Hondo

One of the best things about doing a re-reading of my Bolan books is coming across one I haven't read before. Such is the case with Bloodsport. Somehow the tale of two terrorist twins escaped my notice back in the eighties. It was a pleasant surprise to find an unread "new" Executioner story. I really enjoyed the read. The author's first Bolan attempt is a successful one. The descriptions used throughout the story are excellent; the gun shots and fist fights are brought to life with a brilliant use of colorful adjectives. And it is obvious that the author did his homework; past events are mentioned with relevance, really building the overall feel of a submersive environment. Additionally, the writer uses supporting characters to strong effect. Hal, April and Jack are on hand in this tale. The enemies were properly disgusting. Burning their own troops is gruesome, not to mention the torture deaths of two agents described in detail. On top of that, the overall plan calls for killing hundreds of children. The evil twin thing has been done before, but so what? It's an easy and fun way to make the bad guys memorable. Another great, early Bolan book that is an excellent quick read.

Mike Newton is back with Paramilitary Plot. And unlike his previous effort, The Violent Streets, action and gun play take the lead role in this case. From the cool looking cover art to the recently declassified Bolan/Phoenix profile, along with everything in between...I really enjoyed myself. The plot is solid; a horrible man-made plague weapon is about to be unleashed on the world. The trio of villains are interesting; a rich megalomaniacal psycho, a mixed up professional soldier, and a weasel-like mobster. The people in need of rescue are also well done; a brave scientist responsible for the plague, and his spunky daughter who attempts to save him. Nothing special nor groundbreaking, but it doesn't need to be. Just good, fun, pulp adventure that delivers. Looking back, you realize just how good the earlier Bolan books were. Within the first 65 novels, there are not many clunkers. Even the "bad" books of the time were generally a decent read. And in my opinion, many of the all time classic Executioner books are from this time period.

The author returns for his second entry in the Executioner series with Terrorist Summit. Like his previous effort, Double Crossfire, this book is action filled. The violence and gun battles are described in awesome detail, from horrible entry wounds to gut leaking, bowel piercing exit holes. If you want to see Bolan in gore heavy fights, this read is for you. Another great job done with the production process. The book has Stony Man memos, dossier files, and even a hand written love note from April. I miss those fun details. Read this one if you want a quick, action heavy, Bolan vs. terrorism romp...with a Mafia boss and Black Ace thrown in.

Mertz hits another one out of the park! After his previous success with The Iranian Hit, he immediately follows up with Return to Vietnam. The solid, fast paced writing compelled me to quickly read this book in one sitting. His manuscript should be used as a template for "How to Write Bolan" for new authors. Everything any reader may want is in this book. Good action? Check. Bolan takes on an entire prison garrison, by land, by sea and even by air! Big Thunder, Belle and an AKM are all featured prominently. Good support cast? Check. Good folks new and old. Hal and Jack are involved, with Grimaldi in a big role. They are joined by newcomers Tran Le and her dad. She is a beautiful yet deadly ally & romantic interest for Mack; the latter is a seasoned resistance leader from Mack's military past. Good enemy? Check. The prison commander is a torture loving, back stabbing, drug dealing miscreant in need of a serious beating. All in all a great read with a big message, especially for the time period in which it was originally published. The POW issue means a lot to many Americans, and more so to those with relatives or friends who served in Vietnam. The author also includes "official" Stony Man communiques at the end of the story to set the scene for Mack's next adventure...always a plus as they help shape and sell the Bolan-verse. Strongly recommend this book.

Wow. I am shocked at the low reviews for this book. Some of the ratings are really harsh, with a 2-star in the mix. Granted, this book was not an action packed fire fight. Sure, there was a great deal of dialog. But in place of all that, there was a ton of character development and intra-team relationship building. And the most DEFINING moment in David's story arc! To wit, the horrific and numbing scene where David ruthlessly fires through a bloody, beaten, innocent farmer to kill the baddies using the poor man as a human shield. And nobody on the team bats an eye. For 10-12 pages, one reads wondering if this callous act is ever going to be addressed. Not until the last page does Encizo mention it, and David gives an emotional "did the guy a favor" speech and in a few well written words states what a terrible but necessary role Phoenix Force fills. Super powerful, terse, dramatic scene. Back in the early 80's I might have been tempted to rate this book lower based solely on lack of action. But after a current read, I cannot envision giving this go-round any less than perfect. Perhaps the author's only fault (since he never appears to write another entry) was writing this 30 years too early. This book is better suited for today's readers who will accept and embrace a slow moving spy thriller over an action filled shooter. Now, let me be clear...I love action shoot 'em ups as well, look at other reviews of mine. But I don't think we should punish this book for trying something different.

June of 1982 was a great month for Able Team...two new, introductory novels and both of them terrific! Obviously, I did Lyons and company a diservice in the past. Phoenix Force is still my number one, but no longer will I ignore Able Team. Consider me a full convert! Not much to review that others haven't already said. Great enemy in the murderous, psychotic biker gang. Horse, Stonewall, Chief; each was equally vile and readers could truly rejoice when justice was served. In particular, the death of Stonewall was especially satisfying...which leads me to the supporting character of Glen. Anyone else want short stories of Glen the Restaurant Manager dispensing vigilante justice? Of course, he would have to be assisted by his pregnant wife on shotgun! Seriously, Glen, his wife, the two teenage cousins, Max; all believable characters. This seems to be a hallmark of Able Team books; great background people. The boys really gelled in this book. Loved the showboating warning Gadgets gives Lyons. The closing conversation with Hal and Bolan begins to bring the Farm to life. Hal's line that Stony Man is like a castle for Mack is perfect. One can visualize Bolan as King Arthur, Hal as Merlin, and Able Team as his loyal Knights of the Round Table. Another great entry in the Able Team series that makes for an explosive beginning. A must read.

The first entry in the Phoenix Force saga is a special one. Unlike other new series Able Team, each of the five characters are brand new. To date, we had seen Carl, Pol and Gadgets at work. This time around, we cut loose with five new, interesting and well developed characters; each quickly gravitating towards their place on the team. Yakov has an excellent introduction as the seasoned old veteran who can still kick butt and take names on a physical level. Readers get a feel for the respect that the others have for this man; especially Keio. Keio quickly fills the spot of the eager to please rookie. Great in class and perfect on paper, but very new to the field. As other reviews mention, it is difficult to believe that Bolan would choose someone so green for the team, but Ohara is such a likeable character that the reader will let that slide. At least I did, in any event. After Katz, Raph seems to be the next oldest. He projects a hard, world weary man who has seen a lot in his life. The time spent on his side adventure is well written and entertaining. The reader also learns that taking a life is nothing new or difficult for Encizo. Like Mack, killing "animal man" is a job that needs to be done to protect the weaker, goodly folks. Gary joins the team on a one shot only agreement, as his business venture is too profitible to leave on a full time basis. Of course, his attitude changes. He takes on a Gadgets type role; although he doesn't invent things himself, his employees do and Manning certainly "field tests" them! Finally, in the role of tough guy anti hero is SAS vet David. Armed with a big chip on his shoulder, he is the man many fans end up liking best. Even when he is getting taught a humiliating lesson, or failing a mission to learn intel, the reader cannot help but admire his verve and bravado. Plus he is humble enough at the same time to admit his faults and take away experience from mistake. As a huge Phoenix Force fan, I tend to judge these harshly ..otherwise, it would be a fan boy list of all 10's! Therefore, although this book is good on its own, it pales in comparison to later entries. The introduction of five new heroes of the Bolan-verse could and should have dealt with more background and past details of each team member before getting to the mission (which is fairly bland; not bad, just bland). Give this book a read mainly to learn about the team and stick with them as the best is yet to come.

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.

Another successful entry in the New War of Bolan! Fast pacing and continual action are used to excellent effect in this book. Mack races from one problem to the next at top speed almost non-stop. Furthermore, every problem is solved with an Uzi, Big Thunder or a well placed judo kick. Striker hasn't any time for sneaky undercover role play in this title! The enemies are repugnant, the worst kind of filth. Animal torture, woman beating, drug and weapon deals...you will cheer as Mack deals out justice. Hal, April and my favorite Jack Grimaldi are on hand to assist. Now...to discuss the two issues that seem to be mentioned in almost all past reviews. As far as the "ghost gun" goes, I missed it. Even though I had been warned to look for it (via mentioned reviews), I sailed right past it. I was so invested in the story that the read was over before I even remembered to look for the mistake. So, to write a fair review, I went back and searched for it after completion. I guess I win the Obtuse Award because I still could not find it. Can someone give me a page number? Either I have a special copy, or I'm stupid. Sadly, I'm certain my copy isn't special. Onto the argument between April and Hal. Well, to each their own, I suppose. I found their heated exchange natural and believable for two people working closely in a tense situation round the clock. Both care for Mack...but neither can really assist him when he needs it most. Frustrating. In addition, each carries special feelings for him. April's are romantic. Hal's are guilt, I think. Hal has the "same" job as Bolan; stop the bad guys. But Hal has a life Bolan never can; a wife and children. Hal considers Mack his best friend. How can a man like Hal NOT feel guilty when Striker has given up EVERYTHING to fight crime while you (Hal) do it 9 to 5 as a job? The guilt and self doubt clearly is, to me, a motivating factor for working 24/7 and basically ignoring his home life. Naturally, that kettle is going to blow at times, and April makes the perfect target for Hal's outburst. Kudos to the author for exploring this in a "simple" action pulp. On a final note, the seamless integration of past novels and usage of secret Stony Man communiques really heighten the universal reality feeling of the Bolan-verse. Okay, since I'm re-reading chronologically, off to visit Gadgets for a bit. Then a quick detour to see Gary and David and I'll see you in 43.

Reading through the past reviews reveals mixed feelings about this book. Frankly, I thought the opinions would be more positive. This is Mike Newton's first Executioner, but reads like he is an old pro at Mack already. He bestows a great sense of the characters and the world they inhabit. The constant references to the previous novel truly creates the illusion of a living universe where choices and actions matter. It does, however, go a little light on the action. Regrettably, the confrontation between Mack and Toni's attacker never really occurs. I had expected the book to be different; a fierce battle of wits between Bolan and the rapist, with the rapist as the primary enemy. Alas,that is not the case. Fact is, when first reading this at 14 (back in 1983) as a naive youth craving all action, I found the book boring and slow. It was my first post-Pendleton (although I never realized the authors switched until much older) and I was longing for more big mob battles and Omega action! This review is written by a much older me,based on my current re-read of the series. It has more appeal when one just reads and enjoys without any preconceived expectations.

My epic attempt at a full series re-read continues now with #40 Double Crossfire. This book is like an old-fashion locomotive; it chugs along the tracks slowly at first until it picks up steam. And once it does, look out! It keeps racing forward until the end without any delays. The plot is a bit involved: Turks, Armenians, KGB, the Mafia and freelance mercs too. The locations switch frequently as well, and subtle time shifts and flash backs occur. Basically, I had to read certain early sections a few time to gleen all possible info. But the homework is worth it. Once we hit Turkey (around 75 pages in), the action explodes. We are treated to several gun battles, a soft probe and an ending raid that leaves one very cool loose end! If you enjoy your villains hard to kill, you'll be happy. The two main support characters are well written and likeable. They act in a believable manner, and you end up invested in their well-being. Mack is at his best when he is given good company to converse with. The author also handles Bolan's character with ease. He shows us Mack's inner thoughts on his life, war, the current mission and the transition from Mack to Phoenix interestingly. Even though some of it has been said before, it is the way in which the author states it that is insightful and enjoyable. Having just read the entire Mafia run, and with Mack's personality fresh in my memory, these philosophical Bolan bits were welcome prose, not needless filler. The ending transmissions were awesome too! Really a neat hook to get a reader curious about the next adventure.

We begin the Second Mile. After getting the offer of a lifetile from Wonderland, Bolan defers acceptance for six days. Why? To finish off the mob, of course! Enter April Rose, a beautiful genius thrust into Mack's life as partner and baby sitter. From the start, I have a love/hate relationship with this character. At times, she seems to be a strong female protaganist and likely love interest for our hero. Her dialog is at times sharp and insightful, and her banter with Mack flows well. At other times, she is one dimensional, whiny and in need of a garrote round her neck. It seems like her character must have been difficult to write, because her attitudes and moods fluctuate so freely, as if Mr. Pendleton (and future authors) are never quite sure what to do with her from one scene to another. Finally, the enemies are average, and do not really inspire fear. During this story, I found myself agreeing with Hal that the Mafia is defunct and no longer requires Bolan to handle them.

What a kooky plot! An elaborate underground tunnel system which crisscrosses most of the south eastern seaboard. And the mob is investing a gazillion dollars to use it to smuggle drugs. Doesn't seem cost effective to me. What, cargo crates and human mules not getting the job done? Silly. Let's add April at her most annoying. Add in a 10 page geology lesson. Final piece to this recipe for average, a female supporting character that is, well, just stupid. Her every action is moronic, yet Mack continues to praise her "help" again and again. Perhaps Bolan is running on empty after all these quick missions. It has been a busy week after all. The scenes with Bolan undercover are a treat, as always And having Jack around is always a plus. As another reviewer mentioned, we are seeing gradually more government involvtment, and it makes the transition from solo Mafia warrior to John Phoenix of Stony Man believable. Overall, slightly above average. Perhaps I would have rated it higher if it came earlier in the series. I think we all expected a LOT from Bolan's Second Mile.

A great and fitting end to the Mafia Wars. The story encapsulates Mack's struggle perfectly. At the same time, we see how weak and pathetic the mob has become; yet despite their obvious weakening they still spread horror and pain. A young girl dies after suffering brain damage and forced drug abuse, a grief stricken father kills himself. Her sad demise is another death Bolan cannot stop, despite heroic effort. Such a cold, lonely death illustrates the mob's lack of human empathy. They rob Mack of a feel good victory, and remind us that even weak threats can change life into death. Leo and Hal support Mack throughout the story, and their relationship continues to grow. We, as readers, learn new aspects of these characters. Leo is braver than ever before, and Hal has fully given Bolan his trust. I subtract one star from my rating because April is still a little one dimensional at best...at worst, an annoyance of epic proportions. I wonder how Mr. Pendleton would have ended this book if Gold Eagle and the option to continue with other authors had not existed? Would Mack have actually died in the climatic shootout? Ridden into the sunset? Something to ponder before moving on to the New War.

Just began my re-reading of Mack, in honor of his cancellation. As luck would have it, the cancellation has been canceled, according to the latest news! No reason to stop my celebratory re-read though! So, after my visit through the first and second mile, we arrive at The New War. This was a perfect Bolan book in my opinion. We begin thrust into action, with Mack being deployed before his new base is even finished. One really feels the tension and importance of his duty, flying from old life to new with hardly a moment to rest. In fact, even with a team, Mack is still solo. The mission itself is great jungle action. Solid firefights against nasty enemies. Towards the end we see Jack in action as well, and throughout the book we visit Hal, April and the others gnashing their teeth and rearing to go. A reader truly learns the love and concern the team has for Striker. I was sad to see this author did NOT write another entry in Bolan's war. Given the tasks of a) following Don Pendleton and b) building the story in a new but recognizable pattern, the author truly succeeded. Why didn't he return to Mack? Does anyone know why? Unlike other reviews, I thought Mr. Wernick fit perfectly within the Bolan-verse.