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Sgt. Janus #1
Sgt. Janus, Spirit-Breaker
HERE BE GHOSTSSituated in the rural back country of Edwardian England is an old, mysterious house whose unique owner earns his living as a Spirit-Breaker, a hunter of ghosts. A former military veteran, Sgt.Roman Janus has devoted his life to aid those haunted, both emotionally and physically by obsessive wraiths whose spirits are still anchored to our world.Airship 27 Productions is thrilled to present Sgt.Janus – Spirit Breaker by Jim Beard. Part detective, part occultist, Janus is himself a man of mystery whose own past is shrouded and the motivations behind his calling kept hidden. Within this volume you will find eight tales as narrated by his clients, each with his or her own perspective on this uncanny hero and his amazing career. Filled with suspense, terror and agonizing pathos, each a solid mesmerizing journey into the unknown world beyond. Featuring a cover by artist Jeff Herndon and eight stunning illustrations by Eric Johns, Sgt.Janus – Spirit Breaker is the first in a new series by one of today’s leading stars in New Pulp Fiction. “…Beard’s fiction is anything but pat and routine. While he may deliberately conjure the spirits of authors of Victorian and Edwardian occult fiction before him, Beard’s prose is fresh and entirely modern in his, at times, frank and unsettling tales of the wages of his characters’ past sins. Each story breezes by and like the best tales told round the campfire, it leaves the reader hungry for more.” William Patrick Murray (The Terror of Fu Manchu & The Destiny of Fu Manchu.) Airship 27 Productions – Pulp Fiction For A New Generation!
160 pages, Paperback
First published May 16, 2012
4 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Jim Beard
93 books24 followersJim Beard became a published writer when he sold a story to DC Comics in 2002. Since that time he's written official Star Wars and Ghostbusters comic stories and contributed articles and essays to several volumes of comic book history. His prose work includes SPIDER-MAN: ENEMIES CLOSER, an original novel; co-editing and contributing a story to PLANET OF THE APES: TALES FROM THE FORBIDDEN ZONE; a story for X-FILES: SECRET AGENDAS; GOTHAM CITY 14 MILES, a book of essays on the 1966 Batman TV series; SGT. JANUS, SPIRIT-BREAKER, a collection of pulp ghost stories featuring an Edwardian occult detective; MONSTER EARTH, a shared-world giant monster anthology; and CAPTAIN ACTION: RIDDLE OF THE GLOWING MEN, the first pulp prose novel based on the classic 1960s action figure. Jim also currently provides regular content for Marvel.com, the official Marvel Comics website.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 26, 2022
In eight short stories, the mysterious Sgt. Janus investigates a series of hauntings and apparitions, helping spirits to find release or battling them as needed. Spiritualism and tales of ghostly manifestations have never been particularly interesting to me, so I may not be the ideal audience for this book, which has earned many positive reviews online. Most of the stories hinge on revealing the tragic story behind some manifestation, but these revelations are rendered in a perfunctory manner that prevented me from becoming involved in them. We don’t get to know our main character very well either. Each story is written in the first person by a different narrator, each a client of Janus. Since Janus is a mystery to them, he remains one to the reader as well and we are left in the dark as to why he does this work, how he became so good at it, and what his ultimate goal is beyond being a generally benevolent force. The author's intent may be to whet our appetites for learning Sgt. Janus’s backstory at a later date, but I kept expecting some big reveal about him only to be left wanting in the end. The last story is the strongest, finally introducing a sense of peril and ending things on a bit of a cliffhanger.
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March 21, 2023
While I've enjoyed a lot of Jim Beard's work, I felt like this collection of paranormal detective stories just wasn't quite there.
Instead of having a Watson like narrator, Beard opts to have the clients narrate each story, which gives us a different voice for every chapter. A novel idea, but execution just wasn't quite there. The sifting viewpoints weaken the main character, as we never get a good look at him, and what makes him different.
On the other hand, the stuff about Janus's house was pretty interesting. A lot of the rest just didn't quite work.
Instead of having a Watson like narrator, Beard opts to have the clients narrate each story, which gives us a different voice for every chapter. A novel idea, but execution just wasn't quite there. The sifting viewpoints weaken the main character, as we never get a good look at him, and what makes him different.
On the other hand, the stuff about Janus's house was pretty interesting. A lot of the rest just didn't quite work.
September 2, 2015
Although Occult Detectives have been with us for more than a century, it seems that they have found their own golden age only now, in an era when human beings have emerged as the biggest predators in every sense, intent upon destroying the world they inhabit, themselves included. Strange, isn't it? Perhaps that's also the reason why Jim Beard has given us an Occult Detective belonging to an older, and less flashy, era. Sgt. Janus is an Edwardian gentleman. His adventures, chronicled by his clients/beneficiaries, also talk to us across the gulf of time. These adventures, and my impressions regarding them, are:
1) The Portobello Cetacean: This story introduces us to Sgt. Janus, his mysterious companion, and his strangely alive house. I didn't care much for the story, but the characters were intriguing.
2) A Bad Business: This story was more interesting, and had a distinctly more abrasive-yet-realistic tone.
3) This Unbroken Lock: The worst story of the collection, told in a very laborious & drab style. It was positively soporific, and I had started thinking that perhaps Sergeant Janus and his activities would be going the way Aylmar Vance and his farcical ghost-huntings had gone.
4) Lydia's Lover: And we come back to an old story of haunting & possession made much more interesting with its tragic undertone that eventually overwhelms all.
5) The Cockworth Fortune: The BEST story, simply because of its narrative style that was wittiest, dryest, and yet richly layered with meanings & hints. Also, it was the only story that began almost as an inversion of Hodgson's "Carnacki" stories.
6) Sculpted Velvet: A grim, dark, and tragic story, that assumed greater weight because of the plain & pedantic narrative.
7) When The Rain Comes: Not a case of haunting per se, rather a very-very realistic & creepy psychological horror story, this one didn't have Sgt. Janus physically. Or, was he there?
8) The Unfinished Record: A very dark, gripping, grim, and old-fashioned tale of monster-hunting gone wrong.
The book ends with a very illuminating & forthright piece from the author named "Creating Sgt. Janus", and leaves us with the hope that things may not have ended the way they seemed to have ended. As they say, "The film isn't over yet", we may keep our fingers crossed, and wait for the next book.
Recommended.
1) The Portobello Cetacean: This story introduces us to Sgt. Janus, his mysterious companion, and his strangely alive house. I didn't care much for the story, but the characters were intriguing.
2) A Bad Business: This story was more interesting, and had a distinctly more abrasive-yet-realistic tone.
3) This Unbroken Lock: The worst story of the collection, told in a very laborious & drab style. It was positively soporific, and I had started thinking that perhaps Sergeant Janus and his activities would be going the way Aylmar Vance and his farcical ghost-huntings had gone.
4) Lydia's Lover: And we come back to an old story of haunting & possession made much more interesting with its tragic undertone that eventually overwhelms all.
5) The Cockworth Fortune: The BEST story, simply because of its narrative style that was wittiest, dryest, and yet richly layered with meanings & hints. Also, it was the only story that began almost as an inversion of Hodgson's "Carnacki" stories.
6) Sculpted Velvet: A grim, dark, and tragic story, that assumed greater weight because of the plain & pedantic narrative.
7) When The Rain Comes: Not a case of haunting per se, rather a very-very realistic & creepy psychological horror story, this one didn't have Sgt. Janus physically. Or, was he there?
8) The Unfinished Record: A very dark, gripping, grim, and old-fashioned tale of monster-hunting gone wrong.
The book ends with a very illuminating & forthright piece from the author named "Creating Sgt. Janus", and leaves us with the hope that things may not have ended the way they seemed to have ended. As they say, "The film isn't over yet", we may keep our fingers crossed, and wait for the next book.
Recommended.
September 21, 2012
Ghost Hunting with the Spirit Breaker
I have just finished 'Sgt. Janus, Spirit-Breaker' by Jim Beard. Sgt. Janus is a 'Ghost Hunter' of sorts who appears to live after the second world war. The Sgt's world is one of spirits both malevolent and benign. When a person is being haunted by one such entity they call on the spirit-breaker to aid them.
'Sgt. Janus, Spirit-Breaker' is eight stories that are somewhat intertwined, as the Sgt. aids those in need of his rather unique services. Jim does a good job in creating different voices for his characters as the Sgt. Is not the one who narrates his adventures, rather it is his clients. The one that sticks in my mind is the policeman whose writing style was so obviously different from anyone else's in the book, it had the feel of someone else writing the tale.
For me, this was a different kind of read. The heroes I usually read are the two fisted type. But there was none of that here. Sgt. Janus is a man who does his fighting with talismans and small spells. Sort of a poor mans 'Dr. Strange'.
So you may ask “Did you enjoy the book?” The answer is “Yes, immensely.” There are actually some very haunting tales within its covers. The final story is one of them as is an earlier story concerning a young woman whose lover has suddenly passed away. There are tales of haunted houses as well as haunted caves, perhaps possessed by something more then merely human shades? Who can say?
I do have one tidbit of advice concerning this tome. DO NOT read it at night before bed, during a seemingly endless rainstorm, or like poor Dorothy St. George, you may be in for one very long, and frightening evening.
I have just finished 'Sgt. Janus, Spirit-Breaker' by Jim Beard. Sgt. Janus is a 'Ghost Hunter' of sorts who appears to live after the second world war. The Sgt's world is one of spirits both malevolent and benign. When a person is being haunted by one such entity they call on the spirit-breaker to aid them.
'Sgt. Janus, Spirit-Breaker' is eight stories that are somewhat intertwined, as the Sgt. aids those in need of his rather unique services. Jim does a good job in creating different voices for his characters as the Sgt. Is not the one who narrates his adventures, rather it is his clients. The one that sticks in my mind is the policeman whose writing style was so obviously different from anyone else's in the book, it had the feel of someone else writing the tale.
For me, this was a different kind of read. The heroes I usually read are the two fisted type. But there was none of that here. Sgt. Janus is a man who does his fighting with talismans and small spells. Sort of a poor mans 'Dr. Strange'.
So you may ask “Did you enjoy the book?” The answer is “Yes, immensely.” There are actually some very haunting tales within its covers. The final story is one of them as is an earlier story concerning a young woman whose lover has suddenly passed away. There are tales of haunted houses as well as haunted caves, perhaps possessed by something more then merely human shades? Who can say?
I do have one tidbit of advice concerning this tome. DO NOT read it at night before bed, during a seemingly endless rainstorm, or like poor Dorothy St. George, you may be in for one very long, and frightening evening.
April 2, 2017
Read it, loved it.
In the world of genre fiction, where occult detectives grow like mushrooms, the author has given us a wonderful character who is enigmatic, immensely likeable, fallible, tragic, haunted, and yet dashy.
The author has also used a literary technique where each case of Janus has got narrated by a different person, in his or her distinctive voice, giving this book a strangely anthologic nature.
But most importantly, the stories within these two covers are quite terrifying, and full of suspense that keeps you as alert as a paranormal investigator ought to be, while checking up a supposedly haunted place!
Recommended, without hesitation.
In the world of genre fiction, where occult detectives grow like mushrooms, the author has given us a wonderful character who is enigmatic, immensely likeable, fallible, tragic, haunted, and yet dashy.
The author has also used a literary technique where each case of Janus has got narrated by a different person, in his or her distinctive voice, giving this book a strangely anthologic nature.
But most importantly, the stories within these two covers are quite terrifying, and full of suspense that keeps you as alert as a paranormal investigator ought to be, while checking up a supposedly haunted place!
Recommended, without hesitation.
March 21, 2018
Fast-Paced & Exciting
Jim Beard has crafted another strong set of stories here. Sgt. Janus is strong, yet not invulnerable; clever, but still able to make mistakes, tough, but not invincible. These stories are varied, but held together by threads woven skillfully from one tale to the next. It’s a fast, yet satisfying read. Highly recommended.
Jim Beard has crafted another strong set of stories here. Sgt. Janus is strong, yet not invulnerable; clever, but still able to make mistakes, tough, but not invincible. These stories are varied, but held together by threads woven skillfully from one tale to the next. It’s a fast, yet satisfying read. Highly recommended.
December 3, 2017
An excellent read!
Well worth your time. Read a story a day for the most enjoyment. I hope this is not the last we hear of Sgt Janus......
Well worth your time. Read a story a day for the most enjoyment. I hope this is not the last we hear of Sgt Janus......
April 16, 2025
A good collection of short stories, based solidly upon the Edwardian occult investigator genre. Each story is told by the client, which means various voices and viewpoints.
August 23, 2012
Sgt. Janus, Spirit-Breaker was certainly not what I expected. I saw that great Jeff Herndon cover and expected to get some kind of action-based spirit fighter, maybe something along the lines of Kolchak perhaps with a bit of a Doc Savage edge. Instead, I get something far closer to author Jim Beard’s admitted inspiration, the classic character Carnacki.
Unlike the lone Carnacki story I read many moons ago, in the world of Roman Janus, the spirits are very real. Beard takes an interesting narrative avenue as he introduces the world to his new character. The book takes the form of several letters or reports all written to Sgt. Janus and about Sgt. Janus. Apparently Janus likes records of his works and our storytellers are fulfilling that request, sometimes happily, sometimes under duress.
The stories span the gamut of ghostly tales, from haunted objects to a murder solved with the help of the victim. The stories grow creepier as the book continues, even as the stories start to tie closer into one another. The influence of H.P. Lovecraft permeates the latter half of the book, intermingling with the Hodgson-influenced Spirit-Breaker.
It’s nigh impossible to describe a ghost story without spoiling something of the story so I will not go into detail about the 8 tales collected in the book. But the judgment of a good short story collection is almost always determined by what percentage of the stories a writer enjoyed reading in the book.
This reviewer can say without any doubt that he found seven of the eight stories in the book completely compelling. The weakest tale proves to be the last as the adventure, though tragic, seems somewhat less creative than the intricacies of Beard’s other tales of his Spirit-Breaker. It’s presence at the end of the book almost makes it ending that much less surprising as it seemed to this reader as the only ending that really could occur by the eighth tale.
But even while that story isn’t Beard’s strongest work, the first 7/8ths of this book are pulp gold. New Pulp needs more characters willing to tread as unique a path as Sgt. Janus.
Go out and give it a try. Highly Recommended.
Unlike the lone Carnacki story I read many moons ago, in the world of Roman Janus, the spirits are very real. Beard takes an interesting narrative avenue as he introduces the world to his new character. The book takes the form of several letters or reports all written to Sgt. Janus and about Sgt. Janus. Apparently Janus likes records of his works and our storytellers are fulfilling that request, sometimes happily, sometimes under duress.
The stories span the gamut of ghostly tales, from haunted objects to a murder solved with the help of the victim. The stories grow creepier as the book continues, even as the stories start to tie closer into one another. The influence of H.P. Lovecraft permeates the latter half of the book, intermingling with the Hodgson-influenced Spirit-Breaker.
It’s nigh impossible to describe a ghost story without spoiling something of the story so I will not go into detail about the 8 tales collected in the book. But the judgment of a good short story collection is almost always determined by what percentage of the stories a writer enjoyed reading in the book.
This reviewer can say without any doubt that he found seven of the eight stories in the book completely compelling. The weakest tale proves to be the last as the adventure, though tragic, seems somewhat less creative than the intricacies of Beard’s other tales of his Spirit-Breaker. It’s presence at the end of the book almost makes it ending that much less surprising as it seemed to this reader as the only ending that really could occur by the eighth tale.
But even while that story isn’t Beard’s strongest work, the first 7/8ths of this book are pulp gold. New Pulp needs more characters willing to tread as unique a path as Sgt. Janus.
Go out and give it a try. Highly Recommended.
August 1, 2013
"Sgt. Janus" is written in the spirit of the old pulps, with a slightly modern style that only occasionally detracts from the story telling. Mr. Beard uses an unusual method to change up the POV story telling by having eight different characters telling the story of their interactions with the hero of the story (pronounced Jan-us, rather than the classical Jaynus, btw). If you enjoy the old pulps, particularly the Carnacki stories, I think you'll enjoy this one.
I should note that the book ends on what might be considered a cliff-hanger. Given that a second book is coming out, I'm hoping that it will resolve the ending of this book.
I should note that the book ends on what might be considered a cliff-hanger. Given that a second book is coming out, I'm hoping that it will resolve the ending of this book.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews