The Touch

Wilson’s books are so much fun to read. Sometimes it is hard to find a writer that does not constantly toss out the same formulaic plot structure and personalities as they publish book after book. Well….as I dive through Wilson’s catalogue I can say (SO FAR) this is not the case. The Adversary Cycle, the Repairman Jack stories and a smattering of hidden gems and short stories are all part of the same world and all lead somewhere. For the Casual reader it is possible to read them without realizing they are connected. Finding these stories and piecing them all together can be rather difficult. Some are difficult to obtain and can be expensive. But…on to The Touch.
A young doctor receives a gift from a stranger. This gift enables show more the bearer to cure any illness instantly. Curse or Blessing? Both or neither? The touch follows the doctor on a journey of self-enlightenment, morality at times fear. Wilson is a capable enough writer to throw in some Camp, Weird Fictions, Sci-Fi, Horror, and at times a little romance. The story is fun and while it may see slightly predictable, the reader might not want to get too comfortable with that idea because Wilson will snatch you back into reality. The characters are wily with just enough pulp tossed in to make you giggle at times and at other times just stare at the pages in disbelief. Good writing and well worth the read. The Touch will not leave you untouched. This particular version of The Touch Contains a small short story which ties in the abilities of The Dat-Tay-Vao and sets allows the reader to get hooked by the mystery behind it. show less

Alan Bulmer is a caring, dedicated family physician when one day he touches a dying man who some how transmits to him the ability to heal anyone's ailment with a touch. This power is not constantly with him, but comes and goes. He has about an hour twice a day during which he can heal. Of course, patients who are healed realize that something miraculous has happened--especially patients with longstanding incurable conditions. The word spreads and Alan is soon unable to maintain his regular practice. Once it hits the press and he doesn't deny it, his wife, most of his friends & colleagues, as well as the hospital board all wonder what's going on and come to believe that he's delusional.

This story is set in the same fictional world in show more which Wilson's "Repairman Jack" character operates and will be especially welcomed by fans of that series, but it certainly stands alone as a great story with elements of both horror and sci-fi. A page-turner. show less

A doctor is grasped by a man thought to be deranged, while the doctor was making his rounds at the hospital. He feels a shock and soon finds that when he touches people who are ill, they are miraculously healed.

Dr. Alan Bulmer is an old time family physician who enjoys the personal touch and feels that getting to know his patients helps in the healing process.

When he notices this ability to heal by touch, he tries to downplay it but word spreads and soon his home and office are bombarded by people wanting to be cured. He can only use this ability for a few hours each day and when someone asks to be healed and it's not in the time that his power is working, some of the people become enraged.

His marriage is affected and only a few people show more stand by him as some call him a charlatan pretending to be a faith healer.

What a wonderful premise for people who are incurable to have a sudden and complete cure so that they get a second chance at life.

This is a heart worming book where the author builds suspense nicely and spices his story with a number of very unique characters.

The ending is somewhat predictable but nevertheless, "The Touch," is a good read that won't be forgotten. show less

In the Long Island village of Monroe, Dr. Alan Bulger is an old-fashioned family practitioner who sees his patients as people, not diseases. When a dying bum takes his hand, suddenly Dr. Bulger can heal with a touch. But this gift comes with a terrible price.

Listed as part of the Adversary Cycle, this definitely ties in to the larger story Wilson is telling, although it contains nothing explicitly about the Otherness. It would stand alone quite well.

Dr. Alan Bulmer is a caring Physician. No cookie-cutter medical practioner here. These qualities would normally be thought of as good, even admirable, but after a touch from what appears to be a deranged homeless man, those same attributes could end up costing him his marriage, his home, everything, even his life. It all becouse of a mysterious gift/curse known as the Dat-tay-vao. A very fast-paced novel from F. Paul Wilson. Part of the Adversary Cycle, book three, but also a story that stands up on it's own. It was written in the 80's and is still readily avaiable. Highly recommended.

Once you pick up this book, you won't be able to put it down. The action starts at the beginning and doesn't let up. If you're interested in supernatural fiction, this one is a good one.

small peekie re what's inside:
Doctor Alan Bulmer is a family physician; he is not a doctor who enjoys ripping off his patients, but he is a doctor who has chosen his profession to actually do some good. He lives with his wife Virginia (Ginny) and has a seemingly normal life until one day when he sees a vagrant man in the emergency room who says something very strange to him then begs Alan to take his hand. Alan feels some kind of charge going from hand to hand; and then afterward, he finds that at certain times, he is able to completely heal people. The show more servant of a friend of his tells him that he has what is called the Dat-Tay-Vao, "the touch," which in fact will allow him the gift of healing, but which takes a terrible payment in return.

The book is an easy one, and you'll fly through it. You won't find a lot of guts and gore but it is a very good supernatural-type fiction. show less

I liked this book, even though it was predictable. Not one of my favorites and I'm not sure how it fits with the rest of the Adversary Cycle, but it was a neat story.