Assignment Black Viking

Sam Durell #25

by Edward S. Aarons

Durell is sent to fight a mad scientist who has the ability to control the weather. The danger is real for the entire northern regions of Europe and Asia are in the grip of an unprecedented, unrelenting blizzard.

Genres: Espionage, Thriller, Action

160 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1967

About the author

AKA Paul Ayres, Edward Ronns.

Edward Sidney Aarons (September 11, 1916 - June 16, 1975) was an American writer, author of more than 80 novels from 1936 until 1962. One of these was under the pseudonym "Paul Ayres" (Dead Heat), and 30 were written using the name "Edward Ronns". He also wrote numerous articles for detective magazines such as Detective Story Magazine and Scarab.

Aarons was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and earned a degree in Literature and History from Columbia University. He worked at various jobs to put himself through college, including jobs as a newspaper reporter and fisherman. In 1933, he won a short story contest as a student. In World War II he was in the United States Coast Guard, joining after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. He finished his duty in 1945, having obtained the rank of Chief Petty Officer.

Reviews

[Paul Cornelius · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some critics claim that Edward Aarons' Sam Durell novels are nothing more than a pale American imitation of Ian Fleming's James Bond. That isn't fair. And it isn't true. Durell always brought more depth and Cold War complexity than Fleming ever managed. At least until, now. Black Viking, alas, seems to be just what the critics claim, a cheap imitation of James Bond. The silly plot concerns the Communist Chinese stealing a weather machine and starting another ice age. Worse, still, Aarons foregoes his usual effective use of atmosphere and sense of place. Instead, he experiments with short(ish) travelogue descriptions of the various places Durell finds himself, just before Sam goes there. Aarons is quite good when he weaves atmosphere into his stories. Here, he just uses it like stock footage at the beginning of a movie shot in a studio. Finally, there is a simply terrible ending with one of supporting characters, Gino, a youthful juvenile delinquent. Of course, Gino "grows up" in this book. And when Sam promises to help him get into college and become a CIA agent, too, it made me cringe. This is by far the worst Sam Durell novel I've yet read.

[John Peel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another of Aarons' delightful Sam Durell adventures. This time, a crazed scientist has found a way to control the weather - and it's destroying the entire world. With the questionable aid of a blonde Viking girl and a Mafia chieftain, Durell has to venture deep into the Baltic to find and destroy the machinery that's responsible. A fun adventure that builds to a very gripping climax.