Yep, still readin' away:
The Executioner #1: War Against the Mafia -- Don
Pendleton
First one I've tried. I'm sure most people know the basic
set-up -- Mack Bolan comes back from Vietnam to find his
family destroyed by the Mob, decides to go to war against
them in response. Pure comic book stuff. Points added for
setting the whole first novel in Pittsfield, Mass., of all
places -- I've been there and it didn't exactly strike me as
a hotbed of sin at the time, but hey, who knows? :) Points
added, too, for no less than three sex scenes -- Mack, you
devil! Points subtracted for some boring speeches where
various characters debate the morality/philosophy of it all
-- whatever else Pendleton was, he wasn't a thinker. Not
particularly recommended, though I'll try a couple more
volumes before pronouncing on the series as a whole.
The Destroyer #21: Deadly Seeds -- Murphy&Sapir
First one I've tried of this series, too. The plot has
something to do with a crazy billionare's plot to destroy the
world, but the real interest of the book is in the byplay
between our two heroes. Quick example:
"I don't understand it, Little Father."
"It belongs then in a vast catagory of human knowledge," said
Chiun. "Which of the many things you do not understand are
you talking about?"
I thought that was pretty funny. Definitely
recommended.
Protocol for a Kidnapping -- Oliver Bleeck/Ross Thomas
Thomas is one of my favorite writers in the genre, I've loved
almost everything he did. This is one of the St. Ives series,
and it's a pretty good installment -- our protagonist is in
Tito-era Yugoslavia, working out a kidnapping exchange. As
usual there are triple crosses galore, and as usual you feel
like you've learned just a bit more about how the world works
at the end of it. Highly recommended.
(Wasn't there a Bronson movie called St. Ives? Was it based
on this character?)
Assignment Madeleine -- Edward S. Aarons
Reading this now. I really like this series -- every
installment I've read has been a pretty solid adventure.
Check him out if you haven't yet.
doug
===== Doug Bassett
dj_bassett@yahoo.com
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