1,260 books
—
1,916 voters
Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “The Tomb (Repairman Jack, #1)” as Want to Read:
The Tomb
(Repairman Jack #1)
by
Much to the chagrin of his girlfriend, Gia, Repairman Jack doesn’t deal with electronic appliances—he fixes situations for people, often putting himself in deadly danger. His latest project is recovering a stolen necklace, which carries with it an ancient curse that may unleash a horde of Bengali demons. Jack is used to danger, but this time Gia’s daughter Vicky is threate
...more
Get A Copy
Paperback, First TOR Edition, 426 pages
Published
August 15th 1998
by TOR Books
(first published November 1st 1984)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
Start your review of The Tomb (Repairman Jack, #1)
All she could do was stand there and scream.
Indeed.
This book has a good number of things going for it. I particularly enjoyed the characterization of Repairman Jack. There are also some Lovecraftian references that fans will recognize.
Striding down the dark passage like the avatar of a vengeful god, came Jack.
I can imagine that followers of the Agent Pendergast series (Relic), the Charlie Parker series (Every Dead Thing) or the Harry Dresden series (Storm Front) would enjoy this, especially co ...more
YES! A great series like the "Dresden Files", Simon Green's Nightside etc. A nice break from all the romance-y stuff I've been reading lately. Really great lead, interesting protagonist and storyline. I really love this series and will read many more!
...more
This novel has a lot of modern (80's) thriller sensibilities with a can-do 'fixer' focused mainly on character study and definition, mostly in the same way that horror novels do it. Righting wrongs, giving up close and personal Justice to those who escape the law.
With a supernatural twist. Hindu Rakashas!
It sounds pretty cool, actually, but my personal expectations were more along the lines of a proto-modern UF... and it is. It just happens to be MORE focused on character study and interpersonal ...more
With a supernatural twist. Hindu Rakashas!
It sounds pretty cool, actually, but my personal expectations were more along the lines of a proto-modern UF... and it is. It just happens to be MORE focused on character study and interpersonal ...more
I have a new best friend and his name is Repairman Jack.
With a style reminiscent of Travanian or John D. MacDonald, F. Paul Wilson describes the urban fantasy equivalent of his off the grid anti-hero. Wilson also demonstrates his libertarian values in a protagonist that would make Poul Anderson or Heinlein proud.
While this can be seen as a far-out version of a Travis McGee adventure, urban and contemporary fantasy fans will be drawn to its supernatural qualities. Jack is on the trail of an ancie ...more
With a style reminiscent of Travanian or John D. MacDonald, F. Paul Wilson describes the urban fantasy equivalent of his off the grid anti-hero. Wilson also demonstrates his libertarian values in a protagonist that would make Poul Anderson or Heinlein proud.
While this can be seen as a far-out version of a Travis McGee adventure, urban and contemporary fantasy fans will be drawn to its supernatural qualities. Jack is on the trail of an ancie ...more
4.5 stars!
This book was fun, super entertaining and easy to read!
The Tomb is the first book in the Repairman Jack series. It's got great characters, supernatural elements and the action is fantastic. While reading this, I felt at times that I was eating popcorn and watching an action movie!
The Tomb was written back in 1984 so it's got a great 80s feel to the book. It didn't feel dated to me, so kudos to F. Paul Wilson for writing something that can be relatable in 2020.
Jack is a fixer. He's not ...more
This book was fun, super entertaining and easy to read!
The Tomb is the first book in the Repairman Jack series. It's got great characters, supernatural elements and the action is fantastic. While reading this, I felt at times that I was eating popcorn and watching an action movie!
The Tomb was written back in 1984 so it's got a great 80s feel to the book. It didn't feel dated to me, so kudos to F. Paul Wilson for writing something that can be relatable in 2020.
Jack is a fixer. He's not ...more
Harry Dresden without magic and more violent and more Horror than Urban Fantasy. Repairman Jack takes on jobs that require vigilante justice - "fixing" problems in a way that the usual law enforcement and judiciary can't.
Excellent pacing. Believable(ish) story. Scary monsters. Some genuine suspenseful moments. A step up from book one The Keep.
4 Stars
PS: I don't know why this book is called The Tomb - There is no Tomb! ...more
Excellent pacing. Believable(ish) story. Scary monsters. Some genuine suspenseful moments. A step up from book one The Keep.
4 Stars
PS: I don't know why this book is called The Tomb - There is no Tomb! ...more
The only book I have read in the "Repairman Jack" series, and, I think, the last.
Repairman Jack is a below-the-radar fixit guy that "repairs" problems for people. Although he's supposed to be cool and dangerous, he comes across as kind of an idiot man-child to me. He has all these ridiculous methods for keeping his identity secret yet he invites a strange woman up to his apartment early on in the book. He goes to the same bar every single time to interview clients and shops at the same store nea ...more
Repairman Jack is a below-the-radar fixit guy that "repairs" problems for people. Although he's supposed to be cool and dangerous, he comes across as kind of an idiot man-child to me. He has all these ridiculous methods for keeping his identity secret yet he invites a strange woman up to his apartment early on in the book. He goes to the same bar every single time to interview clients and shops at the same store nea ...more
Fun is the best descriptor I can come up with to describe my experience with this read. With an 80's feel to it, this horror/action thriller was filled with excitement and great characters. Especially Jack, who is an easy favorite. The story was good and had a good resolution, leaving me excited to read the next Repairman Jack adventure. I'm surprised this didn't end up as an '80's horror movie, honestly. 4.5/5.0 stars.
...more
"The Tomb", by F. Paul Wilson, is the SECOND book in his "Adversary Cycle" series and the FIRST book in his "Repairman Jack" series.
This novel introduces New Yorker Repairman Jack, a man with no permanent last name (it varies with the ID he's carrying at the time) and no records of his existence (he either had them erased or doesn't reference them at all anymore). His job is to fix things that the police can't or won't fix. Sometimes this involves hurting or killing people, which is why his ex-g ...more
This novel introduces New Yorker Repairman Jack, a man with no permanent last name (it varies with the ID he's carrying at the time) and no records of his existence (he either had them erased or doesn't reference them at all anymore). His job is to fix things that the police can't or won't fix. Sometimes this involves hurting or killing people, which is why his ex-g ...more
Sep 11, 2009
Danielle The Book Huntress (Back to the Books)
rated it
really liked it
Recommends it for:
Fans of occult detective novels, kickbutt heroes, and lesser-used folklore elements
I was going to give this three stars, but I realize it deserves more. I think I heard it raved about so much that I expected to like it more. Had I gone into The Tomb with lower expectations, I would have no hesitation in rating it higher. That is why I hate to read books after they are so hyped. It just spoils the experience.
Repairman Jack is just an awesome character. He is a person who exists outside of the system. He simply dropped off the 'grid.' He doesn't pay taxes, and he doesn't feel li ...more
Repairman Jack is just an awesome character. He is a person who exists outside of the system. He simply dropped off the 'grid.' He doesn't pay taxes, and he doesn't feel li ...more
Some years ago I read The Keep. My wife liked it some, I on the other hand wasn't all that impressed. It was the last thing by Mr Wilson I read...till now. A couple of years ago someone suggested to my wife and I that we try the Repairman Jack books, but I never got around to it.
Till now.
I've got to say I liked this book. It's not great literature in the "classic sense" (you may hear that pronounced in a sophisticated accent if you wish). This book started out as what might be called a fairly st ...more
Till now.
I've got to say I liked this book. It's not great literature in the "classic sense" (you may hear that pronounced in a sophisticated accent if you wish). This book started out as what might be called a fairly st ...more
Repairman Jack - a fix-it guy who moves in unsavory circles. Got a problem that doesn't involve the law community? Jack is the guy.
After losing his once-in-a-lifetime gal, Gia, to his past, he becomes involved in finding an iron necklace for an Indian diplomat.
We find a centuries-old curse waiting for our hero.
This story moved extremely fast, with likable characters, and even the bad guys had honorable intentions. ...more
After losing his once-in-a-lifetime gal, Gia, to his past, he becomes involved in finding an iron necklace for an Indian diplomat.
We find a centuries-old curse waiting for our hero.
This story moved extremely fast, with likable characters, and even the bad guys had honorable intentions. ...more
Jack is a fixer. He fixing things. Not your electronics, but real problems involving people and sometimes more.
Jack had a girlfriend Gia, who couldn't cope with who he was and what he did for a living and she left. 2 months later she calls. A relative of her ex-husband has disappeared and they need his help.
This makes Gia and Jack rub each other the wrong way even though they both still have feelings for each other.
The story goes on with Jack investigating the kidnapping, but things take on a su ...more
Jack had a girlfriend Gia, who couldn't cope with who he was and what he did for a living and she left. 2 months later she calls. A relative of her ex-husband has disappeared and they need his help.
This makes Gia and Jack rub each other the wrong way even though they both still have feelings for each other.
The story goes on with Jack investigating the kidnapping, but things take on a su ...more
I was excited to start this series about this mysterious character Repairman Jack. Jack is a kind man with a little something extra, however, he feels the need to show himself to his family and friends as an underachiever and a bit of a thug. He does this with the hope of hiding his peculiar profession.
When he is asked by an ex girlfriend to help find her missing Aunt he is also contacted by a very strange, foreign man, with deep pockets, who is desperate to have him find a stolen family heirlo ...more
When he is asked by an ex girlfriend to help find her missing Aunt he is also contacted by a very strange, foreign man, with deep pockets, who is desperate to have him find a stolen family heirlo ...more
Quite enjoyable beginning to the Repairman Jack series. The title made me think this might be something James Rollins-ish or perhaps Lincoln and Child, but it's more like a supernatural Ray Donovan (before Ray Donovan). The setting is primarily New York, not a tomb. The main protagonist, despite being a criminal, is someone worth following with a fully developed background. The story is well-paced and always kept my interest. I am intrigued to see where the character will go from here (view spoi
...more
4.0 to 4.5 stars. First of the Repairman Jack Novels. This is a very well written story with a fantastic main character, namely Repairman Jack. Not your normal everyday repairman, Jack "fixes" problems for people and he is very good at what he does. Won't give away too much of the plot other than to say it has intrigue, Indian Mythology, demons and a rather nasty revenge/curse thrown in for good measure. Recommended.
...more
3.5 stars but I'm rounding up to 4 because that's what I would have given it if I'd read it with 1984 sensibilities which was when it was published. It was that era when only lip-service was given to equality. It was "accepted" that women were equal and strong and smart but all that meant was having them say a few smart things or show interest in what was going on or just having femal characters. The same went for people of color. We weren't there yet for any other minority groups.
So Wilson's wo ...more
So Wilson's wo ...more
Beginning a new series is always a dicey prospect for me. Will it be my kind of series? Will it become my newest temporary addiction, with me scrounging the net to find each and every book in the collection? Will it cause me to begin fantasizing about what it'd be like to exist within that universe? With all these questions rattling about my head, it should be understandable that I was hesitant to begin the Repairman Jack series- especially because I'm loathe to begin a series that has not come
...more
4 Stars
I really enjoyed this Urban Fantasy that is the start to the Repairman Jack series. It seems that I really enjoy this genre when it is not centered on teenage romance and angst. Wilson has created a main character in Jack that I can really get behind. The world that he has created is very much like our own but with just a little bit more.
The highlights of this read is the page turning writing style. The awesome hero Jack. And the fabulous Indian folklore and creature that is at the heart ...more
I really enjoyed this Urban Fantasy that is the start to the Repairman Jack series. It seems that I really enjoy this genre when it is not centered on teenage romance and angst. Wilson has created a main character in Jack that I can really get behind. The world that he has created is very much like our own but with just a little bit more.
The highlights of this read is the page turning writing style. The awesome hero Jack. And the fabulous Indian folklore and creature that is at the heart ...more
Another fun read by Wilson! While this is the second in the Adversary Cycle, there is no connection to the first volume (The Keep). Jack the 'repairman' is our main protagonist; a man who keeps off the official radar, with no SSN and about a zillion last names (he goes by Jack). Since his teenage years (we learn as the novel unfolds) Jack 'fixes' things. His first 'fix' involved one of his neighbors. It seems the neighbor loved his lawn, spending endless time manicuring it, etc. Some punks decid
...more
Sep 07, 2020
Dave TN
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2020,
horror-thriller
This book is GREAT, and a lot of fun to read! It has all the elements I like in a novel from this genre. For me, there was never a dull moment, and I looked forward to reading it every day. Highly recommended.
So... I realize this book was originally published in 1984. It's a little dated. This copy has "Author's Definitive Edition" across the cover and "This revised edition was previously published in 2004 as Rakoshi by Borderlands Press" on the copyright page (this paperback edition was published in 2006). Repairman Jack books have been popping up on my radar for a few years now, and I've been wanting to read the first in the series to see if I want to dive in. I like the premise.
The writing can be. ...more
The writing can be. ...more
A few weeks ago, I was wishing for another pulpy guilty-pleasure series to read; I'm jonesing a bit, since it will be at least 4 more months until the next Dresden fix, heh. One of my IRL friends - the same pusher that hooked me on Dresden - has been trying to get me lit on Repairman Jack. I caved in a moment of weakness.
But...
It's pretty damn good! I saw "series," and assumed "ditch." I forgot that Wilson was already well-established by the time he wrote The Tomb, and that the rest of the seri ...more
But...
It's pretty damn good! I saw "series," and assumed "ditch." I forgot that Wilson was already well-established by the time he wrote The Tomb, and that the rest of the seri ...more
Cheerful, upbeat sort of horror... Kind of an "Indiana Jones meets the Wolfman" story. Repairman Jack is immediately likable thanks to being introduced in the middle of a James Whale movie festival, and it rolls from there. Ancient Indian monsters are being used by a madman to settle an age-old score, and Jack gets pulled into the middle of it when he's asked to find an old lady's stolen necklace. Daring-do, fisticuffs, and square-jawed heroics ensue. Very enjoyable.
...more
The Tomb was just an all-around fun book. Don’t go into this expecting high art and you’ll have a great time. In a nutshell, you have Bengali demons let loose in New York City, ancient curses, bloody revenge, religious extremism, magic, love, lust, enough weapons and explosives to make John Rambo somewhat proud, and a badass character at the center of it all: Repairman Jack, who is part detective, part fixer, part vigilante, part ladies man, part movie buff, and all 80s action hero. Think the ev
...more
Well, now I’m addicted to the entire Adversary Cycle and Repairman Jack series’. What a wild, fun read. Highly Recommended for those who like a little bit of crime/horror in their rotation.
Hmm. I think I would've liked it more if it weren't so dated - this was written in 1984, and while there have been some attempts to modernise it with mentions of Playstation and Grand Theft Auto, the attitudes remind me of Roger Moore era James Bond movies - the hero moves effortlessly between women, sleeping with both and neither seem to mind - indeed both are pretty pathetic. Meanwhile our hero gets himself out of all certain death situations with panache - and gadgets.
So this is the first of ...more
So this is the first of ...more
Reading this book brings to mind other paranormal series involving male protagonists ie. Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden series, Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid Chronicles and Rob Thurman’s Cal & Niko Leandros series. I also couldn’t help but notice that unlike the others who have supernatural powers, Repairman Jack is essentially human, with all the human frailties and limitations.
What Jack lacks in supernatural gifts (found abundantly in Harry Dresden, Cal Leandros and Atticus Sullivan), he’s supposed ...more
What Jack lacks in supernatural gifts (found abundantly in Harry Dresden, Cal Leandros and Atticus Sullivan), he’s supposed ...more
This is, overall, an enjoyable book and Repairman Jack is an interesting character; one whom I intend to read more about. Published two decades ago the novel leans hard on issues stemming from Birtish colonialism so-much-so that I wish the Indian characters in the novel had been handled with a touch more subtlety; as-is that the Indian characters in the novel lean closer to charicature. It feels bad to knock a novel for the fact that the political issues it mires itself in are still prevelant to
...more
Surely is an action-packed, creepy story. Highly imaginative storyline and monsters. Wilson had me wondering if such things really ever existed, as in an ancient religion. Repairman Jack is like the Everready Bunny; no matter how torn up and broken, he gets back up and goes back into attack mode! I liked the character of little 7-year-old Vicky, too. Not sure that I'll move right on to the sequel, but I'll probably come back for more soon.
...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horror Aficionados : The Tomb - F. Paul Wilson | 70 | 53 | May 12, 2020 08:41PM | |
| What's the Name o...: SOLVED. Adult Fiction-About a guy who fixes problems, his mother was killed when someone threw a rock off a highway overpass, starts out fiction then has demons/monsters. [s] | 6 | 20 | Sep 19, 2018 07:29PM |
Readers also enjoyed
Francis Paul Wilson is an author, born in Jersey City, New Jersey. He writes novels and short stories primarily in the science fiction and horror genres. His debut novel was Healer (1976). Wilson is also a part-time practicing family physician. He made his first sales in 1970 to Analog and continued to write science fiction throughout the seventies. In 1981 he ventured into the horror genre with t
...more
Other books in the series
Repairman Jack
(1 - 10 of 16 books)
Related Articles
Whether you love the horror genre or just tiptoe into it ahead of Halloween, we have book picks for every level of scared you want to...
453 likes · 281 comments
2 trivia questions
More quizzes & trivia...
“Your believing or not believing in karma has no effect on its existence, nor on its consequences to you. Just as a refusal to believe in the ocean would not prevent you from drowning.”
—
4 likes
“certain is death for the born And certain is birth for the dead; Therefore”
—
0 likes
More quotes…
