The London Switch

Pulsar #1: “The London Switch” (also titled “The London Connection”) by Robin Moore & Al Dempsey. Tim Kyle is an executive and field operative for International Association of Security Organizations, a large company that supplies security around the world. But now there is a possibility that another security agency is undercutting them, and they’re losing business. Tim Kyle is sent to speak with the head of that security agency. But someone knows he’s coming and an assassin tries to gun him down. Kyle’s computer trained brain intercedes and he acts too quickly for the killer. Another hit is attempted later, that also fails. Now they try to frame him, a witness reports Kyle raping and killing his sister-in-law. Then the head of security he’s meeting with is found dead, and Kyle is charged with both murders. He escapes and tries to find out what is going on. Who is behind the security take-over, and is it too big for one man to tackle alone? This was an interesting men’s action novel. Kyle is 42 years old, happily married, and doesn’t carry a gun, yet it has all the requirements of the genre: sex, killings, and violence. The only weapon he has is his computer-trained mind that thinks out situations instantly, and helps him react quickly, while others do the killings and have sex. It was a good plot and a fun read, but I’m not surprised it only lasted two issues. Tim Kyle is not the stuff of men’s action novels.

The Moneta Papers

Jefferson Boone, Handyman #1: “The Moneta Papers” by Jon Messmann. The US Government was expecting a land deal in Italy. However, two messengers carrying papers for Dorrie Bannister to sign are murdered before they can get them to her. Charley Hopkins calls in Jefferson Boone to fix the deal since he is an old friend of Lady Bannister. But, as he soon learns, things aren’t what they seem. Dorrie Bannister is about to marry again, and her future husband may be against the deal. He, or someone, is controlling the Bannister woman, and trying to kill the Handyman before he can get the papers signed. This was the first novel I’ve read in the Handyman series, and I was totally surprised. It is well written, has an excellent plot, and good action. I even liked the character in this men’s action series, which is something in itself. There are the required sex scenes, of course, but the story certainly kept my interest.

Vendetta

The Marksman #1: “Vendetta” by Peter McCurtin. The story starts out with Philip Magellan on a vendetta to kill Mafioso boss, Dino Flavel. The story gives no reason, but the information on the back of the book states that the Mafia tried to hire Magellan to run their armory for them. You see, since he was a young boy he has known every weapon there is and how to handle them. Since he refuses, they kill his wife and son, so he’s after them now. There is no plot to this first story, just a lot of running around and killing. When he finally gets to Flavel, he leaves him alive so he’ll continue worrying what Magellan will do next; that is, if he doesn’t die in the hotel fire Magellan has started. Like a lot of men’s action novels there was no need for plot, just massive killing and sex. Strangely, there was no sex in this one, though.

Calling Doctor Kill

The Enforcer #2: “Calling Doctor Kill” by Andrew Sugar.  Jason, a man dying from cancer had been saved with a clone’s body, but the body is only good for three months, so he needs a new body regularly to stay alive. The Institute provides that body, but Jason must be their Enforcer to earn each one. In this current story, Rosegold, the scientist that discovered the cloning process, has been kidnapped by the Syndicate and locked away in an escape proof asylum run by Doctor Guider. This time Jason’s new body is a clone of Doctor Douglas, a pathologist, who has been hired for the asylum. That will get him in, but how will Jason get out with Rosegold? Actually, not a bad plot, but there’s really not much to this adventure. The author is a little too winded in this yarn, and it could have used more action. But it was a fast read, and easily killed a couple of afternoons.

The Smugglers #1

The Smugglers #1: “The Smugglers” by Paul Petersen (in collaboration with David Olyphant). Eric Saveman runs Shelter, a drug smuggling operation, and drives expensive automobiles, and has two gorgeous blondes living with him. Two giant corporations are keeping their eye on him and his father, Doc, though. Something happened years ago that involved his father in Africa with the men he worked with. Now someone wants Doc killed, and Eric working for them, but which corporation is the good guy, and which is the bad one? As a rule most men’s action novels are terrible, and I hate to hear the new groups call them pulp paperbacks, and the characters the new pulp anti-hero, etc. Pulps were never this bad. And I thought I had read the worst of the stuff until I read this one. The only way it got published is the writer’s name. The writing is poor, the dialogue is terrible, and the plot is screwy. It’s some of the worst stuff I’ve read, and I’ve read most men’s action novels. I think the series ran for seven issues, and if sales were good it was because of the covers, not the text.