The Touch: The Adversary Cycle, Book 3

This book in the Adversary Cycle is the one I liked least of all of both series - Repairman Jack & the Cycle. The main character was a whiner & he got on my nerves. Had to read it in short sessions or I forgot the reason for reading I was so irritated. It is not a necessary part of the series that I could see. The "touch" is mentioned only once in other Cycle books that I noticed & was not really important. This is such an outstanding series of 20 books including Jack & the Cycle books that I finished each book but thought about not finishing this one. Hey, out of 20 outstanding books, one that isn't quite as good is acceptable isn't it?

F. Paul Wilson is the author of quite a large number of books, the best known of which is the Repairman Jack series (but it’s not toasters, etc., that he repairs…). The Touch, however, is not part of that series but is, instead, a stand-alone story. This is a tale about a fine well-regarded and very humane family doctor in a small Long Island village who suddenly acquires the gift of healing even the most egregious health conditions simply by his touch. Is this a gift, or what? But as the story develops the benefits of this gift unravel --- for starters consider what happens when word of this doctor’s skill gets out. And on top of all the complications that follow, it turns out there’s a price for this gift. I highly recommend you read the book and get the full picture.This is a very readable and scarily credible story, extremely well-written as is all of Wilson’s work, about how what is seemingly a gift can quickly become a curse --- or does it really?

The author, F. Paul Wilson, has created a fictional universe based on what he calls "The Secret History of the World". And I really like that universe.As part of the overall story line, he created a healing force called the Dat-tay-vao, which plays a part in the life of young Repairman Jack as well as the series finale:  Nightworld . This healing force starts out in Asia, makes its way to the United States in 1968 via an army medic named Walter Erskine. Walt spends much of his time in the home town of Repairman Jack then, at the appropriate time, transfers the ability to Dr. Alan Bulmer. He becomes part of Sylvia Nash's extended family, and that family plays a part in defeating Rasalom in Nightworld.This novel is the primary source of information about the Dat-tay-vao. Near the beginning, Walt Erskine passes it on to Alan Bulmer, then we learn more about it as the story progresses.So this novel is a crucial part of the Secret History of the World and is officially part of the "Adversary Cycle". Unfortunately the story itself, as a stand-alone novel, isn't all that great. Wilson is a great author and I like nearly everything he's written, but in my mind this information could probably have been transferred vai a short story or novella. If a random person, who knew nothing about the Secret History, picked up this book and read it for its own merits, I'm not sure they'd come away all that impressed.Thus I recommend "The Touch" to anyone wishing to learn more about the Secret History and/or Repairman Jack. Otherwise, I suggest you forgo purchasing this one until you've read some of Wilson's other stuff, like  The Tomb .

F Paul Wilson captured my attention and managed to hold it since he wrote "The Tomb" way back when! I can't get enough of his stories! This book is no different.An old fashioned hands on doctor receives "the touch", a gift for healing, and puts it to good use, even though he pays a price every time he uses it. His compassion is so compelling, you love him right away.The storyline takes you through his ups and downs, the magic of his gift, and how ugly people can be when they want something they thought was impossible. It keeps you turning the pages, reading it at every opportunity.This is another of the authors books that I will read again and again, along with the others in the series.

This is just one of those books you can’t put down. Can’t wait to see what happens to our hero. And then once you get through it all you realize that the entire book was pretty predictable. I didn’t hate the book but I also didn’t love it

I'm giving this 3 stars because despite the fact that this book lacked any sort of suspense or excitement, I still found myself able to easily keep picking it up to get to the end. Unfortunately, it took 400 pages to get to the end and when I got there I yelled out loud "Thats it? I already knew THAT was going to happen!" I wanted more from this book. As I read, I kept trying to predict exciting twists and turns that I was hoping to see. But they never happened...in fact...everything that happens in this book is summed up on the back cover. Go ahead...read the back cover right now.......finished? Yep...doctor gets power of healing. Happens 1/3 of the way in. People start asking to be healed...takes the second third of the book. Doctor pays the price. We find out what that it is in the final third. I won't spoil it...but I will say its nothing that thrilling. So there you have it. I just told u the whole book and didn't spoil a thing because you already knew all this when you read the synopsis. Other reviewers make this book sound like its so thrilling and supernatural. Huh???? Ok...I'm gonna read Reborn next and if this Adversary Cycle (whatever that is...not explained so far in any of the first 3 books) doesn't pick up, I'm throwing in the towel and sticking to Repairman Jack novels only.

part 3 of The Adversary Cycle. a re-issue (possibly amended slightly), now with extra short story.

Excellent condition

Following the success of 'The Keep', this progresses the unseen world, but is on its own a weaker novel, as the premise makes you expect more in the way of horror and originality. As a means to an end, satisfactory.

Brilliant book, excellent condition.

Very good