Reviews by
Eric
24 reviews
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The fact that this bok got a 10 rom me is significant because there were one or two moments when reading the bok that I wanted to do no less than throw it across the room! Now, before you get steamed up and think I'm dissing the author, let me just say that Doug is the reason this bok got a 10 despite those moments. Those moments had nothing to do with the writing and, I'm willing to bet money, everything to do with the editing of the bok. I know Doug from e-mails. I haven't read the "uncut" version, though I'd love to do so. I don't know any of the behind-the-scenes stuff that went on in the writing of this bok. Hell, I didn't even know the bok was coming out until it sat in my hand, and imagine my surprise when I recognized the writer's name! There were times, particularly in the first half, where I had to look back and see "Wait, why is Bolan at such-and-such a place again?", where the action moved from one locale to another so fast that it was difficult to keep things straight as to why he went from Point A to Point B. Also, it would seem that Grimaldi was substituted for Katz in at least one area, and some editing was forgotten so that we get mention of Katz where he wasnt to be found. Despite these problems, the bok is amazing. Characterization here is top-knotch, with Bolan actually being portrayed as human, and not some mindless killing machine. The subject is one close to my heart, which helped. I always love watching Bolan undertake a personal mission, with little or no help from Stony Man Farm. Doug delivered there as well. Hopefully in Doug's next book, the editors won't take such a hack-saw to it as I suspect they did in this case. Oh yeah, I orgot...Bolan kicks major ass in this bok as well. The action is relentless! Definitely recommended as one of the best Bolans I've read. Period. I've not read any of the original 38 by Don Pendleton himself, but it's obvious Doug has, and respects that vision. On the whole, a most refreshing Bolan entry! -
I'm usually a huge fan of Michael Kasner. When I see his name on a bok, I immediately put it at the top of my list, second only to David Robbins and Mel Odom. (Okay, there are two names there, but rarely if ever are all three people in the same shipment, so there you go.) This bok, however, was not among my favorite Kasner novels. It started of quite promisingly, in my opinion, but fell flat once the Mafia link was discovered, which to me was when the bok really should have shined. The book ends with virtually no denouement, which is always a problem with me. It felt to me like he was rushing to meet a deadline. But I loved the slave idea, and the Mafia link itself; it's the remainder of the bok that fel shot of my expectations. For two great Kasners, in my opinion, try "Retribution" and "Breach of Trust," the latter being a Stony Man novel. -
I enjoyed this book. The villains were actually reasonably well-developed, and the action scenes were great. I'm not usually a Dan Schmidt fan, in all honesty, but this book was definitely an exception. -
Book #639 () 9/10 August 26, 2000I'd have given this a 10 if it were original work. This was most faithful to the screenplay, and this movie is one of the best Bond films in the series IMO. I highly recommend this movie and this bok.
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Book #636 () 8/10 August 26, 2000I enjoyed this novelization more than the GoldenEye one, although it too seeme to have used an early version of the script as its basis. I've not yet read any of Benson's original work, but his writing style seems well-suited to the Bond series, if a bit light-weight on the literary scale. I mean, c'mon, who're we kidding? I wouldn't exactly put a aBond novel all that high on the literary scale in the first place, no matter who wrote it. Fleming even admitted this himself in an oft-quoted interview passage. All in all, a great novelization of a great entry in the Bond film series.
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Book #633 () 4/10 August 26, 2000I'd seen the film before reading the bok--actually, I knew much of the film by heart. This book was either written from an early draft of the screenplay or Gardner was given judicious license with the dialogue, and should've left it alone. Good points: More sex and some rather chilling revelations about Onatop's character which never made it into the final film. I definitely got the impression writing novelizations of Bond films isn't the highlight of Gardner's Bond experience.
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Book #602 () 7/10 August 26, 2000This is a difficult bok to review, because although it was Fleming's first Bond novel, it was by no means my first experience with 007. You can definitely see the makings of a fine writer in this book, although he gets better with each book. This one's pace doesn't let up until about two-thirds of the way through the book, when his romance with Vesper really gets going. I could've done without this whole section, but that's just me. Loved the gambling scenes, and on some level even the torture scenes. It really is a shame the only cinematic version of this book was a spoof.
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I really wanted to love this book. I loved the first two books in the trilogy--the first for its emphasis on plot and intrigue over action, and the second for continuing the intrigue, upping the stakes and presenting us with characters we actually cared about. This third bok isn't bad--it's just not nearly what it could have and should have been. I understand why Newton had the Two die the way they did, ut it left the ending anticlimactic for me. We especially should've seen them die more ... interesting ... deaths given the amount of development they received in this book. Terry said it best: in this book, Bolan battles faceless opponents, whereas in the other two he was battling opponents who'd actually been developed and who could make or break his mission. This is only the second Bolan trilogy I've read, the first being the Power Trilogy by Chuck Rogers. So far, both trilogies suffer from the same fate, though this one fairs better than the Power Trilogy did. The third bok in both trilogies was lacking over the frist two. "Vengeance Rising," the third book in the Power Trilogy, was just an all-out body count. As I said, "Termination Point" fairs better, but it still is pale by comparison to what led up to it. Still, the battle with the Cobra helicopter *was* awesome! -
Retribution June 2, 2000I love a good character-driven action-adventure yarn, and that's exactly what this book gave us. I've not read much Phoenix Force. I read one book a long time ago, and wasn't very impressed with it. Couldn't even tell you the title. So I didn't really know who Katz was. I'm sure knowing more about him and having shared more adventures with him would've increased my ejnjoyment of the book even more, but it was nice to know that the fact that I hadn't had this connection with the character didn't impede my enjoyment of the book at all. That Bolan had compassion and friendship for Katz was enough for me. I went along for the ride, and boy was it a good ride to be on! -
Breach of Trust June 2, 2000I really enjoyed this book. It had just enough of everything...plotting, good dialogue, action, suspense...and I've always been a big Able Team fan, so it was good to see Ironman and Da Boyz get focus. I ended up giving this one to a friend to get him hooked on the Mack Bolan series, and he loved it. Been giving him my books when I've finished them ever since. Unfortunately, I'm about a year's worth behind, so I need to catch up! -
Punitive Measures June 2, 2000First Stony Man book, I read. I thought the plot was very intersting, and it started off well enough...but then it went downhill for me, becoming just another action-adventure romp where it could've been something really good. -
Cloud of Death June 2, 2000Great second book in the trilogy. Mike Newton has definitely got the knack. I kept waiting for the action to bog down, but it never did. Bolan would do something and I'd think "Surely his cover will be blown now, and he's still got another book to get through. Oh no, bloodbath..." but it never happened. I, too, had hoped Ares would stick around till the third book, but the way he was downed was interesting. Might've been more fun if it had lasted a bit longer, a la "The Most Dangerous Game," but since that story's already been done, can't fault Newton for making it short but sweet. I'll admit to being a bit nervous abou thte third book. So far, trilogoeis haven't had a good track record for me. The Power Trilogy had a crappy finale, to me, and the Hydra trilogy was...well...just not good. I'm hoping this trilogy fairs better; so far, it's by far been the most interesting and entertaining of the trilogies I've read. -
Initiation June 2, 2000Best SuperBolan I've read so far! First Mike Newton book I've read so far! Wow! A Bolan book that emphasizes the plot and intrigue above the action! Can't say enough praise for this one. I can definitely see how some feel the middle drags. Coompared to your average Bolan read, that's true. Having said that, I feel the characterization was necessary, because I really care what's going to happen to these characters in the next two books. Celeste Bouchet and Andy Morrell are interesting, Celeste in particular. -
Ultimate Game June 2, 2000I liked this one a lot more than I thought I was going to. It had a good pace, and enough of a plot to make it a good read. I feared excessive body count, and while there was a lot of that, it didn't bog thebook down as seem to happen so often in the series--in my opinion, anyway. I'm glad I read this one. -
Rage for Justice June 2, 2000Gotta be honest. It's been a while since I read this book, but the female protagonist, Jiahua, was, to quote Cartman from South Park, "Kick-ass!" I'd love to see more of her. -
Evil Reborn June 2, 2000Body count, body count, body count. This book really pissed me off. Great idea, great potential, and Schmidt just spat on it. Rather than give us a villain we want to agonize over for two more books, with an organization to back him up--rather than give us a plot that makes any kind of coherent sense, we get a great beginning, a great Manhattan bombing (Nice to see Bolan get really furious and feel helpless once in a while--call me cruel, but it makes him seem more human.), but other than that, just one huge body count. I have read the second book in this trilogy, and it doesn't seem to fair much better. I have absolutely no desire to read the third, but I probably will anyway at some point. My friend, however, loved this book, so to each his own. -
Law of Last Resort May 26, 2000I think this book lacked consistency. It started off in great detail of Phoenix's battle on the island but the ending seemed to be a little rushed. -
Ultimate Game May 21, 2000Good plot line and I loved the way the action moved. I felt that it could have been a better and more realistic book if Stoney Man Farm had found the location of the town faster and had Able Team fly in to assist Mack. -
Day of the Vulture May 21, 2000One of Mack's better villians he's faced since the 80s. It was nice to see the vulture's personality developed through the book. Overall one of my favorite Super Bolans. -
Crimson Tide May 20, 2000WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE WHOLE YAKUZA, TOXIC WASTE PLOT, I THOUGHT THAT THIS BOOK TOTALLY ROCKED THE HOUSE DOWN. THE FIGHT BETWEEN BOLAN AND CROWE WAS WORTH WAITING FOR AND THE ACTION SCENES KICKED ASS!!!! BRINGING CHASE MURPHY BACK WAS A NICE TOUCH TOO. I LIKED HIM IN #126 AND HE'S STILL COOL! -
Body Armor May 20, 2000Nice change of venue for a Mack Bolan book. I liked the detective type angle rather than the big body count usually associated with the books. -
Eternal Triangle May 20, 2000This was the first Mack Bolan I read, couldn't have started out with a better book, wish there were more books that discuss Mack's background such as this one. -
The Trial May 17, 2000I liked the way it discussed Mack's past, could have had some more action scenes. How about some flash-backs of never before told battles as seen through the eyes of Mack Bolan. -
Moscow Massacre May 17, 2000All time favorite, I loved the way Mack was so focused on one mission the entire way through.