Having several shelves full of Mack Bolan, aka The Executioner, novels dating back 20 or more years. I am one reader who feels that the Bolan novels have gotten better as the years have passed, while the newer ones now numbered in the 300s are every bit as good or better than the earlier ones.
So, with that said, this Executioner #66 has some problems for today's readers. It is dated when it talks of MIRV (Multiple Independently targeted Re-entry Vehicle) rockets and a KGB force in America doing battle against "mighty American agent (s)". Coming off the death of April Rose at KGB hands (Executioner 62), Mack Bolan is still in shock and full of detestation for the KGB. He now wants to war against them, killing them whenever and wherever. So, why would this book only a stone's throw away from April Rose's death see him have a romantic interlude with 'Kitty' a very much alive agent of the KGB. So much so that after the love making she will eventually attempt to kill him? And why would a Bolan plot be somewhat parallel to DOCTOR NO of James Bond fame? And what do Japanese warriors with 'flattop' haircuts have to do with the contemporary MIRV world? Then "why not" throw in the very naive, but very mad scientist bent on bringing peace to the entire planet? The questions could go on and on, but enough of that. Suffice it to say that Chet Cunningham has written a novel easy to read, a novel well written, but a novel none-the-less somewhat scrambled. With eggs scrambled may be desirable, but not in an action adventure novel featuring Mack Bolan.
If you are a true Bolan fan you will no doubt stick with this one, but casual readers may or may not 'stick'. Around pages 54-56 some very interesting 'rehash' information is given concerning Bolan and in some other places the real Mack Bolan breaks through. But for the most part, though the novel reads well, it very improbable Bolan at best. Especially when he amateurishly trips into so many tripwires at the expense of almost getting killed.
The warrior who won a Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts, and a Silver Star in Vietnam stumbles around as a novice too often in this book. I would have to check to verify, but I don't believe Chet Cunningham was allowed to write many of the Bolan books. Whether he followed GOLD EAGLE's template here or winged it, the book really suffers and many readers may feel they suffer by reading it.
Semper Fi.
