Assignment Sulu Sea

Sam Durell #20

by Edward S. Aarons

Very Good; Large Print .Book in excellent condition. Library sticker on spine and back cover. Library stamps and library card in back.

Genres: Espionage, Fiction, Thriller

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1964

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

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

The twentieth book in Aarons’ Sam Durell series, Assignment Sulu Sea, was first published in 1964. It opens in a shocking scene somewhere in the South Pacific it seems, but we later learn it is off Borneo. A naval officer is wandering on the beach, half out of his mind, and suspecting anyone he meets is out to get him. He collapses and tells Willi, a blonde bombshell who operates a trading schooner and pilots a small plane that she needs to get a message to Sam Durell, who just happens to be her childhood crush from back in Cajun country. It’s one of those unbelievable coincidences that occur in fiction, because what are the odds that fate will bring them together again. Durell is tempted, but he has flown far from the golden sun in his deadly career and is not so sure Willi fits in his new world, walking alone in a dark world, keeping the free world safe. And, also, Willi’s already engaged to someone else in Durell’s life.

In addition to the personal storyline, we have Durell responding to a world in extreme danger as a nuclear Sub is missing and could be anywhere with its frightful cargo. Meanwhile, Borneo isn’t just some tropical paradise, but a land teeming with revolution, corruption, and Chinese agents. Aarons does a great job of setting this story in an exotic locale and aiding the stakes as high as they could go.

[Paul Cornelius · Rating 5 out of 5]

With Assignment Sulu Sea, Edward S. Aarons just may have written the perfect pulp adventure novel. At least for me. I admit I enjoy reading Aarons for the sense of time and place he creates, especially his atmosphere. He is particularly good when his settings are in Southeast Asia. And that is where the action in Sulu Sea takes place. There, and briefly in Hawaii, before heading to some small islands off Borneo. At that point, Aarons incorporates a nautical adventure story into his spy tale and lets the climax happen during a Conradian typhoon. These are all elements I look for in an adventure novel. I especially enjoy reading through a Southeast Asian adventure novel that takes place before the American War in Vietnam really began to grow and suck out all the dramatic subtly applied to the region. That would have been the expansion and buildup of American deployments in 1965, and Sulu Sea appeared in 1964. To boot, Aarons also manages to introduce a bit of a psychological crisis for his hero, Sam Durell, who has become so hardened and twisted by his work that momentarily he stares into the abyss and wants to welcome it. Not only for himself but for all mankind. Finally, there is no sign of Deirde Padgett in this novel--and there hasn't been for the a couple of prior ones either. I'm hoping this cements her absence from the series. It should. Because it is apparent that Aarons is changing the Sam Durell character. The World War II veteran of the OSS, with the socialite girlfriend, Deidre, isn't there in this story. Something has happened to Durell. He's at once more serious, cynical, and dangerous than he was before.

[Benjamin Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 20th entry in the Sam Durell spy series finds Durell on a mission related to a missing American nuclear submarine somewhere off the coast of Borneo. Durell is drawn into this adventure, not through the normal channels of Section K of the CIA for whom he works, but rather through the auspices of Willi Panapura, the beautiful granddaughter of a family friend. Seems Willi had dragged a dying man from the ocean, a man who claimed to be Commander Peter Holcomb, Naval Intelligence, and who had demanded that word of the missing Polaris sub, Andrew Jackson be sent to Sam Durell. The adventure begins quickly and the danger mounts as fast as the mysteries deepen.

This is another solid entry in the series and is filled with adventure in the region of the Celebes and Sulu Seas. Among other things, Durell must overcome a Chinese kingpin who has plans to steal the submarine, disassemble it, and secretly ship it back to China. Once again, Durell must also put his job and dangerous lifestyle ahead of any romantic entanglements and so must resist Willi’s obvious charms.

For those looking for an alternative to Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels, these may work better. They are a shade more realistic and Durell seems a bit more selfless.

[John Peel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This time, Sam Durell is looking for a missing atomic submarine, and he meets a girl he's been avoiding for years - the granddaughter of an old friend of his grandfather. He also runs afoul of a decadent pretender to the Manchu throne of China. It's action and betrayal as usual, with lots of authentic details. It's just pure fun to read.

[Mandy J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another great Sam Durell assignment done and dusted.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sam Durrell is drawn into a perplexing mystery amid political unrest in an island chain when the daughter of an old family friend finds a dying sailor from a nuclear submarine -- and the sailor asks for Durrell by name. It's soon discovered that the submarine has gone missing -- the questions is how, and where is it now? It's a cracking little adventure, with a few visible seams in the storytelling, but a perfectly good way to pass a couple of hours if you're looking for an ersatz Fleming read.

[Lew · Rating 2 out of 5]

Still not a big fan of Sam Durell but it a fun book to read looking back at the world of the early sixties.