Customer Reviews

The New Destroyer: Guardian Angel (Destroyer #146)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After years of suffering through what can only be generously deemed as amateur and uninspired writing with obsession on all things squid, the Destroyer has finally returned to it's roots. Remo, Chiun and Smith out to save the good old USA. The relationship between Remo and Chiun was a cornerstone of the series - the humor, ever evolving father-son bond, and the bickering - is back.

Also back is the bizarre arch-villain the series was so well known for, a returning nemesis and some political incorrectness (I'd like to see more, but in today's even stranger than Destroyer fiction world, the book would probably be burned, or banned, or fed to a squid.)

If you are a Destroyer fan, don't skip this book - it's a truly a rebirth of the series. New to the series? Well, it's the New Destroyer #1, so obviously a great place to start. The book is about the same length as the earlier Destroyers, and can easily be consumed in a single evening (or over a week at stop lights...)

His name was Remo, and Warren Murphy is back to writing him.

As long time fans of the Destroyer series know, Warren Murphy and Dick Sapir created the character. After their partnership amicably broke up, Murphy remained for a while as primary writer, eventually passing on the character to a series of authors of greater and lesser ability. Some, like Will Murray and James Mullaney, met with fan acclaim. Others did not. Now, as of Guardian Angel, Murphy is back, co writing with Mullaney.

So, does he still have it?

The best Destroyers have always been almost as much political and pop culture satires as action novels, with sacred cows on the right and left enthusiastically skewered. Murphy and Mullaney remember that, turning in a plot that takes shots at both sides in the current debate over illegal immigration. Remo faces a worthy but only human foe, a nice change from the recent string of toe-to-toe super-villains, and a fair number of the plot points and characters of the last dozen or so novels that some fans objected to are moved out of continuity.

More Specifically -

* Mark, the fourth man in Cure and Smith's second assistant, is retconned as having never had psychic powers. This gets rid of the Death of the Dutchman plot arc, as well as moving Smith back away from his growing acceptance of and reliance on the paranormal. Mark's established incredible detective skills are explained as a highly specific form of genius.

Sarah is gone, along with her family legacy of pulp style adventurers. Smith is no longer stymied by a security risk he can't control.

The Lovecraft story arcs from the last few books never happened. Neither did the Inner Earth story arcs.

Remo's defiance of Smith over Remo's daughter, a natural mistress of Sinanju, never happened, and the developing Kali story arc will likely not play out.

Remo's were-tiger children are gone from continuity as well, at least for now.

Remo is firmly established as speaking only two languages, English and Korean.


Some fans will be very happy with the changes. I have mixed feelings on them myself. I liked the story arcs that have been dropped, and I liked the pulp and occult elements that were being brought more to the surface of the series. On the other hand, Mark and Sarah did mean more time with the camera away from Remo and Chiun, and a neutered Smith relying on his psychic assistant was much less interesting than the Grey Ghost of old. Murphy, Sapir, Murray, and Mullaney all have an established history of keeping the paranormal elements of the series somewhat more subtle than they've been in the last few books as well, and I can see why Murphy and Mullaney would like to move back to that style.

So, again, do Murphy and Mullaney still have it? Yes, yes they do. Guardian Angel is a solid return to the old school Destroyer, delivering grins along with the action. Fans of the series should enjoy it.

I've never reviewed a book on Amazon before but for this series and this book in particular I had to. The Destroyer is Back!!! This one statement sums up the book. Take the last dozen or so that "you know who" wrote and throw them out. Highly recommend to anyone who loves the Destroyer series or is just starting it.

Warren Murphy and James Mullaney re-establish the Glorious House of Sinanju. A timely political topic. Exciting action. Characters who speak and act like long-time fans expect them to. If you're a Destroyer fan, treat yourself to The New Destroyer: Guardian Angel today. It's the one you've been waiting for.

Although the new TOR series isn't coming out quarterly (Choke Hold's release is scheduled for October 30th), the quality of story and editing seems to be much improved over the recent Gold Eagle releases. That's fine with me. I'd rather wait and enjoy a much better tale. Welcome home, Remo and Chiun!

My first exposure to The Destroyer was in the 1980's with the movie Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins. While not a good movie I was very entertained by the characters of Remo and Chuin and their camaraderie. That said I read several Destroyer novels throughout my teens and then life moved on.

On a whim at a bookstore this summer I saw New Destroyer: Guardian Angel and decided to give it a read. I'm glad I did. The characters are firmly intact and creator Warren Murphy and new scribe James Mullaney do a fantastic job of reinvigorating the series.

For anyone new to the series, it's easy to jump on. Remo and his mentor Chuin are master assassins in the art of Sinanju. They work for CURE a secret branch of the government that deals with impending perils to our country. In this novel the dangers come from a militant group that want to create new borders and countries between the US and Mexico. Remo and Chuin are called on to defend the Alamo, stop a ruthless female killer, prevent illegal aliens from causing lots of trouble, and so much more.

For summer time reading it's a blast. If you're familiar with the characters give it a read because you'll find in doubly enjoyable!

Yeah, baby!

After a 20-year absense, Destroyer-series creator Warren Murphy has returned to re-establish Remo and Chiun for the new millennium. And it's about time!

Guardian Angel reminds me why I started reading The Destroyer in the first place. Remo and Chiun are back . . . nasty as ever . . . wisecracking as ever . . . politically incorrect as ever . . . and most important: FUNNY as ever! Guardian Angel represents a delicious return to this classic series that has sold over 40 million copies worldwide, and reading this book helps you remember WHY this series has sold over 40 million copies worldwide.

Great action! Great villains! Great situations! Thought-provoking political commentary! A gorgeous chick along for the ride. And Remo and Chiun getting on each others nerves more than ever! Does it get any better? Also onboard is longtime Destroyer author James Mullaney, who since the departure of illustrious ghostwriter Will Murray, has served as the only author to win widespread fan support.

It's 2007, a brand new era for The Destroyer, and Warren Murphy has returned to prove one thing . . . if you want something done right, you gotta do it yourself. Highly recommended!

Wooo! He's back - they're ALL back. Remo, Chiun and Smith have returned to the world they were born in - and it's a GREAT world indeed! The characterizations are right, the dialogue is right, the relationships are right. This is the way it's supposed to be.

(I've got ALL the books, read each of them more than once (well... okay, there were a few that I could barely get through once!) and I KNOW when something's right - and when something jumps the track.)

I hope that the series has taken out the "revolving door" of authors for the next several years - or at least find authors that have bothered to read the old books before thinking that their "skills" and "worldly understanding" will get them through!

Great job - keep 'em coming!

I started reading the Destroyer series with Created, The Destroyer, while I was in the Army. The books were short enough to finish between guard duty tours. They were also well written, funny in a satirical vein and sometimes even thought provoking. Somewhere along the way all the qualities except brevity were lost. Guardian Angel (with the exception of the references to African "bidness") has changed direction back toward the days of Richard Sapir. I hope the improvement continues in the ensuing releases.

I started reading this series back around 1973/74. I loved it. Then, somewhere around #125-130 it started downhill. I quit reading it and felt like I had lost some friends. I was browsing a bookstore and saw this title. When I saw James Mullaney's comment about going back to the original I thought "what the heck, it's worth a try." Boy is it! The old chemistry is back! I have thoroughly enjoyed this, and would unhesitatingly recommend it to anyone who, like me, was disillusioned by the "later" books. This is great, my only choice was 5 stars, but I think is deserves more. James Mullaney is a worthy successor to Richard Sapir, and the authors' work comes out as well as Murphy and Sapir. Congratulations and keep the books coming, PLEASE!

Ahhh, it sure feels good to find The Destroyer is back to it's roots. Remo is taking care of business as only he can. Chiun continues to be the most dangerous Korean who has ever lived but still has the childlike qualities that have always made us love him. Smitty is still the proud American bound and determined to save the US from itself and will continue to work at it until his dying day.

In this book you will also find useless self-serving politicians (yes, Virginia, they do exist). You will find out what really happened at the battles of the Alamo and San Jacinto. You will also get the return of one of Remo's most dangerous enemies. You get all of this wrapped up in a very funny, very exciting adventure the likes of which we haven't seen in a Destroyer book in several years.

Do yourself a favor, buy this book. If you are an old fan of the series you will enjoy the return of Warren Murphy and Jim Mullaney to the books. If you have never read a Destroyer before, then this is a great place to start your obsession.