Customer Reviews

War Against the Mafia

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

 

 

In 1969, Don Pendleton crashed into the literary scene with this novel which would become the first in a long line of books to follow--Don's legacy lives on today, with some 500 separate titles in print on the life and times of Mack Bolan! While probably one of the most mythical of heroes (and the first one to start the new action-adventure genre in literature) Don Pendleton's greatest feat was in what he had to say about the metaphysics of violence. Mack Bolan isn't some maniac... he is truly one of America's all-time heroes. And so is Don Pendleton. If you haven't read Don's "original" Executioner series, then you need to. As a published action-suspense author, I HIGHLY recommend this book!

Mack Bolan is a US Army sergeant, and a sniper in the Vietnam war. In fact, he is so good at that, he has ended up with a nickname, 'The Executioner'.

He is granted leave when it is discovered his father has killed his mother and sister, and then committed s*icide. His younger brother is still alive, so the army gives him a post at home, so he can be his guardian.

The Executioner takes this familial loss, a little hard, and promptly sets out to live up to his namesake, methodically taking out the 5 mafioso involved, after acquiring the necessary gear.

The police realise it is him, but aren't that keen to arrest someone doing their job for them.

He boldy applies to join the Mafia, to learn more, telling them he knows who killed their guys, and getting some complimentary servicing, to boot.

The action, and body count, escalates markedly from there. Everybody under the sun is after him, even the military.

Bolan is an intelligent man, but sees the Mafia issue in black and white, they are evil, he is not, it is his job as a man of action to put them down.

One character produces a surprise later on, as well.

A couple of great lines Pendleton throws in, during a mafia conversation :

"Didn't you know?" Turrin grunted. "He's the frackin' Phantom. The frackin' Phantom knows everything."

"I thought that was The Shadow," Plassky mused.

* * *

Later on, Bolan is injured by ignoring Turrin's wife, who shoots him. He stumbles into a woman's home, who, luckily for him, helps him out, and he stays they for a couple of days, recovering. :

"Honestly, that is the most ridiculous outfit. Who do you think you are--Captain Marvel?"

All in all, a fine setup for further adventures.

the books the executioner series was a good buy for the price i paided. i would buy more executioner series from amazon.

I grew up reading the later books in this series, in the 1980's, which were written by other authors. This is a very different Mack Bolan in book #1, and a very different presentation. Pendleton has a great economic writing style, and he uses 180 pages more effectively than any of the other authors in the series - no world domination missing nuke story here. Strong characterization. There are some great comic-bookish philosophic monologues, and he can write good dialog.

On the negative side: it drags in places, the plot is absurd, and the explicit sex scenes are jarring and completely gratuitous to the storyline. This Mack Bolan is also not all that sympathetic. He's not above joining in on the spoils and lifestyle of the criminals, or dropping obligations when they're inconvenient, which is tough to read for a fan of the later books.

But I'll give it 3 stars because it's fun, pulpy, and it spawned 400+ other books.

One of the longest lasting action titles still around and still the best in my opinion.
This book started it all and even to this more modern day of readers it's a great action packed reading experiance.
Sure, it may show Bolan as a vigilante but the more you get into the book, and the series, it will also show his compassion, inner struggle with what he has chosen to do and so much that makes this character always interesting.
If a reader can still find War Against the Mafia then I'd recommend it because it will still appeal to action lovers.

This book, whose lead character is still going strong with no end in sight, started a revolution in paperback series publishing. Don Pendleton tapped into the psyche of an America coming to grips with increased violence in TV and movies and coupled it with the examination of the Mafia in Mario Puzo's Godfather. He came up with an action thriller that spawned both copycat Mafia series and a huge assortment of new action heroes. Basically the story of one man's vengeance taken to the ultimate extreme, we see Mack Bolan go after the local Mafia in order to avenge the death of his family-who ironically were not actually killed by the Mafia. The story of vengeance escalates until Bolan faces the man who he particularly blames for the deaths and comes away from the confrontation with a surprising revelation. This is truly an action-adventure classic.

I have read other books in the Exicutoiner books and this is prabably the best he has written. Anyone who reads the Exicutioner books sould read this, It centers on the strat of his carrer after vietnam and why he does what he does The climax is the best part of the book when in a blaze of fire he starts his quest.

Got my book quick and in very good shape. I hope to buy more from this seller