Funny Money

The Destroyer #18

by Warren Murphy, Richard Sapir

The San Diego branch of the Secret Service is receiving some absolutely perfect counterfeit U.S. currency in the mail, and getting nervous. A flood of these bogus bucks could cripple the economy. But plans for using the funny money are more devious than that - and it's all the work of an utterly gorgeous impossible brilliant female scientist and her not-quite-human associate, Mr. Gordons. She's holding the world's monetary system, as ransom for a NASA space-age computer program so advanced its use on earth is limited. In space? That's another matter - a matter for Remo Williams, the Destroyer, to settle before the future of America -- and the world -- becomes the property of a beautiful, diabolical creature and her unstoppable sidekick!

Genres: Adventure, Thriller, Pulp, Science Fiction, Action, Fiction, Martial Arts

152 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Warren Murphy was an American author, most famous as the co-creator of The Destroyer series, the basis for the film Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins. He worked as a reporter and editor and after service during the Korean War, he drifted into politics.

Murphy also wrote the screenplay for Lethal Weapon 2. He is the author of the Trace and Digger series. With Molly Cochran, he completed two books of a planned trilogy revolving around the character The Grandmaster, The Grandmaster (1984) and High Priest (1989). Murphy also shares writing credits with Cochran on The Forever King and several novels under the name Dev Stryker. The first Grandmaster book earned Murphy and Cochran a 1985 Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original, and Murphy's Pigs Get Fat took the same honor the following year.

His solo novels include Jericho Day, The Red Moon, The Ceiling of Hell, The Sure Thing and Honor Among Thieves. Over his career, Murphy sold over 60 million books.

He started his own publishing house, Ballybunion, to have a vehicle to start The Destroyer spin-off books. Ballybunion has reprinted The Assassin's Handbook, as well as the original works Assassin's Handbook 2, The Movie That Never Was (a screenplay he and Richard Sapir wrote for a Destroyer movie that was never optioned), The Way of the Assassin (the wisdom of Chiun), and New Blood, a collection of short stories written by fans of the series.

He served on the board of the Mystery Writers of America, and was a member of the Private Eye Writers of America, the International Association of Crime Writers, the American Crime Writers League and the Screenwriters Guild.

Reviews

[Dan Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great installment of the highly entertaining Destroyer series. This time out Remo and Chiun must face off against Mr. Gordons, a deadly, seemingly indestructible adversary who threatens to destroy the US economy with flawless counterfeits. It's no wonder Gordons became a fan favorite. Probably my favorite Destroyer book so far.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good one. Quite funny. Had more sex in it than I remember the series typically having.

[Gilbert Stack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny Money introduces one of the Destroyer’s best recurring villains—the survival-oriented machine called Mr. Gordons, and with it places the series’ feet another step further into the realm of science fiction. The problem initially confronting Remo, Chiun, and Smith is a perfectly counterfeited $50 bill being produced in vast quantities and threatening the entire U.S. economy, but it’s the brain behind the counterfeiting that is the real danger—one that even puts fear into the heart of the Master of Sinanju. This is a good story in its own right, but particularly important as the first appearance of Mr. Gordons.

If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Remo and Chiun are once again on a mission to save the country. Their adversary, Mr. Gordons, is producing counterfeit currency and threatening to de-stabilize the American economy. The paperhanger recognizes that our heroes pose a significant threat to his survival and sets out to eliminate them.

Artificial intelligence research is introduced in this episode by the buxom Dr. Vanessa Carlton, and her assistants named Seagrams, Daniels (Jack), and Mr. Smirnoff, who leads the lab that developed the NASA AI program. It's odd, I suppose, that many of the characters are named after types of liquor. But we'll leave that alone.

During the first meeting with Dr. Carlton, to interrogate her on the AI program, Remo, with surprisingly little effort, manages to dismiss Chiun from the room long enough to make an impression on the good doctor. He gets the information he came for.

The story has elements of a Sci-Fi thriller, James Bond action flick, and a 70's cop drama. Sadly, there are some points in the book that are shocking, and some racial slurs. These were written the 70's.

I'll probably continue reading the series since I found a box of about 100 of them on eBay for cheap.

[John Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first truly great Destroyer has a shapeshifting robot villain decades before TERMINATOR 2, and predicts 3D printer technology. Supposedly this volume's veering into science fiction territory enraged the readers back in 1975, but it's that sense of risk-taking that put this series way above the Executioners, Butchers, Exterminators, Glue Sniffers, etc. of the 70s Men's Adventure paperback glut.

[Colin Hopper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are friends Electric?

Cure has a new enemy, a certain Mr Gordon’s. He likes to make money, and friends too. He threatens the USA and only two men can save the US, but can they save themselves?

[Stelios · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 1/2 stars

[DOUGLAS J BERRY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr gordons return.

Warren Murphy and Richard Sapir offering. Suitable for teens and adults. Remo and chiun try to out think a robotic threat.

[Egghead · Rating 4 out of 5]

AI gets walking
orders to make phony bucks
Chiun misses soaps

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was different but still a fun read. A new foe, watch out Remo and Chiun!

[Balkron · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Rating Scale:
1 Star - Horrible book, It was so bad I stopped reading it. I have not read the whole book and wont
2 Star - Bad book, I forced myself to finish it and do NOT recommend. I can't believe I read it once
3 Star - Average book, Was entertaining but nothing special. No plans to ever re-read
4 Star - Good Book, Was a really good book and I would recommend. I am Likely to re-read this book
5 Star - GREAT book, A great story and well written. I can't wait for the next book. I Will Re-Read this one or more times.

Times Read: 1

One of the first series I read consistently. This series and the Executioner series are responsible for my love of reading and stories.

Characters - Looking back to my younger reading days, I loved Remo Williams and thought he was one of the coolest characters in history. I still think Remo is a good character. Unique in a number of ways even today.

Story - The stories are average and fairly typical. Bad guys going to kill or hurt, Remo is going to kill them first (no way he is going to die not with Chuin as his teacher). Not much in creativity but it really worked for me as a male teenager. I started learning Judo and Karate partly because of Remo.

Overall - I started reading these when I was 16. I enjoyed them up until about age 19. My tastes changed from Military intrigue to Fantasy / SciFi. I would recommend reading these especially for younger males.

NOTE: I am going to rate these all the books in this series the same. Some of the stories are a bit better or a bit worse but I can't find one that I would rate a 2 or 4.

[Bryan457 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Gordons, #1

While working on spaceship components, a scientist develops a robot with a program to survive at all costs. The robot escapes and seeks creativity to help it succeed. It makes billions in counterfeit money to blackmail the government into giving it a creativity program. Remo is sent in to stop it but this machine seems unstoppable.

One of my favorite supervillains, Mr. Gordons, the android-survival machine. The 1st Destroyer book that is science fiction. This is an extremely important book in the series.

Favorite tidbits: Chiun uses some model airplanes to kill a man. Chiun thinks the Watergate hearings are a regular tv show with a fat man asking questions and a Hawaiian who talks funny.

Warning, sex and graphic gory violence.

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the big men's adventure series from the 70's than ran an impressive 150 books. The series while an adventure/action story is also full of satire toward much of the mainstream fads and icons of the time. An interesting main character and the sarcastic mentor makes this a funny action/adventure read. This issue has the 1st appearance of the killer android Mr. Gordons. Recommended

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mysterious figure is able to create flawless counterfeit U.S. currency. The American government is threatened with economic collapse caused by a massive influx of undetectable counterfeit currency. Remo's skills are pushed to the limit as he struggles to save the United States.

[Dave White · Rating 2 out of 5]

The only problem with this book is that the only female character is treated as a sex object with no brain, even though she's supposed to be a brilliant roboticist. Not surprising for a men's adventure novel from the '70s but still a bit disappointing.

[Paul, · Rating 3 out of 5]

AH, Mr. Gordons, you uncreative son of a gun. I like you.

[Jeff Chase · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun entry in the series. Anybody who thought the Terminator was a creation of the 80s or 90s is mistaken - Remo and Chiun fought a shape-shifting android back in the 70s.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this hack series faithfully for years. Now I hear a movie (another move) is in the works. Not a bad read, And emojis a sympath tic character

[Miralinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Андроид сбежал из лаборатории и начал печатать фальшивые деньги.