The Fissure King

A Novel in Five Stories

By: Rachel Pollack

Narrated by: Keith Szarabajka

Length: 12 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

In the classic noir tradition of Have Gun - Will Travel, Rachel Pollack - one of the world's foremost authorities on the Tarot - gives us the tale of Jack Shade, an occult shaman for hire.

Jack Shade has a secret, and this hidden part of his past sends him on a journey through time and space and a great number of metaphysical doorways. From the cozy poker table in the 11th-floor apartment of the Hôtel de Rêve Noire to the ethereal Forest of Souls to the faded houses along the Gold River, Jack flows in and out of this world. Even when his own duplicate hires him to kill himself, Jack is mercury in motion. Jack the Nimble, Jack the Quick.

The Fissure King: A Novel in Five Stories collects the four existing Jack Shades novellas and shows us Jack's final trick - one last story that finally reveals Jack's true nature.

Only Rachel Pollack, an award-winning novelist and comic book writer, could dream of someone as mischievous and mythopoeic as Jack Shade. The king is dead. Long live the king.

©2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc. (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

What a treasure!

Finally! Something besides another formulaic Harry Dresden knockoff. Don't get me wrong, I love the Dresden files but while this book similarly centers around a magical, problem-solving protagonist, it is more reminiscent of the sci-fi/fantasy I grew up reading. So well written and what a great concept. Jack Shade is an interesting character in an an interesting world full of magic. If you loved Nine Princes in Amber, then give the book a try. You will find yourself equally immersed in an intriguing story.

Good overall story

I enjoyed these stories. The only thing I could do without is towards the end, where the writer wanted to make sure you knew the race of the main character and political standing.
I don’t read or listen to fiction for political or social justice themes to be pushed on me. I would of rated the story better if it didn’t take me out of it at the end.

Annoying

While the writing is good, the reader excellent, I had to stop listening at chapter 14. The main character never seemed to learn from serious past mistakes. Every episode was him having to clean up some mess he made that could kill him and/or others. Yet the audience is supposed to buy that he's super clever and competent. It finally got to be too much to swallow.

I really got into this book, man. I enjoyed it.

great book a lot of details to keep track of but not difficult to do so with this enjoyable novel

Exceptional

Fascinating, dark fantasy with new twists! Love this author and reader. Worth the credit for sure!

Excellent story and characters

This was my first book by this author and I didn’t know what to expect. I loved the characters, the world and the suspense. Jack Shade’s story and backstory will stick with you. Thanks !

Preaching to the Leftist choir

This could have been a really good book if it stayed away from the subtle Leftist liberal ideology. Anti-gun, anti-Caucasian, and anti capitalism (actually had the nerve to list Che Guevara as a hero)

BRILLIANT !

I've just finished this and am too in awe to write about it yet. I feel I'm vibrating like a tuning fork -- the book resonates for me.

great story!

The narrator's voice is a little challenging to get used to but after a while I got used to it. The story was engaging and very descriptive I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this.

Not what I expected but better

The first chapter was kinda hard to get into but by the second chapter I was hooked
Worth the credit