Macao

Killmaster #31

by Nick Carter

She was an international tramp with a raging hunger for men and drugs. A wild, tormented beauty hunted on three continents. The Portuguese wanted to force her into living deth. The Red Chinese wanted to turn her into a sex puppet, a helpless pawn in Chicom espionage. The U.S> desperately needed her help. She knew the man whose maniacal whom could start an international holocaust.

Genres: Fiction

158 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1968

About the author

Nick Carter is a house pseudonym used by Award, Ace, and later Jove, publishing for the series Nick Carter who later graduated to a special agent for the Killmaster novels, a series of 261+ spy adventures published from 1964 until late 1990s.

A great number of writers have written under the pen-name over the years, beginning in September 1886 when Nick Carter first appeared in the 'New York Weekly' in a 13-week serial, entitled 'The Old Detective's Pupil; or, The Mysterious Crime of Madison Square'.

The Nick Carter character was originally conceived by Ormond G. Smith, the son of one of the founders of Street & Smith, and realized by John R. Coryell.

Reviews

[Secret Agent Fan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The house ad for the Nick Carter, Killmaster series at the back of this paperback proclaims, "Nick Carter has inherited the mantle of the late Ian Fleming's James Bond." Carter does have some similarities to Fleming's Bond. Carter smokes custom-made cigarettes like Bond does, and Carter's designation as a "Killmaster" by the agency he works for is very similar to Bond's "double-oh" classification that gives Bond the license to kill. But Carter is much more like Donald Hamilton's Matt Helm than Fleming's Bond. Carter is essentially an assassin from the hard-boiled school. His assignment in "Macao" is very Helmsian: He's ordered to walk into a trap and kill the trapper--a high-level Red Chinese intelligence officer. And, on this assignment, he's in the company of the inevitable beautiful, but morally compromised, woman.

One thing about Nick Carter is that he's not nearly as opinionated as Matt Helm. He seems to be a pretty straightforward guy who takes life as it comes. He's not prone to Helm's constant complaints about all manner of things. And Carter doesn't seem to have the problem Helm has with women wearing pants (a complaint that Hamilton's Helm shares with us in virtually every one of his adventures).

"Macao" is taut, suspenseful and builds to an exciting, if gruesome, climax. The political background is a fascinating glimpse into the geo-politics of the late '60s, and the local color provides vivid descriptions of Hong Kong and, of course, Macao.

[Derek Rutherford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read recently an original dime novel featuring Nick Carter I thought I'd jump forward a hundred years or so and have a go at one of the thrillers that feature the same character (who hasn't aged a bit!). These "killmaster" books were written in their hundreds and were a sort of low-brow James Bond thing. Though the author is ostensibly Nick Carter the books were written by various jobbing authors, some of whom went onto much greater things. My research tells me this was written by one Manning Lee Stokes.

It's not bad, not great. A little confusing and (I'm delighted to say) very much in the pulp tradition. Bottom line is our hero has to rescue a beautiful girl whilst pitting various evil world leaders against each other, fighting and killing a lot of people (and a lot of deadly rats).

It's a quick and easy read, won't tax the grey cells very much, and does exactly what it says on the tin. In these days of stay-at-home laws you could do worse than sit and read a Nick Carter (i.e. it's better than turning the TV on).

[Masum Billah · Rating 3 out of 5]

পর্তুগিজ প্রিন্সেস মরগান দ্য গামা পালিয়ে বেড়াচ্ছে একদেশ থেকে আরেক দেশে। ড্রাগ এ্যাডিক্ট সেই সাথে প্রচুর হাত খরচ। তাই টাকা কামানোর একমাত্র উপায় সেক্স। আর একজন রাজকন্যার সেক্স স্ক্যান্ডাল দেশের জন্য বিরাট ক্ষতি। তাই তাকে দেশে ফিরিয়ে নিয়ে যেতে চায় পর্তুগীজ ইন্টেলিজেন্স। কিন্তু তার পূর্বেই প্রিন্সেসের ব্লুফিল্ম বিক্রি করে টাকা কামাতে চাইছে সাবেক ব্রিটিশ সোলজার, আর বর্ত্তমান মাদক ব্যাবসায়ী থিওডোর ব্লেকার। নিলামের দিন ব্লেকারকে মেরে ফিল্ম নিয়ে চলে যায় খুনি। এদিকে এ্যাঙ্গোলার বিদ্রোহী গ্রুপ চায় ব্লুফিল্ম আর প্রিন্সেস দুটোই। এদিকে ইউএস সিক্রেট সার্বিস এ্যাক্সের প্রধান চায় চীনের কুখ্যাত এক এজেন্টের মাথা। তাই সে নিক আর প্রিন্সেসকে দিয়ে এক ফাদ পাতে। সবাই নিজ নিজ কার্যসিদ্ধির জন্য জড়ো হলো পর্তুগীজ উপনিবেশ ম্যাকাওতে।

[Luís Costa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Só somos grandes lá fora

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice rewrite of an old Pulp character. Recast more in the James Bond spy mode. Good quick men's adventure read. If you are looking for some fast paced action and adventure then this is a recommended read.