Death Wish (Paperback)

~ Iceberg Slim (Author)
Key Phrases: rubber dick, dope jackers, alley floor, Willie Poe, Mack Rivers, Joe Tonelli (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The story of Chicago's Mafia, and the power struggle that ensues when the greedy Don, Jimmy Collucci, attempts to become the king pin of Chicago's "Honored Society". Collucci has a lifelong hatred of dedicated "Black Warrior" Jessie Taylor, whom he has faced in turf wars in the streets of Chicago. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Holloway House (July 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0870679783
• ISBN-13: 978-0870679780
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 6.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,458,511 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Gritty, Gutter, and Gangster, October 13, 2009

By	S said the fed (G A today) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This story revolves around Jesse Taylor and some dude named Jimmy, an Italian guy. I forget his last name. The story was fast paced, characters solid and both had a back story. Very interesting and hard. You can compare this one story to the Kenyatta stories like Crime Partners, Death List, etc. It amazes me that everything that takes place in this one story is comparable to a whole series. This story paved the way for protagonist in the Dutch series. A lot of fighting, a lot of guns, a lot of dying. I would suggest anyone reading this to get ready sit back and enjoy the show.....the gun show.

3.0 out of 5 stars Mafia vs. Young Radicals, May 31, 2009

By	Andrew White - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Death Wish: A Story of the Mafia (Mass Market Paperback)

Death Wish is the story of the decades long rivalry between Mafioso Jimmy Collucci and Jesse "Tit for Tat" Taylor, an idealistic young militant. Taylor leads a group of multiracial radicals called the Warriors. The novel flashes back and forward until the two reach their final confrontation. Iceberg Slim contrasts their ideologies - Collucci assures his underling that everyone they've killed deserved it, while Taylor tries to make sure a spy in his organization gets a fair trial. What's remarkable in this novel is the portrayal of the villain. Although he is despicable and horrifying, on occasion I did feel sympathy for him (especially in the depiction of his younger years). Taylor, in contrast, is morally correct and remains an admirable character throughout the book. But I found him a little flat. And, in the ending, it didn't seem to me he really accomplishes all that much. Another dead gangster. By that point, the book is already full of dead crooks.