Ray Banks

The second issue of "Blood & Tacos" from Creative Guy Publishing and edited by Johnny Shaw continues the excellent concept developed in the first issue of presenting "rediscovered" stories from "authors" of 1970s and 1980s men's adventure paper backs. Written with a sense of humour and a real feel for the trashy aesthetics of these lurid paperbacks, the stories in issue one were all superb. Given the stellar quality of that first issue, the second helping of "Blood & Tacos" was bound to show more suffer in comparison, but even so this is still a great fun set of stories. First up is "Dead Eye in End of the Renaissance" by Guy Rivera, rediscovered by Ray Banks. This features Cruz, a blind spaghetti western style "hero" in a violent, punchy tale about Mexican slave labour and female sex slaves. The story was okay, moved forward reasonably snappily but was possibly the weakest in the book. Next up is "A.R.V.N. War Chronicles: Never Say Good Night in Saigon" by Greg Peppard, Jr., a story that was rediscovered by Jimmy Callaway. It revolves around a set of stolen babies fathered by American serviceman and the two men, ex-marine Mathes and tough Vietnamese Sargent Tinh, put together a mercenary squad to infiltrate the jungle hideout of the kidnappers. The story is an entertaining bullet-fest of tough guys and hard combat. "They Call Him Cruel: Burn In" by Moses Starkweather, rediscovered by Frank Larnerd. This is a tough, gritty urban crime story that has tough guy Cruel taking a decision that has serious ramifications for one young lad. For Cruel, however, things are simple and he sets out to look for revenge. This is an excellent story, dark and vicious with a tone that is slightly at odds with the pulp feel of the rest of the book. "Bastard Mercenary: Operation Scorpion Sting" by Arch Saxon, rediscovered by Andrew Nette has Aussie "one-man army" going up against a Thai drug syndicate and their boss, the beautiful and deadly Scorpion. Hard, fast, straight-ahead action with plenty of twists that ensure things stay interesting throughout. In "From American Viking to Zane: A Brace Godfrey Chrestomathy" Johnny Shaw serves up a listing of series titles and synopsis from Brace Godfrey’s bibliography. All the series titles are brilliant and laugh-out-loud funny, with the world's most dangerous Mexican, Chignon making an appearance as The Mexicutioner". Other cool characters include American Viking; Codename: Black Belt; The Exorcismist; Ghetto Force; Judge Haymaker and possibly best of all Knockers O’Malley: Lady Cop. The last story in the collection features, Sunshine, Stripper Assassin in the brilliantly titled "The G-String Gundown" by Walter Himes, rediscovered by Josh Stallings. Sexy stripper, Sunshine O’Shay is on the hunt for three young men who wronged her mother many years ago. Using sex as a weapon Sunshine brings a dangerously feminine touch to her mission of revenge. Cleverly written with great language, an inventive approach and a powerful heroine, "The G-String Gundown" is the best tale in the book by some margin. The book is completed by Sabrina Ogden's entertaining review of “The Xander Pursuit” which is both entertaining and insightful and Matthew C Funk’s excerpt from an "interview" with Agent Sniper. "Blood & Tacos" issue two is an excellent read – funny, violent visceral and pulpy with the writers getting the tone and feel absolutely spot-on. This issue isn't quite as good as the first, but it still represents some top-notch retro pulp entertainment. show less

Oddly enough, I had picked up this book by accident, thinking it was Iain Banks' work (sci-fi). Turns out I couldn't really have been farther from the mark, but... it was a good mistake to make. I've been looking for this kind of protagonist for awhile (ever since I ran out of Jack Reacher or Matt Scudder books to read).

This one reads a lot like the Scudder books, actually, not so much like the Reacher ones since there is a bit less justice-by-toe-of-boot than there would have to be to show more compete with Reacher. The protagonist is trying to solve a mystery while fighting his past, and his alcohol use, and the bad guys in his way.

All in all it is a pleasant little violent book with a mostly satisfying ending and a protagonist that I will follow into his future escapades. It does have a British setting which means some of the things they say sound odd to a North American ear, but you can get the gist of what they mean. Specifically, one of the bad(der) guys speaks of himself in the plural - us - which might make a North American think he's a little nuts, when, actually, this is not really that uncommon an activity in certain regions and is a sign of upbringing more than a sign of insanity. show less

I called this one a "master class in the amplification of tension." A kid gets out of juvie and takes a job that seems simple, and everything keeps getting worse and worse. And one scene flows from the next, like destiny. A brilliant fast read. I had to take a piss during the last ten pages and cross my legs instead of putting it down. That's what we call "compelling writing."

Everything I read by Ray just makes me want to throw my computer out the window and give up writing. Dammit, the man can write! And Wolf Tickets is no different.

I only feel like that for a minute, as Ray’s work inspires me after that moment of doubt.

According to Ray, the phrase ‘wolf tickets’ comes from a Tom Waits interview from Playboy in the late 80’s and describes someone who’s bad news. In a sentence it’d be something like “Don’t f**k with me, I’m passing out wolf show more tickets.” And yes, the two main characters in this book definitely fit the bill.

Set mostly in the Newcastle area, this tale revolves around the viewpoints of Sean Farrell and Jimmy Cobb, mates from their time in the Army, now coasting in the strange after-service life they both inhabit. In Dublin, Sean’s girlfriend Nora has stolen £20,000 from him and done a bunk to her old boyfriend Frank O’Brien in Newcastle. To say this pisses Sean off is an understatement.

So he hops a flight to Newkie and meets up with his old mate Jimmy, acquires a gun and they set off to hunt Nora.

I won’t spoil the story for you, as it’s a right good read. There’s plenty of ups and downs and while they’re violent, foul-mouthed thugs, the pair do somehow engender sympathy. I think Banks’ depictions of Newcastle fit well with my memories, revolving as they do around a lot of pubs, but he manages to capture the flavour of the place along with the characters one finds there.

Okay, enough from me. I’m off to read something else he’s written. Talented sod.

*If you’re offended by bad language or graphic violence, this isn’t one for you. Go read something by that nice Jeffrey Archer. show less