repairman Jack, because Jack is so likeable. Onto the next in the series.. hope it is better.
donnakaye64's review
5.0
I liked it a lot. It tells a good, entertaining story and makes it difficult to know who to root for.
david_agranoff's review
4.0
Coming twenty years after the events of The Keep (book one) Reborn is directly a sequel. The Tomb (Book #3) and the Touch (Book #4) don’t seem to be direct sequels. The Tomb of course starts another thread to the secret history of the world that becomes the Repairman Jack books. On the surface reborn might seem to be a Rosemary’s baby/Omen type horror novel. It’s similar in plot but it is the execution and it’s place in the larger scope of Wilson’s saga that separates this novel.
Reborn is a perfect read in between Repairman Jack books Five and Six. The events take place in the timeline of story around 1968, around 30 years before the events of the Jack books. Trust me that is when you want to read them.
Reborn is the story of Jim Stevens a Long island man who was adopted and always interested in the mystery of where he came from. That mystery is solved when he is in the will of a very rich and famous scientist. Is he the man’s son? They surely look alike, but when looks into it further he discovers he has no mother, and he is not his son, but his clone.
At the same time, a group of fanatical Christians begin to believe that Jim Stevens is the anti-christ. His wife Carol and old family friend Father Bill Ryan try to help him. Jim begins to suspect something is deeply wrong, perhaps even evil about himself. Jim’s life is put in danger by the fanatics who think he is evil and it is all amplified by Carol discovering she is pregnant.
If Jim is evil? What is his child?
The novel is a excellent and original spin on a story already done before in horror. It would be impossible not to compare it to the Omen or Rosemary’s Baby. That said Wilson has presented an original take on the concepts. Where Reborn separates it’s self is in the surprising and brutal final act. The book takes two serious surprise turns that set up the need for sequel. That happens in Adversary cycle #5 Reprisal.
This book is not the horror classic that The Keep is, but it is a strong entry in the timeline that expands over two series. The power of this story only grows as you read on into the Secret History of the World. Another great F.Paul Wilson must read.
Reborn is a perfect read in between Repairman Jack books Five and Six. The events take place in the timeline of story around 1968, around 30 years before the events of the Jack books. Trust me that is when you want to read them.
Reborn is the story of Jim Stevens a Long island man who was adopted and always interested in the mystery of where he came from. That mystery is solved when he is in the will of a very rich and famous scientist. Is he the man’s son? They surely look alike, but when looks into it further he discovers he has no mother, and he is not his son, but his clone.
At the same time, a group of fanatical Christians begin to believe that Jim Stevens is the anti-christ. His wife Carol and old family friend Father Bill Ryan try to help him. Jim begins to suspect something is deeply wrong, perhaps even evil about himself. Jim’s life is put in danger by the fanatics who think he is evil and it is all amplified by Carol discovering she is pregnant.
If Jim is evil? What is his child?
The novel is a excellent and original spin on a story already done before in horror. It would be impossible not to compare it to the Omen or Rosemary’s Baby. That said Wilson has presented an original take on the concepts. Where Reborn separates it’s self is in the surprising and brutal final act. The book takes two serious surprise turns that set up the need for sequel. That happens in Adversary cycle #5 Reprisal.
This book is not the horror classic that The Keep is, but it is a strong entry in the timeline that expands over two series. The power of this story only grows as you read on into the Secret History of the World. Another great F.Paul Wilson must read.
acknud's review against another edition
3.0
Another in the Adversary series. This is the story of a man finding his true heritage. Regrettably, his heritage is not as he thought and is poised to cause an evil transformation of the world. This series is about Earths hidden evils and the people and things that walk on the dark side.
This is a series but hasn't felt like a series until now. This book makes you feel like you are missing something but begins to tell a story. It is ok as a stand alone but needs some filling in to truly make it work.
This is a series but hasn't felt like a series until now. This book makes you feel like you are missing something but begins to tell a story. It is ok as a stand alone but needs some filling in to truly make it work.
llamasama's review against another edition
4.0
Back on my horror bullshit. Fucking love FPW.
Completely unpredictable, with an amazing final act. Grace's arc was a wild ride.
Completely unpredictable, with an amazing final act. Grace's arc was a wild ride.
careythesixth's review against another edition
3.0
Predictable at times, but still a good story. I might have enjoyed it more if I didn't know how it was going to end, but that's my own damn fault for reading the Repairman Jack books before the Adversary Cycle. The next time I read this glorious mess of a series, I'm doing it in chronological order.
More...