Virtual Destruction

This book has an interesting plot device that drew me in quickly. Able Team takes a virtual reality training session to hone their abilities, but not all is as it seems. An odd plot where Korean and Japanese villains are using virtual reality to program bodyguards and agents to assassinate their superiors in America. A highlight of this story is the three AT warriors attack on Stony Man Farm. Terrific action scenes there aa well as Bolan's infiltration of the building in Texas. As expected from Fieldhouse, a lot of hand to hand combat is featured, including the usual guns being knocked out of hands. I was surprised to find John Trent make an appearance, joining Bolan for the final action in Japan. I guess it makes sense since this is the Phoenix Force writer at the helm and what seems to be the last book written for Gold Eagle from this writer. Might as well throw in some ninja action to close out an outstanding body of work for the Bolan universe. The actual method in how the virtual reality program was used to manipulate the Able Team members is not revealed, just some information Bolan grabs that will be explored later, so that was something I was a little disappointed with but there was few unique concepts that make this book stand out and the action was written well. I was hooked enough to keep turning the pages and overall another excellent entry in this long running series.

WOW………..what a great book…………suspenseful and full of surprises. The VR was a great unique yet scary twist which of course makes one wonder if this would be a reality in life today????? The basic idea for the storyline is great and fresh but I would have preferred to have the story line for the attack on Stony Man Farm a bit longer with the climatic attack a bit further in the book as the book let down a bit after the attack but in the end it was a very good and fresh one overall. The attack was a thrilling ride with twists and turns which made it exciting, intense and breathtaking at the same time were friends are fighting friends almost to the death. In the end I would have preferred to have more detailed information about the VR program and the procedure was and so on and the final infiltration was rather poor and strangely enough Bolan was sucked into a trap which in general he should have been able to avoid with more preparation. Other than this, outstanding and tense book with some of the most spectacular moments in the Bolan saga..........so far. (Iceland – 2006)

Stony Man Farm is one of the most secure installations on the planet. If you have read any of the books in this series you would be aware that the farm has been attacked previously resulting in the death of one April Rose Mack's one and only true love (to date anyhow). After massive upgrades to the security systems and defensive capabilities installed the farm can withstand attacks from either the air or ground by a small army and nothing short of a nuclear attack will take them out again. hmm okay but what about an attack by a small skilled force? Nope nothing to worry about. hmm okay what about an attack by three people? Ha are you kidding? Well what about an attack by some of their own who have full knowledge of all security codes and defensive measures installed. It couldn't happen but Nope sorry still no chance, are you kidding or what? Enter Able Team and without giving anything away about how/why etc. it happens. On the inside cover Grimaldi says to Mack "I don't believe this, they're killing our own people down there! You don't think we"ll have to kill them..." Mack replies "I said stop them and I mean any way that's necessary, Jack." Yep it's on and do the defensive forces at Stony Man Farm want to kill the invaders? Do the invading Able Team want to kill anyone? Does Mack want to take anyone at all out? What about Hal ? Does anyone actually have any friends at StonyMan Farm ? Is it all real ??? As a matter of fact yes it is and what follows is some of the finest reading in the series. It blew me away how this was written and the final outcome of the attack. Classic sections with Akira Tokaido and Hunnington Wethers in action scenes ???????? The ending of the title well whilst was very good reading maybe was a bit of a let down. Whilst I enjoy the usual cast of characters to be included in the books I particularly enjoy characters from long ago enter John Trent. BUT I have to ask WHY?? Hey Mack could have done it himself.... Anyway a minor gripe this a fantastic read and is highly recommended reading in the series.

i enjoyed the book i am glad john trent is back in i hope that he comes back into more mack bolan books

This was an excellent entry into the series. Although, it seemed as though it was originally a SuperBolan or a Stonyman that was shortened to be an Executioner book. The VR storyline was intriguing, but seemed a bit vague on the technical aspects. The Able Team attack on the Farm was awesome. John Trent's appearance in the book was too short. The ending seemed rushed, like it had been shortened from a longer version. The story would have been better if lengthened to a bigger book.

I enjoyed this one very much. The VR thing was a completely new twist, something that this series needs. Able Team taking on the Farm was a great scene! (Creatively and from a writers perspective. Kinda bad for the farmhands, though.) When Blancanales and Cowboy went at it, I couldn't put the book down. It figures then that Gadgets should invade the Computer room, and Jack coming to the rescue was great. Then, what else can you expect from the Bolan-Lyons encounter? That was another thriller. I thought that the end was anti-climatic, too. It just seemed to end too quickly. He could have spend much more time invading and infiltrating the bad guy than going at for dinner and ending up in a blood bath. Other than that, great book. This, I think, is Fieldhouse at his best.

This was a fun book, one of my favorite books in a long time in the Executioner series, Red Horse being the only inline book which gave greater satisfaction. John Trent was only back for two chapters, and the final confrontation with the main bad guys was rushed getting to it, but it was still a great setpiece battle at the end with all the mooks (martial arts guys who get smacked easy in HK films) coming out of the woodwork for Mack and John to just kick butt on. As for the ending seeming anti-climactic... gee... we finally get the duel between Kissenger and Blancanales promised in Cajun Angel, Grimaldi actually coming to the rescue and not getting shot up or beaten to a bloody pulp... and of course, the brawl between Ironman and the Executioner. I'm sorry, but short of having Bolan with the Beretta in one fist, and the Automag (not the Desert Eagle) blazing away at the crew of hitmen present in the first scene in the Killer where Chow Yun Fat and Danny Lee team up, you're not going to have a topper to that fight.

Average book. I agree w/ everyone that the Able Team attack was great, but I thought the final battle was very anti-climatic. I wish that this would have been made into a SuperBolan instead to explore the VR a little more. Definitely not Fieldhouse's best work.

Interesting story with Able Team attacking the Farm. The scenes with Able fighting the Stony crew was cool. Not a top Fieldhouse book, though. On the whole, it was fairly enjoyable.

Yes,plenty of action,more hand to hand combat than we are used to,the Bolan-Lyons brawl was spectacular.But,little characterisation and NO MENTION of BOLAN's homicide/suicide.SAM BOLAN -Mack's father-was driven insane and decimated the family.A lot like the incidents in the book. That was the whole reason we have an EXECUTIONER today.But, a quick fun read overall.

I really enjoyed the attack of Able Team upon Stony Man Farm! The intense matchups between the various members was truly exciting. It was cool having John Trent in on the action at the end, but I found the plot after the Able Team attack to be anti-climactic. (But what can be expected after Lyons and Bolan duke it out!) A very solid entry overall. A quick read for me.

A suspenseful, action-packed story that takes the VR game idea and gives it a classic Fieldhouse twist. Lots of character background, tie-ins to past events and enemies, plus an ally from the past returns. Excellent!!