War against the Mafia

Mafia causes his father to kill most of his family, so sniper returned from Vietnam seeks revenge against the Mafia. I have seen these books for years, but would have only read it if I got it free--which I did. It is definitely one of those guilty pleasures. Perhaps not quite as guilty as Dr. Vigilante, but this book isn't written as well as that one, so it lacks reality. Not that it is badly written; it is just strange--part straightforward third person narrative, part excerpts from the Executioner's diary, which he seems to write in even while on the job, and a few newspaper or TV accounts. There is a lot of unbelievability here. The diary, for one thing, where he even mentions the name of his girlfriend, which no sane person would show more want the police, or worse, the Mafia, to find out. Also his narrow escapes, even when a whole army knows where he is going to show up. And, of course, he is irresistible to all women. But as I said, it is a guilty pleasure, and you'll find it compelling. Other parts of the book, which was written during the Vietnam War, are quite atmospheric, including the attitudes and scenes the Executioner encounters on his mission.

The violence, while there is lots of it, is not really bloodcurdling. The author doesn't describe the scenes in excruciating violent detail or put us inside the heads of folks about to die. So in that regard, it is actually pretty tame. The eBook also includes the first part of Book 2 in the series, where apparently the executioner is going to recruit a while team of his ex-pals from Vietnam to help. So maybe the violence will grow. show less

If you go to war with the Mafia do you have to use Tommy Guns?

Mac Bolan is a one man army and he has the Mafia in his sights because reasons. And he gets the girl. I think that sums up the plot. Change Mafia for some other antagonist and you have the plot for the entire series of the long running young-men's action novels.

When I was young Indiana Jones was the prototype for action-adventure movies. They were amazing. It took a long time for them to be released on DVD, but when they finally did I grabbed them for a movie marathon. I was a little disappointed. They were cheesy. It was hard to tell if they were always cheesy or if they had aged badly because Indiana Jones was the prototype for a genre that had evolved and now looked lame show more in comparison. NB: don't take that as a diss on Indiana Jones.... except Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which was terrible.

The Executioner is similar to Indiana Jones in that it was the prototype - well, one of many - for a genre that has evolved. It's hard to call this cookie cutter stuff since this was the prototype cutter. It is easy to see the appeal and how this influenced so many people, including my friend Matt Hilton (shameless plug). But so much time has passed since these were new. In that time a generation of authors, TV shows (watch Banshee), and movies have been influenced and created works. The genre has grown, matured, and taken on other elements, such that this feels kinda cheesy. Was it always cheesy? Maybe that was what made this series fun in the first place. show less

If Marvel didn't base their character of the Punisher on Mack Bolan, then I'll eat my shoes.

Sniper trained, Vietnam vet, family lost due to the Mafia, personal war, etc. Bolan ends up taking out one branch of the Mafia, while dodging the police and making to love to prostitutes, extra busty prostitutes and a supposedly innocent school teacher. Yeah, a school teacher. Who he then leaves at the end of the book.

This was extremely violent. And considering that I've read, and loved, [a:Neal Asher|56353|Neal Asher|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1207862001p2/56353.jpg] and [a:David Drake|19472|David Drake|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1207164263p2/19472.jpg], that is saying something.

This was a very short read. It starts as a report on Mack Bolan, moves on to the events that defined the birth of The Executioner and ends with report conclusion on the Mack's actions after his attack on the mafia.

It is a fast paced story, lots of action, Mack Bolan being an army veteran who spent 12 years in Vietnam as an army sniper his decision are very practical and extremely deadly for his foes.

Only thing I was a little bit taken aback with was action of Mack's father - I mean to shoot entire family for something that is actually his and only his mistake is a little bit too drastic to say the least. Although it sounds very samurai-like I very doubt anyone would do such a thing in a real life (unless they had some very very big show more issues).

Also novel is lacking in suspense because Mack is such a force of nature that you do not suspect for a second he can be harmed in any serious way.

All in all this is more like 3.5 stars but partial stars are not allowed hence 3 stars. I am hooked and on a lookout for follow up stories.

Recommended to action and thriller fans. show less

The men's action novels of the sixties and seventies probably drew
their roots from the sudden explosions of action in Spillane's novels.
But the late sixties brought a number of action hero novels to the
forefront. Among the best of the bunch is Don Pendleton's Executioner
series. Mack comes back from Vietnam only to find a mafia loan shark
has destroyed his family and he is going back to war - against the
Mafia with sniper shots, mortars, knives, & grenades. It is a solidly
written action packed series and a pure blast to read. This was the first
of 38 novels in the series by Pendleton and countless others by ghost
writers using his name.

The Mafia exploits Mack Bolan's father causing him to go crazy and kill his family. Bolan is sent home from Vietnam for the funeral and decides to use his sniper training to get revenge on the mafia figures that cheated his father. Bolan is a soldier, he see killing mobsters as his personal war against evil.

It’s an easy read with lots of action, some sex and a little preaching about taking action. Bolan is an anti hero, ready to destroy evil no matter the cost. Better than average, but still a serial book.

Concise, fast-moving action thriller and a hero with some depth. Mack Bolan was the template for Jack Reacher, Joe Hunter and their ilk. Unashamedly macho this spawnwd a series still going strong today.