Monday, January 9, 2017

Homecoming, by Rachel Pollack

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(Urban Fantasy; Jack Shade) Carol has always felt a piece of her was missing, so she hires supernatural investigator Jack Shade, to find it. It seems simple enough, but quickly becomes much more than simple soul retrieval. (22,786 words; Time: 1h:15m)

Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average

Prior familiarity with the Jack Shade stories makes this one easier to appreciate, but isn’t strictly necessary.
"Homecoming," by (edited by C.C. Finlay), appeared in issue 01-02|17, published on by .

Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)

Pro: At the end we learn that the Old Man of the Forest and his sister the Wisser Rebbe engineered the whole thing for the purpose of rejuvenating themselves. Still, Jack fulfills his requirement (imposed by the “guest” that requires him to serve anyone who presents his card) and then does the right thing for the rest of the world. He appears to end the story in better shape than he started it.

Con: There are way too many different characters and agencies introduced into this story but which have zero influence on the outcome. Ray the fox, the NYTAS, COPE, etc. This gives the whole thing a somewhat arbitrary feel, where the outcome is never certain because the rules of the game keep changing.

Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 01-02|17)
Rachel Pollack Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB

1 comment (may contain spoilers):

  1. The 4 previously published Jack Shade stories and a new one are being released as a collection called The Fissure King. I've enjoyed the two I've read (this and Johnny Rev) so I look forward to reading more.

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