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Fargo #5
Massacre River
Fourth book in the Fargo adventure series.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1969
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 4, 2019
Interesting "Men's Action/Adventure" number. Post-Westerns era ...early 20th century item.
Part of the "Neal Fargo" series featuring an adventurer the author based on the character portrayed by Lee Marvin in the film "The Professionals".
46-47 pages in before there was any real action. Then I had to endure 10-17 pages of seduction and sexual relations between Fargo and some British educated Chinese lady.
Around about page 70 something it becomes the action-packed novel as advertised.
Terrific all the way from page 70 to the end of the novel.
Not for every reader but it worked for me.
Recommended for Western fans.
Part of the "Neal Fargo" series featuring an adventurer the author based on the character portrayed by Lee Marvin in the film "The Professionals".
46-47 pages in before there was any real action. Then I had to endure 10-17 pages of seduction and sexual relations between Fargo and some British educated Chinese lady.
Around about page 70 something it becomes the action-packed novel as advertised.
Terrific all the way from page 70 to the end of the novel.
Not for every reader but it worked for me.
Recommended for Western fans.
May 27, 2023
Haas/Benteen is back on track, giving this Fargo yarn a great setting and villain. It does repeat the same beats as the rest of the Fargo novels and occasionally feels rushed. This entry easily could have been 50-100 pages longer and explored new plot avenues. Instead we have the classic capture, hand-to-hand fight, escape, and battle scenes. Clearly superior to the previous entry even if the rating doesn't show it.
February 10, 2024
I do enjoy the Fargo books, whatever he's up to but this one was not one of his best. The premise is okay: escort a girl through bandit-infested territory just as a new rebellion is rising up in the Philippines, right after the US gained control of the islands from Spain. Fargo is up to his old tricks but they feel formulaic somehow in this one, like its by the numbers.
The final climactic scene feels unlikely as well, usually Benteen is sharp about making action scenes feel reasonable and believable but this just felt like an 80s actioner where nobody can hit the hero.
Still entertaining enough, but not up to the standards of the other Fargo books I've read.
The final climactic scene feels unlikely as well, usually Benteen is sharp about making action scenes feel reasonable and believable but this just felt like an 80s actioner where nobody can hit the hero.
Still entertaining enough, but not up to the standards of the other Fargo books I've read.
May 14, 2023
John Benteen is a pen name of Ben Haas (1926-1977) Among other things, he wrote 15 Fargo novels in the 1960s and 1970s (though I've seen lists that vary on this number). Massacre River shows up as #4 on some lists and #5 on others. The books are often referred to as westerns, but they really aren't. This one, for example, is set in 1914 in the Philippine Islands. They do, however, have a western feel as there is often gunplay, horses, bandits and the like.
Fargo is a fun character. He's a mercenary who will go anywhere and do anything for money. He does try to be on the right side of good and evil, usually. And once he gives his word, he stands by it no matter what.
The odd thing about this book is the title. There's no river anywhere in the book. And as for a massacre, not really. There's a surprise attack, but it hardly qualifies as a massacre. I have no idea where the title came from.
In this episode from 1969, Fargo is tasked with delivering a beautiful young Chinese girl to her future husband. The problem is, her future husband is running a supply outpost in one of the most dangerous jungles on earth. Headhunters, cannibals, guerrillas, you name it, Fargo will have to deal with it, which is just how Fargo would want it. The guy is always armed to the teeth and spoiling for a fight.
I enjoy the Fargo books, and this was no exception. They are classic men's adventure stories with lots of action and always a beautiful woman to spice things up a little. Ben Haas was a fine writer. His style is very lean. No long, flowery descriptions, but the words flow nicely and the stories clip along at a good pace. This book is 141 pages but feels bigger than that.
Fargo is a fun character. He's a mercenary who will go anywhere and do anything for money. He does try to be on the right side of good and evil, usually. And once he gives his word, he stands by it no matter what.
The odd thing about this book is the title. There's no river anywhere in the book. And as for a massacre, not really. There's a surprise attack, but it hardly qualifies as a massacre. I have no idea where the title came from.
In this episode from 1969, Fargo is tasked with delivering a beautiful young Chinese girl to her future husband. The problem is, her future husband is running a supply outpost in one of the most dangerous jungles on earth. Headhunters, cannibals, guerrillas, you name it, Fargo will have to deal with it, which is just how Fargo would want it. The guy is always armed to the teeth and spoiling for a fight.
I enjoy the Fargo books, and this was no exception. They are classic men's adventure stories with lots of action and always a beautiful woman to spice things up a little. Ben Haas was a fine writer. His style is very lean. No long, flowery descriptions, but the words flow nicely and the stories clip along at a good pace. This book is 141 pages but feels bigger than that.
January 1, 2021
A really fun series better written then the adult westerns like Longarm with more action and less sex. Though there is sex but there is so much action that it just kind of gets tossed aside easily.
The plot in this one is interesting too, almost like a western version of Death Merchant. In that while fufilling a mission in taking a young Chinese lady to her bethroed in the wilds of the Philippines, Fargo encounters a crazy ex Confederate General and his equally crazy son who has delusions in taking the Islands away from American rule.
Recommended just a fun down and dirty western series.
The plot in this one is interesting too, almost like a western version of Death Merchant. In that while fufilling a mission in taking a young Chinese lady to her bethroed in the wilds of the Philippines, Fargo encounters a crazy ex Confederate General and his equally crazy son who has delusions in taking the Islands away from American rule.
Recommended just a fun down and dirty western series.
August 17, 2019
Adventures of a lusty mercenary
A better than average Fargo story, with a great twist in the middle. The 1920's make a great setting for the pulpy, manly, globe trotting adventures of a lusty mercenary.
A better than average Fargo story, with a great twist in the middle. The 1920's make a great setting for the pulpy, manly, globe trotting adventures of a lusty mercenary.
January 11, 2023
This took a turn that I don't think anyone suspected.
November 12, 2008
Fargo takes a job to move $100,000 in gold and a young Chinese bride-to-be over a three hundred mile stretch of the Phillippines to a Chinese merchant. He's being paid $25,000 and it will be worth every dollar.
January 24, 2015
As with all of the Fargo books by Benteen this was edge of the seat excited and action. Although all are different locations the script is always enjoyably the same.
August 6, 2024
Luzon and war
He with toughness wins again! Forever enjoying the fame of Fargo! Benteen continues to explore the toughness and explosiveness in another adventure!
He with toughness wins again! Forever enjoying the fame of Fargo! Benteen continues to explore the toughness and explosiveness in another adventure!
September 17, 2018
THE DOWERY AND JADE CHIN
Fargo is hired to take a young Chinese girl to meet her husband this was a prearranged marriage. Plus the husband to be owns a trading post and in addition Fargo is transferring hundreds thousand dollars to be given to the new husband. This author has identified with explanation of the different indigenous tribes that live in the jungles of northern Luzon..Fargo and is crew are captured by a young named Sport Carter, his seventy year old father and his sister Marcy. The Carter's were ex-Confederates, who hate the United States Government and left the country. The father a Colonel in the War of Insurrection fought under the command of Jeb Stewart, they left the United States first living in Uruguay, then moving to the Philippines deep in the jungle into a huge Plantation Mansion that the father had built. Fargo wondered where the money came from, he knew that there was talk of a shipment of gold that went missing. So Fargo guess this who stole the shipment. The Carter family are trying to create an uprising against the United States by instigating all the tribes to fight the Americans. Actually the Plantation is really a training ground for the insurgents.
There's Fargo action, possible incest, lots of debauchery under foot, but Fargo and is trusted mercenaries companions complete the assignment. Oh yes, must not forget the Tongs or hatchet men also accompanied Fargo and were a great help.....FARGO is on his way to his next assignment in the oil fields of East Texas...ride loose and easy all you fans of adventurous drama..FARGO FARGO
Fargo is hired to take a young Chinese girl to meet her husband this was a prearranged marriage. Plus the husband to be owns a trading post and in addition Fargo is transferring hundreds thousand dollars to be given to the new husband. This author has identified with explanation of the different indigenous tribes that live in the jungles of northern Luzon..Fargo and is crew are captured by a young named Sport Carter, his seventy year old father and his sister Marcy. The Carter's were ex-Confederates, who hate the United States Government and left the country. The father a Colonel in the War of Insurrection fought under the command of Jeb Stewart, they left the United States first living in Uruguay, then moving to the Philippines deep in the jungle into a huge Plantation Mansion that the father had built. Fargo wondered where the money came from, he knew that there was talk of a shipment of gold that went missing. So Fargo guess this who stole the shipment. The Carter family are trying to create an uprising against the United States by instigating all the tribes to fight the Americans. Actually the Plantation is really a training ground for the insurgents.
There's Fargo action, possible incest, lots of debauchery under foot, but Fargo and is trusted mercenaries companions complete the assignment. Oh yes, must not forget the Tongs or hatchet men also accompanied Fargo and were a great help.....FARGO is on his way to his next assignment in the oil fields of East Texas...ride loose and easy all you fans of adventurous drama..FARGO FARGO
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews