The Ganoraky Missile

Colonel Tobin’s Private Army #7: “The Garonsky Missile” by Alan Caillou. Colonel Matt Tobin was killed in battle during the last private war, and what’s left of the private army has drifted away. Major Paul Tobin, the colonel’s son, is living in California when an airline stewardess comes to his farm with news that Clara Abbyad, an Israeli female agent he worked with once, is in Cambodia en route to meet up with General Quong Trek, a ruthless military leader that kills and tortures people he doesn’t trust, or who don’t please him. Paul, afraid for her life, calls in Pamela George to find some of his men for a rescue mission. Soon he leads a handful of men, including a couple new soldiers, into Cambodia to find and rescue the girl. The final plot is weak, and though the do rescue the girl and kill the general, there isn’t much else accomplished. Besides Clara and Pamela, Paul Tobin, Rick Meyers and Cass Fragonard are all that’s left of the old crew. Two new men are brought in, Seth Karem and a pilot named Bob Fellowes. It was time the series came to an end.

Congo War Cry

The Private Army of Colonel Tobin #3: “Congo War Cry” by Alan Caillou. Two rebel armies are causing headaches for the African Congo. General Guevara Lincoln’s army wants to run all the whites out of Africa, and Major Dogger’s army wants Africa returned to the old days when whites were masters, and blacks were slaves. The Congolese Army is not strong enough to fight them, so the private army of Colonel Tobin is hired to destroy the rebels. Tobin’s command consist of Major Paul Tobin (the colonel’s son), Pamela Charles (aide de camp), Betty de Haas (maps), Major Rick Meyers, and Major Bramble. Considered a men’s action novel, there is a difference. Most men’s action novels are primarily about sex and mass killing. Colonel Tobin is more military tactic, battle statistics, and well-written adventure, without the need of mass killing and sexual encounters every few pages. In other words, this series is more professional than mere mindless action we usually get in these series. Colonel Tobin actually pits the two rebel forces against each other, and then mops up what is left. It is his tactics that set the two against each other in the place and time picked by his army. A very good series.

Terror In Rio

The Private Army of Colonel Tobin #2: “Terror In Rio” by Alan Caillou. Brazil has hired Colonel Matthew Tobin’s private army to do what they haven’t been able to do, put a stop to Juan Xira’s revolution. The revolution has now become army size with tens of thousands of men and women, and their tactics are those of terrorists. Assassinations; hit and run murders, and deadly ambushes. Their own military is ineffective. Colonel Tobin brings in 120 fighting men, using military tactics capable to stopping Xira’s army of killers. Tobin’s command consist of Major Paul Tobin (the colonel’s son), Pamela Charles (aide de camp), Betty de Haas (maps), Major Rick Meyers, Major Bramble, and Captain Duyvel. Considered a men’s action novel, there is a difference. Most men’s action novels are primarily about sex and mass killing. Colonel Tobin is more military tactic, and well-written adventure, without the need of mass killing and sexual encounters every few pages. In other words, this series is more professional than mere mindless action we usually get in these series.