Dragon Fire

Well yet another excellent entry from this author in this series which will keep you entertained and turning the pages. Once again Mack is not included in this title which I think is a wise move as gee he has two series of his own for goodness sake and this is the only forum for Able Team and Phoenix Force to shine and so they do here big time. The author has long ago got the various members of the Team's personalities down pat and it shows in the text which makes the title slide along seamlessly while you are reading it. EVERYONE from both Team's get their share in the spotlight in this one with a couple of standout scenes from a couple of the guys. The absolute standout sections feature McCarter and if you like this character YOU WILL LOVE this one and to top it if you like/love Lyons then this is the title for you. Excellent action scenes as per usual with this author and a ditto storyline which doesn't let up you will flick the pages and enjoy what you are reading. Reading this series in order this is the first time I have come across the Mei character to whom McCarter is so attracted to and was a little disappointed at the end of the title but am hoping she is introduced again in future titles. Fair chance I reckon she survived the title which is a lot more than can be said for so many. Loved it Highly recommended reading here. Bit of a Timeline here also as this title features the change over to the current cover design as we have currently in the series.

Mike Linaker is top notch once again. In the span of only a few weeks he has become my favorite Bolanverse author. I have been devouring his shorter work and eagerly moved into his longer tales. Dragon Fire delivered with all the intensity and strength of character that I expected. While it seems that Linaker spent the first half of this book leading the reader to believe it would be typical with Able Team and Phoenix Force on separate missions and every encounter leads to violence he quickly shatters that. The book moves quickly and is never confusing or convoluted. The plot is simple on the surface and personal bringing it down to earth. The only things preventing Dragon Fire from attaining a full ten star rating are minor but still evident. In the beginning Linaker runs on the assumption that the reader knows who the members of Able Team and Phoenix Force are and can identify them by name alone. I was not as familiar with these people and thus spent quite some time stopping and checking to make sure he was talking about who I thought he was. Also the plot was given two or three explanation sequences early on and one late in the book that took away any kind of mystery to the tale. I would have preferred to find out what Colonel Li was up to as the Stony Crew does instead of having it explained to me a few dozen pages ahead of time. The story would have made just as much sense and been more exciting if these scenes had been removed and the information given later beefed up a little. Overall Dragon Fire is an outstanding book that delivers strong characters and action. It is an outstanding book by any standards, not just when compared to other Bolanverse titles. Simply put, Linaker fucking rocks.

Wont be reading this one for a coupla years, but I gotta say something about the new cover. The design overall is decent, and I like the black cover, but what the hell is the deal with the 50 cent piece size left for the artwork??? This sucks. I wanna tell the designer that he (or she) screwed up what was a cool lookin cover for stony man.

This was a great book its about time that the others stood on thier feet alone. I thought Pheonix force and Able team did a great job. I also liked how well Able and Pheonix worked as a team. Also Encizo showed what a single man wityh the right training could do. I also believed that Major LI was a believable villain we also got too see just how tough the cocky Brit actually is. a very enjoyable read from start to finish.

I found this to be one of the more enjoyable of the later Stony Man books. Both teams were used fairly equally, and the Linaker action was top notch. I loved the tension between McCarter and Mei Anna. Very, very exciting overall.

Able Team and Phoenix Force save the world all over again, and the Executioner reserves his time for fighting the menaces that only he can and should. Able Team and Phoenix Force are meant to go to an enemy of our country and open up a can of pimp-slap, and here they do it in spades. The Executioner is supposed to hunt down those who avoid justice. Able Team had a nice short little mission, and the supporting cast they had was quite fun. Linnaker allows Able to do more than just wander around and interview people. Lyons is at his best when he learns things when a guy comes kicking down a door and gunning for him. Teaming with Gary Manning and Calvin James at the end also brought Able Team back to the fore. Excellent work. Phoenix Force operating and hunting, using their own brains and making their own contacts was great too. As good as satellite intel might seem, nothing beats actual on the street detective work as they hunt their way towards an enemy. Encizo on his own was great to see, and his reunion with the Cold Steel Tanto brought a smile to my face (and he gets to take out three enemies with it... YEAH!). Encizo, the other Phoenix knifemaster, is back on top. And of course, Linnaker, being British, lets McCarter shine as the star of the last 200 pages, and the indominatable, balls to the wall Maddog Britishman goes wild. And too, the return of Dragon Slayer was just too much fun. I'd anticipated this book for most of the year, and it was entirely fun. Well worth the wait, and the new look is cool.

This is one of the best Stony Man books that I have read. I loved every minute of it, and Bolan isn't even mentioned. Everything that can go wrong for the teams does. They get lost and seperated from each other (no microchips in the shoulders here)and have to rely on their own skill. Able Team are sent overseas. I could go on and on. There are only three things that I would like answered, and they are a) Did McCarter's girlfriend and resistance leader survive her injury. b) Did the evil girlfriend of Colonel Li survive? c) Where has Jack been hiding the Dragon Slayer all this time? This story is most certainly one to read!!

I have reaf every Bolan and want to read about him in action in every book I was disappointed that the writer felt the need not to include him, get him back in, for those who like the Stony Farm teams without Mack get the publisher to put Phoenix and Able books back on the market.

I also think this was a great book. Your right Bolan leads too much. My favorate charactor would have to be Hawkins, by the McGrath is the king

Finally, a Stony Man book without Mack leading the charge -- and with Manning and Encizo as crucial characters, rather than cardboard sidekicks. Actually, all the Stony Men get a chance to show who they are in this one, and the dialogue is full of the wisecracks I love to see the guys make. The villian isn't your typical gangster, either, and the writer's understanding of Chinese culture shows. Well-plotted and full of excitement. My only quibble: it took too long to find out what Phoenix was up to, but that might maybe just me being impatient to find out what kind of trouble the guys were up to.... The cover art doesn't do the story justice at all.