Tower of Terror

Not bad... To be honest, if you hadn't read any of the Bolans that featured these characters, you'd know practically nothing of them from this book.Lots of action and more backstory about the villains (and some of the hostages) than the heroes. Pol turns himself in, and despite trying to track him, they lose him. Lyons also gets captured.So for a first outing on their own, Able team didn't do all that well. I loved the Able series when I was younger, but to be honest, I hardly remember any of them so rereading them now seems like fresh eyes with just a bit of nostalgia.This one really didn't "do it" for me but not all the Bolans do either, though occasionally there are some gems. Worth reading, but I doubt it'll burn itself into your memory.

In my youth, I was pro-Phoenix Force, anti-Able Team. My two best buddies at the time introduced me to Bolan in general, and they were HUGE Able Team fans. Ahh, the arguments and debates we shared. The only time I would "bother" to read Able Team was to see how "bad" it was this month and refute Chris and John's praise for them. Hey, I'm not the bad guy, those two did the same to Phoenix Force! I guess the important part was Gold Eagle made a lot of money off us, regardless of our likes & dislikes. Therefore, although this started as an epic, chronological re-read for me, each Able Team (with one or two exceptions) will be a brand new read for me. Such is the case with Tower of Terror. I enjoyed the book overall, but it seemed a little slow in places. From the jacket and awesome cover illustration, I was expecting a terrorist hunt floor by floor throughout the skyscraper. Instead, we get more emphasis on the outside investigation into why it has occurred, instead of watching the team deal with the problem itself. When Able finally does move against the baddies, it is over very quickly. The enemies were well developed and portrayed as psychos...truly evil psychos. Thus I wanted to see their comeuppance and final demise last longer. Basically, where was an epic battle betwixt Lyons and the terrorist leader? My favorite part of the story followed Charlie Green, one of the trapped employees. I thought the author handled his resistance perfectly; although believable and realistic, it was still heroic and action packed. Green should have been recruited. :) Lyons is a little rough around the edges, downright rude in certain instances. Pol is Pol, and the author presents him well. He really seems like the same man from Death Squad and The Violent Streets. As for Gadgets, I would have liked to see more of him...seem under used. I wouldn't say I'm converted yet, but I'm no longer ANTI against Able Team. This book has convinced me to give them a fair chance. I look forward to the next book as it sounds interesting. Off to fly with Phoenix Force now.

Found this at my local used bookstore and figured I'd check out some old-school Able Team from way back in the day. I wasn't disappointed. This book had a slightly different feel from the current entries but not in a bad way, and I got what I felt was a fresh look at Ironman, Pol and Gadgets, who seem a little more unique in their own ways then they do sometimes in the newer books. And I echo was everybody else has said about this beating Die Hard to the punch in terms of using a skyscraper setting for a nail-biter thriller. I enjoyed this one a lot.

As I write this title is 25 years old and having completed the Executioner series I am starting on this series. Getting into the title I get a real retro feeling whilst reading and this is in no way a bad feeling in fact I am reminscing on the original series of the Executioner series by Don. Having not read the Able Team series it is fascinating seeing the characters introduced and evolving into what we know of today. The book is a terrific read and keeps the reader turning the pages. Parts of the book involve a Vietnamese woman and I smiled many times on Ironman's thoughts regarding her and what he would like to happen with her and what eventually happens excellent stuff and it slots nicely into the story. Whilst reading it I was wondering to myself why certain characters were introduced into the story but everything is beautifully slotted in at the ending chapters. The final assault on the hostaged tower is very well done. This IS a very fine read for the first title in the series and if you are like me and have never read any of them them I can assure you that you will enjoy this one.

This was my first Able Team book an I loved it. I always knew that Carl Lyons was badass but when he broke the handcuffs and beat down two guys immediately afterwards just proves that Carl is one bad Mutha!!!!!!!!!!!

Able Team is mobilized into New York to deal with the terrorist takeover of a skyscraper on Wall Street. The Terrorist have seized the building and are holding hostages... Send in Able Team Lyons, Schwartz and Blancanales must stop the terrorists on a 48HR deadline and without any major interferance they may be ABLE to do it. I love the fact that throughout the book Able Team is almost entirely on their own and has only some help form the FBI, and later Konzacki (Future Weaponsmith) The finale of the book comences from the roof top and the terrorists are prepared to make it very difficult for anyone to follow them.

I agree with you guys, this one started the ball rolling with great action and suspense. I am sure that if all the following Able Teams had this quality of writing that the series would be going on strong today. I thought it was great that the hostages were just important to the story as the Able Team warriors were. As for the comparison to Die Hard, you right! Interesting how this book came out at least 10 years before the movie. ( Incidentally, the Die Hard movie was based upon the Roderick Thorp novel "Nothing Lasts Forever" which is even better than the movie!) This one is worth 8 out of 10.

This is as classic an AT as you're gonna get, it was a great start to the series, a fun filled thrill ride.

i loved every spinetingling page i want more bring it on pal.

Able Team is tracking an explosives smuggling pipeline on the east coast when they are mobilized into New York to deal with the terrorist takeover of a skyscraper on Wall Street. Lyons, Blancanales and Schwarz don't waste any time as they hit the streets to get information about the Puerto Rican group claiming responsibility. Pol grabs 3 young members with Lyons' help. While following up a lead, Lyons gets abducted and makes a great violent escape. He and Pol then have a rip-roaring shootout with some baddies in an apartment house. As the Able Team story is unfolding there is also activity in the building where a few employees are trapped on an upper floor. Shades of "Die Hard". Eventually there are developments in the plot that lead Able Team to engage in a tense and well-written surveilance of a suspect. Not a gun battle but a pretty intense bit of action. Everything comes to a climax as Able Team enters the building and takes down the terrorist crazies in a blazing rooftop ambush. This last action scene didn't last a long time but it worked well. I'll confess that one thing I really liked was reading that Lyons "slapped in an eighteen-round magazine" to an M-16. I've read and heard so often about those "twenty-round magazines" that I'd given up hope of anybody ever getting it right. That almost gets the book another star. Able Team is on their own here with only minimal help from Stony Man but with the FBI providing backup. I liked this one and I'm giving it a solid 8 stars.

A great start to good series. The plot is similiar to Die Hard, and the final assault is a classic.