Rating: 
Summary: The truth is even further out there
Review: A team of CIA agent charged with investigating paranormal phenomena uncover hints of a centuries-old conspiracy. Who is involved? Is their own superior part of it? Who can they trust?Clearly, this book owes its existence to the success of The X-Files (as does Charles Grant's Black Oak series). But that's just a marketing issue. The important question becomes: can an author like Chet Williamson take advantage of X-Files' popularity, producing a story that slakes the public's thirst for similar stories while still creating something new and distinctive? In this case, the answer is a resounding yes. Certainly, the nature of the mystery the characters find themselves exploring heads into areas network television would hesitate before entering. No matter how edgy X-Files gets, I can't see them even suggesting the possibility that the mysterious prisoner in this book might be who the book suggests he might be. (How's that for not giving anything away?) And the characters are a lot more violent and ruthless than one would expect to find on TV. These characters are charming and likeable, and it always comes as a shock when the reader is reminded that they are professionals, and part of the job means killing. It's also a good, exciting adventure story. After the first couple of chapters introducing the background stuff, things proceed at a fairly leisurely pace as we meet the characters and follow them on their first mission together. Once everything is in place, though, the book takes off like a rocket and only slows down for a page or two at a time. Williamson brings in a number of different mysteries and paranormal ideas, but manages to integrate them smoothly into one story without things seeming overly cluttered or tied together artificially. Along the way, the book manages to get the reader thinking about proof versus faith in religion. All in all, City of Iron is a fun, fast-paced start to what I hope will be an exciting trilogy. I just wish I didn't have so many other books to read before I buy the next part. (I hate having a backlog build up.) Speaking of which, I should probably mention that the story doesn't so much end as reaches a stopping point. I expected as much; the cover clearly says that this is book one, so I assumed there would be stuff left over for future volumes. I like that sort of serial storytelling. However, if you're the sort of reader who insists that everything be wrapped up by the final page, with no loose ends, you're going to be disappointed or upset.
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Summary: A great cross-genre novel!!
Review: CITY OF IRON is going to be, at least a 2 book series. And all I can say about that is, if the second is as good as the first, keep them coming! The Searchers are a 3 people team doing "shadow ops" for the American government, trying to investigate as many incidents of paranormal occurrence as possible in the name of National Security. While on one of these journey's they come across a seemingly "real" event. The three "searchers" are Laika Harris, a black female who is the leader and most middle of the road when it comes to believing in the paranormal; Joseph Stein, the eldest and a desk rider for more years than he was an active agent, and also the most non-believer in anything pararormal; and lastly is Tony Luciano, an Itallian Roman Catholic who is a believer. These three debunk one case while investigating another one that seems real. This is followed by another dual event in which one is proven false and the other appears true. And both second cases are linked they soon discover, which leads them on a chase across continents, history and to the start of the world...or so it seems. The best attribute of this novel is that all three character's level of belief is challenged and evolving so they are not cookie-cutter cardboard in rigidness. They listen to the others' opinions and choose what is real or unreal that way. The dialogue between the 3 is great, the action scenes unreal and the premise unique and very interesting. The only problem is with the ending...a cliff-hanger that will be resolved, I hope, in book two titled, TRAIL OF DUST. All I can say is for the second in the series hurriedly arrive and not be the last. A great start to a unique series. Highest Recommendation.
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Summary: A fascinating,can' t put down book .
Review: I began reading the novel thinking it would be a rip-off of the X-files.I couldn't have been more mistaken.Although these C.I.A. operatives are on a mission to investigate the paranormal,that's where the similarities end. This book is as exciting as any .The action is vividly described.The plot is full of surprising twists with an intelligent,thought provoking conspiracy.The characters are well developed,interesting and realistic. I particularly liked Joseph,whose belief system is brought to question.The only problem I had with the paperback was probably due to the editors or proofreaders ,as in some parts names of characters are mistakenly interchanged.Hopefully Mr.Williamson noticed and will bring this to their attention for the following volumes. Overall,this is one entertaining novel.It,s my favorite book of the year(and I,ve read over a hundred fiction novels this year).
Rating:
Summary: The truth is even further out there
Review: I bought this title and it's sequel "Empire of Dust" off the shelf during a quick trip through an unfamiliar bookstore. It took me two nights but I read them bolth straight through. I'm a sucker for a good space opera, space war, fast action type of read. This fit the bill. Admittedly this is not space opera but it has the same fast moving, action filled, superficial plot that lets you get the idea without a lot of bogging down in a morass of deatils. This book amazed me. It has goth, Chuthulu mythos, the Holy Mother Church, betrayal, a good dose of the christian reich, and spy vs spy all mixed into a fast moving plot a la Charles Manson and "Helter Skelter". Anyone who likes Bond, Conan, ot the Dynochrome Brigade will love this. All in all a good, solid read.
Rating: 
Summary: Fast paced X-Files meets Milennium Group
Review: I bought this title and it's sequel "Empire of Dust" off the shelf during a quick trip through an unfamiliar bookstore. It took me two nights but I read them bolth straight through. I'm a sucker for a good space opera, space war, fast action type of read. This fit the bill. Admittedly this is not space opera but it has the same fast moving, action filled, superficial plot that lets you get the idea without a lot of bogging down in a morass of deatils. This book amazed me. It has goth, Chuthulu mythos, the Holy Mother Church, betrayal, a good dose of the christian reich, and spy vs spy all mixed into a fast moving plot a la Charles Manson and "Helter Skelter". Anyone who likes Bond, Conan, ot the Dynochrome Brigade will love this. All in all a good, solid read.
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Summary: A wobbly start to a good trilogy.
Review: I like Chet Williamson and I trust him as a writer. Having read DREAMTHORP, SOULSTORM, and ASH WEDNESDAY, I consider myself a fan of his. So when I started his SEARCHERS trilogy and found CITY OF IRON to be a bit uneven, I decided to forge ahead. And I'm glad I did. (See my reviews for book two and three.) In this first entry, we are introduced to the three lead characters, all operatives for a covert assignment, investigating paranormal activity. It becomes apparent to the agents that there are other reasons behind their assignment and when they catch wind of a mysterious man referred to as The Prisoner and The One Who Does Not Die, the pace really picks up, for both the characters and the reader. Recommended for fans of The X-Files and horror thriller fans.
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Summary: A great supernatural thrillogy
Review: I waited to post reviews on the first two books in the Searcher series until I saw how the last volume turned out. I needn't have bothered, since Mr. Williamson maintained the taut writing, finely delineated characters, and sure hand at dealing with paranormal (or is it??) material right up to the cataclysmic end. These are superb thrillers, marrying X-Files style paranormal investigation with a sure hand at action and a trip into the most fascinating corners of strange phenomena. The series feels like one large novel that reaches progressive crescendos at the end of each installment, with the last volume (which I just finished) providing a suitably grand finale. I hadn't seen much from Mr. Williamson in recent years, but I remember his Ash Wednesday as one of the more literate and emotionally powerful horror novels of the past couple decades. It's good to see him back in top form. There's no question that these are inspired by the X-Files, but they bring a literacy, craft, and intelligence to paranormal fiction that we see too rarely. Now that the final volume is out, buy them all and read them all together.
Rating: 
Summary: A wild, paranormal adventure
Review: I've always been fascinated by the supernatural and paranormal, if a bit skeptical about its existence, and it's been a delight to write THE SEARCHERS series, since it's let me explore some of the widest paranormal flights of fancy that may exist -- or may not. From Loch Ness to the goth underground of New York City to a huge warehouse that holds a massive iron sculpture containing the secret to its creator's bizarre disappearance, you'll meet immortal knights, caged madmen, a horribly haunted Fifth Avenue town house, psychic hoaxers, and the savvy and tough team of Laika Harris, Joseph Stein, and Tony Luciano -- THE SEARCHERS. I hope you have as good a time reading it as I did writing it.
Rating:
Summary: X-Files meets the Avengers
Review: If you can get past the cheesy cover, this series has an interesting premise, led by an even more interesting group of main players. The characters work well together...espcially for what they are hired to do in this story. This would actually play well as a television mini series. It has a lot of bits and pieces of the unexplained, an intriguing religious twist as well as enough side stories on the side characters to keep you interested. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: X-Files meets the Avengers
Review: If you can get past the cheesy cover, this series has an interesting premise, led by an even more interesting group of main players. The characters work well together...espcially for what they are hired to do in this story. This would actually play well as a television mini series. It has a lot of bits and pieces of the unexplained, an intriguing religious twist as well as enough side stories on the side characters to keep you interested. Highly recommended.
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