Alan Hart

Phoenix Force #5, "The Fury Bombs" is a slow read! The author, Robert Hoskins, barely spends any time on the team itself, instead focusing on the terrorists for five consecutive chapters. It doesn't even seem like a PF book. Granted, it's book #5, but #4, "The Tigers of Justice", written by PF stalwart William Fieldhouse, had a definite feel for the characters even at that early stage. With the exception of McCarter's rescue in an old Irish church, there really wasn't much to recommend in this one. I did like the tailing of one of the terrorists in NYC, but "The Fury Bombs" the ending seemed rushed and the finale left PF off the hook, resulting in an unfulfilling finish. There was one good line, however, with Hoskins referring to one of the IRA men "Emerald Isle trash."

The cover is a powerhouse, and the PF characterizations are right on, even at this early date. The action is pretty good, with the chapter that has Mccarter flying over the wildly-driving Keio providing a humorous touch. I also learned a lot about nuclear power!

Despite the magnificent Gil Cohen cover art, there really isn't much to recommend in "Cambodia Clash." Easily forgettable, it's strictly by the numbers and the action sequences are perfunctory.

I recently re-read "Day of Mourning" for the first time in seven years, and it STILL packs a punch! Like everyone else, I was stunned by the attack on Stony Man farm and the loss of April Rose, and I thought it was a good plot point to use in order to set up Mack's departure from the government. I really enjoyed the opening sequence in the Atlantic Ocean. Great visuals in the writing, and I could really imagine the grey seas churning above while Mack took care of the terrorists down below. Jack Grimaldi's battle with the helicopters was brief, but well-handled. I also like it whenever Phoenix Force plays a role in a Bolan story, as they did here. For the first entry in this all-important trilogy, it's good to have the other elements of Stony Man involved. I heartily recommend "Day of Mourning" as well as "Terminal Velocity" and "Dead Man Running", the other books in this Executioner trilogy. I don't reccomend them to first-time readers, but after you've gotten a few Bolan adventures under your belt, head straight for these masterworks, you won't be disappointed. Live Large!

This was the first Executioner I ever read. I usually like R&R stories, as they often provide more insight into the character. This was not the case here, and as a (then) Bolan beginner, it was a disappointment, because I wanted to really know Mack Bolan. I liked the book however, although it's just an average entry in the series, and it comes across as a little detached. On the positive side, the book did manage to hold my interest enough to make me want to continue my exploration of Bolan. I just wouldn't recommend "Blood Heat Zero" as a first read, as there are dozens in the series one could start with before reading this one.

Really vivid survival scenes in the wilderness. The reader is transported, which is what really good writing achieves. "Power Gambit" is one of my favorites. By the way, did anyone notice that the quality of Phoenix Force books went downhill the same time they changed the cover graphics? Shame on them for eliminating the weapons profiles, too!

Was this book just dashed off? Good action, nice cover, but it remains the most simplistic adventure the team ever tackled.

I missed this one when it originally came out and it took a long time to find, so I figured it was a classic. Wrong. Too much emphasis on the rather boring John Trent character. Sorry, Ninja lovers!

Good undercover sequences, but did it ever occur to anyone that Rafael might be a security risk? He has a brother who was brainwashed by the Castro government! I hate to harp on this, but Rafael was the weak link on this team.

This masterwork does not leave my nightstand. A must-have!

Amusing adventure. Especially Hahn's improvised use of the floppy disk to put out one of the baddie's eyes. I remember riding my bicycle to the local bookstore to get it the week it came out.

I have to disagree about David's potential leadership of the team. He has proven to be entirely too aggresive and off the cuff. Manning is the most level headed member as well as the best strategist. For a prime example of his leadership skills, see "Tooth and Claw".

Anything featuring Karl Hahn has to be a winner, and this is no exception. Nice climactic rescue scene.

I agree that this is one of the finest stories. My belief is that Rafael showed what a weak link he is on this team. He returned too quickly and was not ready for the dangers that lurked ahead. He should have been relegated to an administrative post on Stony Man farm.

"Time Bomb" is my all time favorite PF book. It is a superb follow-up to the dramatic "Twisted Cross". Karl Hahn should have been a permanent member of the team beginning with this adventure.

One of the best of the series, I did not expect Rafael to be gone so long after this. This one ranks #2 on my all-time list!

This is another standout effort. After reading this one, I thought Manning could have gone solo, with his status as a millionaire and ordinance specialist, he could have formed his own team.

Ah, "Sea of Savages", this book holds a great deal of nostalgia for me. The first one I bought. The story was adequate, but it is more of a memory than a standout work. Great memories, has it been 14 years?

Good action, but the plot was half-baked. Exactly what threat did the Thugees represent?

The best thing about this one was the cover.

This one was really good. It was a great showcase for the black bad ass, Calvin James.

This one stands among my top 5. Love when the force goes undercover!

I still have visions of Keio's death scene going through my mind. It was like a death waltz or something. To date, this is the only Ohara story I have read. My only recollections of Keio are this story and the reflections from later stories. I recently acquired the first 11 books and will begin reading ASAP.