• By the Sword

  • A Repairman Jack novel (Repairman Jack, Book 12)
  • By: F. Paul Wilson
  • Narrated by: Dick Hill
  • Length: 12 hrs and 7 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (358 ratings)

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By the Sword  By  cover art

By the Sword

By: F. Paul Wilson
Narrated by: Dick Hill
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Publisher's summary

Jack is hired to find a legendary Japanese sword, a katana stolen from the Hiroshima Peace Museum and brought to New York City. Central characters include the members of a weird Japanese cult, a young Japanese businessman (who is the brother of a character killed in Legacies), and his three Yakuza bodyguards, plus Hank Thompson, the Kicker cult leader from Bloodline. The cult, the businessman, the Yakuza, and the Kickers are looking for the sword as well.

Following Jack's usual m.o., he maneuvers all sides into a bloody melee from which he plans to waltz away with the fabled katana. Of course, when things don't go as planned, Jack must improvise (and he hates to improvise).

By the Sword takes F. Paul Wilson's trademark breakneck pacing and interweaving storylines to a new level.

Get another Repairman Jack fix.
©2008 F. Paul Wilson (P)2008 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

What listeners say about By the Sword

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    189
  • 4 Stars
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  • 3 Stars
    35
  • 2 Stars
    12
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Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • 4 Stars
    68
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    50
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Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    186
  • 4 Stars
    85
  • 3 Stars
    28
  • 2 Stars
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  • 1 Stars
    4

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Better that expected

I was a good audio book. I almost didn’t purchase it because of all the negative reviews about Duck Hill. Overall I think he did a good job.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Deep into the series

I'm now deep into the Repairman Jack series, and I'm more enthralled with each successive book. I've listened to twelve books straight through and moving onto the next. Usually I burn out after a couple, and move onto something else for awhile, then come back. Not this series!

I like the characters. They are well drawn, and very complete as people. Jack himself is very true to himself, and although his code is not to everybody's comprehension, he is very consistent within it.

The overall story arc is well planned, and each book covers one particular aspect. This one deals with a sword from the first Age.

All of the books are uniformly excellent, and I know when I finish the series, I'm going to be sorry to see it end.

I highly recommend the series. I can't say enough good things about it. The writing style, the plotting and pacing, the characters, all show the results of a mature writer, and that plus a very good narrator, give we, the listeners, an unparalleled experience.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Please no more Dick hill

dick Hills narration of a repairman Jack's series leaves a lot to be desired. if vocal calculation of Jack leave a nasal quality that is unappreciated

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Glad the reader changed.

I have loved this book. And all of the repairman Jack books. But the last one was read by a real flop. Interesting how your perception of the character rests on the reading style. But I love the story line. 😉

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Tough Listen

The narrator's repeated use of "totally" when referring to Dawn is really "TOTALLY TOO MUCH"......

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

NEVER, EVER, EVER change a narrator in a series.

Would you try another book from F. Paul Wilson and/or Dick Hill?

I Love this series, BUT, and that is a huge BUT, never think you can bring on a new narrator in a series. Rick Hill is good in his style, BUT he IS NOT, even e n close to making me want to listen. I feel cheated now. I bought 2 books. #11 and 12 thinking it would not be so bad. O M G, I was so wrong. Rick Hill tried, he really did but after reading 10 books or listening to them, I was totally thrown off. His voice for His was nowhere near Prices narration. It was broken, and just not right. I figured after that maybe the next book would be better as it also was narrated by Mr. Hill, but I swear it said Chris Price. Abe w a s not even r e recognizable. I returned both as I could not get through them with this narration as Jack and family. If you know Jack, ( no pun intended) either 're a d the actual story or skip them. I'M SURPRISED THE POWERS THAT BE TRIED TO PULL THIS THINKING IT WOULD FLY. If the author did it, shame on you but I TH I boot is Amazon

Would you ever listen to anything by F. Paul Wilson again?

Only if narrated by Chris Price for this series. Other books yes...although I'm nervous now.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Dick Hill?

Christopher Price. Jack

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from By the Sword?

Never we r made it past a few pages

Any additional comments?

What were you thinking. Does your accent, style and voice change. I must say I read a review saying the same thing before I purchased these and thought the guy was being a bit of a jerk. Was I wrong. I should have listened to him.
I will not finish this series if this is not corrected. Two stories is too much to miss and I do not have the luxury to sit and read them. Audio is it for now

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

surpsing including of blade

taken by the katana being included and little of story going around but it tied up leading to next book okay

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

By The Sword

Another great Repairman Jack. Wilson brings in elements from the adversary circle, leading up to the final conflict in Nightworld. For those "jack" fans. Buy the book.

The narration is off-putting, and distracts from a great story line. Jack's voice shouldn't be a hyper nasal whine. A nice smooth non-inflected baritone would have been much more pleasing to the ear.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

least favorite of the series . I will continue to

I will continue the series need to know the ending. I'm invested in the series.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Not a Dick Hill narration fan

I’m not a Dick Hill narration fan, luckily this is the last of the 2 books in this series that he has narrated.

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