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A review by zade
The Tomb by F. Paul Wilson
3.0
The first of the Repairman Jack novels, set in the mid-80s, was interesting to read. The protagonist is okay, but not completely engaging. Although Repairman Jack predates Jack Reacher, the best comparison I can come up with is that Repairman Jack is sort of a watered-down, callow Jack Reacher. Although RP is supposed to be 34 in this story, he seems no more mature than in the recently written prequels to the series, in which he is supposedly 22.
The plot is interesting, but nothing new. This seems to be a theme in the few books of Wilson's I've read--he takes a well-worn theme and adds a twist to it. In this case, it's the mummy's curse translated into an Indian background. Oh, and there is no tomb in the story. A temple, yes, but no tomb. Weird. The outcome of the plot is fairly predictable. I was never in doubt as to how the story would end, but there was enough suspense involved in how Wilson would get to the end to keep me reading.
As in other of Wilson's novels, what makes this one interesting is that he complicates the standard good/evil binary. One character observes that the "bad guy" is essentially what Jack would be if he were insane. Wilson manages to make the antagonist sympathetic at the same time his actions are horrifying. The parallel I found most interesting is that between the antagonist and the man for whose actions he seeks revenge. The original transgressor was seeking to redeem his family's honor, which he had endangered by his own sins. Likewise, the antagonist seeks to cleanse himself of sin by fulfilling his family's duty. Having read a couple of Wilson's novels now, I have to believe that Wilson constructs these complementary themes deliberately and with great care. Even when I don't love the narrative, the way Wilson weaves his subtext brings me back for more of his work.
The plot is interesting, but nothing new. This seems to be a theme in the few books of Wilson's I've read--he takes a well-worn theme and adds a twist to it. In this case, it's the mummy's curse translated into an Indian background. Oh, and there is no tomb in the story. A temple, yes, but no tomb. Weird. The outcome of the plot is fairly predictable. I was never in doubt as to how the story would end, but there was enough suspense involved in how Wilson would get to the end to keep me reading.
As in other of Wilson's novels, what makes this one interesting is that he complicates the standard good/evil binary. One character observes that the "bad guy" is essentially what Jack would be if he were insane. Wilson manages to make the antagonist sympathetic at the same time his actions are horrifying. The parallel I found most interesting is that between the antagonist and the man for whose actions he seeks revenge. The original transgressor was seeking to redeem his family's honor, which he had endangered by his own sins. Likewise, the antagonist seeks to cleanse himself of sin by fulfilling his family's duty. Having read a couple of Wilson's novels now, I have to believe that Wilson constructs these complementary themes deliberately and with great care. Even when I don't love the narrative, the way Wilson weaves his subtext brings me back for more of his work.