Started reading the touch again, I am about have way through now and must admit that I did not like it the first time I read it mostly though it was because the blurb on the back was misleading claiming that St. John was a part of E branch and that it was a start of a new series but forgot to mention the other main characters that were involved.

 

Felt a little annoyed at the time however since re reading it have enjoyed it more this time around (probably because I know now not to trust the solaris synopsis) but I blame that on Solaris not Mr Lumley.

 

However I still think that St. John was a whiney little be itch not nearly as engaging as Harry nor Nathan or Jake there were times in the novel I wished he would grow a set and stop being such a wuse and get on with it. There times I wished that the metapsyhical Harry would grab him by the scruff of the neck, kick his ass and tell him to get on with it.

 

I was wondering what other people thought of the novel.

 

P.s. I still think the guy who wrote the synopsis should have the read the novel.

Edited March 8, 201016 yr by Dr. Freudenstein

I enjoyed it first time around, for two reasons...I don't read the blurts or read to much into the synopsis and I went in looking at it as a stand alone story...no, three reasons...the third being it was another fine story from one of our favorite authors.

I here where you are coming from though to be fair the synopsis on the back of the grafton paper back was slightly misleading as well but not to such an extent.

Edited March 9, 201016 yr by Dr. Freudenstein
miss spelling

I agree with you both! I did enjoy it the first time around but not as a Necroscope novel, I thought of it as more like a stand alone or at least as an Ebranch one. I didn't pay too much attention to the back blurb either and had already been told that it wasn't Necroscope the way I might have been expecting it to be so I had actually been prepared.

 

I agree St John's character was a bit of a wuss and weak in comparison to previous Necroscopes, but we didn't have that much time to get to know him and just because I didn't like the character that much didn't mean that I didn't like the story! I did find it interesting though to see how someone totally different fits into the Necroscope role - and I didn't think he did really. I liked that and saw it as a little twist, we all know how the Necroscope is supposed to behave whoever he is - even Jake, though quite different to Harry or Nathan still had what you might call the essential Nec qualities and he became just what we hoped he would. St John however, well he wasn't quite like that and we never got to see whether or not Harrys influence would have changed him given more time.

 

If he'd have remained a Necroscope he might have eventually grown a pair and just got on with it! But I'm glad he didn't!

Yes I did not think that he was the right person for the job and even Harry seemed to get a little exasperated at St. John. St. John was became a necroscope but did not even use the powers at his disposal that much instead allowed himself to forget that he had them so it probabaly is better that we don't get to hear from him again.

Yeah... isn't it weird that blurbs are more often than not totally misleading and useless?

It is also down right annoying you read a book expecting something only to find out that the plot is completely different, happen a bit with Dean Koontz aah well just have to breath deeply, keep telling myself that it does not matter.

I read the touch about a year or so ago, and I was just happy to have something newish to read that even hinted at the necroscope. That being said, St. John seemed like a pretty normal dude in a lot of ways and really created a more sympathetic character than the so-called stronger characters found in other novels. It is almost as if I could identify a bit more with this guy than Harry. I could almost place myself in St. John's shoes as he was going through this bizarre plot. Maybe St. John represents more of the real while Harry is more of the ideal?

Perhaps you are right me I am a contrary git myself.:grin:

little things like the black dog and girl and cryogenics made me think it might be a Necroscope\Psychomech crossover.

There do seem to be some reoccuring themes with Brians work but wolf was a wolf and suzy was a doberman pinscher though it is true that both were black.

I read the "Touch" when it first came out but I sort of remember a dream or vision of a dog in space or something calling back to earth. I am rereading the saga between other books. Im at Blood brothers so it will be a while until reread the "Touch". I will read "Plauge Bearers" as soon as I grab it from the mailmans hands.

I read the "Touch" when it first came out but I sort of remember a dream or vision of a dog in space or something calling back to earth. I am rereading the saga between other books. Im at Blood brothers so it will be a while until reread the "Touch". I will read "Plauge Bearers" as soon as I grab it from the mailmans hands.

 

Well Wolf was calling to the Scott in his dreams and at the end of the book both Scott and Wolf where in space when they were trying to stop the final Mordai. So I guess your memory was right.

On a lighter note at least E-Branch did not lose any personel this time but the swiss special forces were not so lucky.

Doc,

Just saw what you posted and I didn't mean to imply that sympathetic meant more likeable. The word pathetic is mixed right in there and that is indisputable.

 

And your post reminded me of some famous quote, something along the lines of, "Do I contradict myself? Very well, I contradict myself." Blanking on the name though.

Worry not my friend though I am still a contrary git.