Phoenix Force White Hell

Phoenix Force #6

by Gar Wilson

The Arabs were trying to up the ante, and a prolonged oil embargo was imminent. A vile terrorist organization, aware of the impending embargo and wanting to punish the United States for imagined crimes, attacked the Trans-Alaska Pipeline.

Phoenix Force was flown to the barren, ice covered North in the dead of winter. If the fanatics were not exterminated, the pipeline - America's industrial jugular - would be severed and the nation would collapse.

Phoenix Force was on a collision course with the terrorists. Those who died would be the lucky ones. And the survivors? They faced the blizzard of the century. . .

Genres: Action

Mass Market Paperback

First published August 25, 1983

About the author

Phoenix Force is a series of action-adventure novels first published in 1982 by American Gold Eagle publishers. It is a spin-off of the Executioner series created by Don Pendleton.

Phoenix Force is one of two neutralization teams working for Stony Man, a top-secret anti-terrorist organization. As with The Executioner, the Phoenix Force novels have been written by a succession of authors under the pseudonym Gar Wilson. In 1991, Gold Eagle combined Phoenix Force with another Executioner spin-off series, Able Team, and launched the Stony Man book series, which is still being published as of 2005.

Reviews

[Valerie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not entirely certain where this book came from, but I assume it was among the set I got from my father or grandfather.

It was *not* good.

The story itself was lackluster at best and felt more like an outline in parts than an actual novel. There were loads of places where we were being told what was happening/had happened rather than being shown. Like the first time the team went into the cold, they came back in and said it was a white hell and horrible... but there'd been hardly a word during the scene itself, so it felt really fake. Like a placeholder for how Gar would describe it when he went back.

Then there were the clichés. So many clichés. It felt like Gar had a list of every bad cliché that existed about death, killing or macho soldiers and he seemed determined to include each and every one, often cramming two or three into the death of a single character. Alongside this went the poor, stereotypical descriptions of characters of other nationalities. Or even how if the 'bad guys' do something it proves they are bad, but when the 'good guys' do the same thing it proves why they are good. It was so hypocritical!

Gar Wilson also has some odd fascination or obsession with comparing dead and mangled bodies to meat. The number of times that word was used was crazy, and the amount of different dead animals used in comparison was super high. Like 'stewed meat' or 'dog meat', not sure what this says about Wilson...

There was also a high degree of sexism. Not only was there only one female character, but she was the stereotypical nymphomaniac whose 'female sex fantasies' are male sex fantasies that they wish were those of women. And the descriptions were like out of an erotic novel with 'silky thighs'...

I know there were other really cringe moments that I can't immediately remember - there were so many of them! - but this was simply added on top of poor writing and set-up. I still don't know why Phoenix Force exists as that was never explained. They just assumed you know or don't care, because manly men just want the action...

So, definitely do not recommend. Will be getting rid of this as soon as possible!

[Jason Mussett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good one from the Phoenix Force series, starts and ends with a bang as Bolan's avengers travel to Alaska to foil an Irish terror cell from blowing a U.S oil pipeline. How McCarter taunts one of the terrorists is priceless. McCarter has always been my fave character in the team, probably because he's British and I like his sense of humour. Overall a change of scenery for the team and this is where the Force find their feet.

[Josh Hitch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would consider this installment as a typical one in the series. But by no means is that a bad thing, this is a solid book with an interesting enemy. Being in Alaska at the pipe line gives it an unique setting with its own challenges.

Not my fave of the series but again was enjoyed and for fans of the series I recommend.

[Louis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another very good one. A slight downturn in the writing quality from book 4 and action scene descriptions are a tad over the top, even for this genre, with just a bit too much emphasis on the kill gore rather than developing the scenes a tad further.

If it seems like I'm being overly picky, it's only because I thoroughly enjoyed the story even though it's a perfectly singular and linear progression of events [in other words, if you want twists and subplots, you'd better find another genre]. But regardless, it's a good one and just might be the best "tale" of the first 6 books. It would make a fine movie if developed upon some more and could easily form the backdrop of one of Tom Clancy's epic yarns.

As with book 4, if you're cherrypicking the series for some especially good books, this one is worth adding to the list. A solid 4.

[Wayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another well written book in the series. Starts off strong. Ends with a bang. The one thing I noticed in this installment was that, one, there was a bit more sex than a normal Gold Eagle book. Not a lot mind you. Just a bit though. And two, there was a lot more innocent people killed than usual. This book starts off killing over thirty people on a freeway in the first chapter. Once the team gets to Alaska, this book starts to snowball into non stop action.

[Christopher Barkley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is written by Thomas P. Ramirez under the pen name of Gar Wilson. It is one of the better books in the series. Ramirez brings an excitement and realism to the stories that really bring them alive.

[colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

read 05.19.90

[Sierra Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent action from the start to the finish. The scene during the blizzard showed just how resourceful these boys can be... though Gary always comes prepared for things.

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A spin off series from his Executioner books. This series follows several secondary characters that band together. Recommended

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another decent adventure in the frozen wasteland of Alaska. Good setting for this entry in the story. Again, the team is dealing with the same Irish terrorists they dealt with in the prior book.