Ruger71

I thought this was kind of standard as the chase the bad guy and kill him dead sort of story went, but there several little reasons it was actually quite good. First off I really enjoyed the fact that Phoenix was charging across barren Africa a la the "Desert Rats". Second, Katz as medic. A man who not only deals, but also staves off death. Next, Manning developing an unexpected relationship and the suprise outcome to same. Finally, the MK 19! God bless the full auto grenade launcher.

More so than the previous book this novel establishs Bolan's role as a counter-terrorist force to be reckoned with. It opens with a soft probe gone hard, with a brief and well handled throwback to the Mafia wars. From here Bolan explodes upon his foes with unrelenting fury. Pardine and his Turk thugs don't stand a chance. Nice characterizations of the whole supporting cast and a brief glimpse into the ever changing tide of international affairs.

I had read some Ables later in the run and thought I did not like them, but after getting back into the Bolan books after a 15 year absence I am beginning to wonder if I just wasn't paying enough attention. This one has it all if all means cutthroat bikers, KGB thugs, deranged survivalists, the KKK, Carl Lyons being a badass, Able Team running, gunning, and stunning against all odds, and one hardcore ladyfriend with an Ingram. From the start to the finish this was a bullet sprayed page-turner. It had action at every turn and a nice political subterfuge/undermine the USA, commit terrorist acts of murder that Able Team must prevent and totally wipe the bad guys out in a bloody, retributive mess sort of plot. I do wonder though how Babette became such a fighting force? I know she has previous history with Bolan, but man was she Stony indeed. Good read. No lack of action or plot.

OK, I just rediscovered Bolan and his Stony Men and I had never read any Executioner book before the late #50s until now (and have not read any of the War Against the Mafia books...yet). Knowing that Bolan had just finished his vendetta against the Mob one book earlier, I found it a bit jarring to find him next battling Palestinians in S. America. I had hoped for a little more of a transition as Stony Man Farm was set up and the "New War" began, but should I really expect Bolan to wait befor getting down to business? Once Mack was in the jungle I found things a little predictable, but felt that same oddly rightious surge of adrenaline once he started dropping the terror merchants. I never knew that Grimaldi (who I primarily know from S.M.Doctrine)was such a surly S.O.B., but it was great seeing him fly the slick. Only complaint would be the sometimes awkward, almost dumbfounded exclamations Bolan would make, "Yeah! That's it.", seems soft for such a hardman. At least he didn't say "by golly". Overall good read and nice to see Bolan probe and pick off his prey with the skill of a first class warrior.

I read a borrowed copy of this 15 years ago, but did not own my own copy until recently. And thusly my love of Bolan and Co. has been reborn. Stony Man Doctrine remains an essential piece in the Bolan mythos, holding within its covers all the key elements that make these stories "pop". Scenes of suspence are only a jugular's width away from exploding into mayhem. The action unfolds in violently, visualized crescendos. The good guys take there hits, but hit back harder,faster, and deadlier. Before there was John Woo there was the Executioner, Able Team, and Phoenix Force. The characterization and motivation of the "evil ones" is eerily consistent with times both past and present. And finally, the internal struggle Mack Bolan goes through each time he realizes that this evil seems to never truly die is palatable. Great book for new and old readers alike.