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The Executioner #39
The New War
The Executioner #39: The New War by Gold Eagle 61039
184 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
4 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
About the author
Don Pendleton
1,517 books188 followersDon Pendleton was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, December 12, 1927 and died October 23, 1995 in Arizona.
He wrote mystery, action/adventure, science-fiction, crime fiction, suspense, short stories, nonfiction, and was a comic scriptwriter, poet, screenwriter, essayist, and metaphysical scholar. He published more than 125 books in his long career, and his books have been published in more than 25 foreign languages with close to two hundred million copies in print throughout the world.
After producing a number of science-fiction and mystery novels, Don launched in 1969 the phenomenal Mack Bolan: The Executioner, which quickly emerged as the original, definitive Action/Adventure series. His successful paperback books inspired a new particularly American literary genre during the early 1970's, and Don became known as "the father of action/adventure."
"Although The Executioner Series is far and away my most significant contribution to world literature, I still do not perceive myself as 'belonging' to any particular literary niche. I am simply a storyteller, an entertainer who hopes to enthrall with visions of the reader's own incipient greatness."
Don Pendleton's original Executioner Series are now in ebooks, published by Open Road Media. 37 of the original novels.
Wikipedia: Don Pendleton
He wrote mystery, action/adventure, science-fiction, crime fiction, suspense, short stories, nonfiction, and was a comic scriptwriter, poet, screenwriter, essayist, and metaphysical scholar. He published more than 125 books in his long career, and his books have been published in more than 25 foreign languages with close to two hundred million copies in print throughout the world.
After producing a number of science-fiction and mystery novels, Don launched in 1969 the phenomenal Mack Bolan: The Executioner, which quickly emerged as the original, definitive Action/Adventure series. His successful paperback books inspired a new particularly American literary genre during the early 1970's, and Don became known as "the father of action/adventure."
"Although The Executioner Series is far and away my most significant contribution to world literature, I still do not perceive myself as 'belonging' to any particular literary niche. I am simply a storyteller, an entertainer who hopes to enthrall with visions of the reader's own incipient greatness."
Don Pendleton's original Executioner Series are now in ebooks, published by Open Road Media. 37 of the original novels.
Wikipedia: Don Pendleton
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 4, 2022
After having decimated the Mafia by the end of book #38 Bolan sets his sites on a new target - international terrorists. Backed by an elite team of likeminded individuals Bolan had befriended in his previous adventures the series shifts focus to a more global scale in his war against injustice. In this first outing Mack finds himself in a deadly fight with Arab terrorists deep in the Colombian jungles. The Muslim fanatics have plans to destroy the Panama Canal and knock US satellites from orbit.
October 29, 2018
Vintage action as it was meant to be. Politics aside, let's just read of Bolan infiltrating jungle bases and taking out swathes of terrorists and blowing up trucks.
Yes. Yes sir, I shall.
Yes. Yes sir, I shall.
January 1, 2023
My last read of 2022 and man was it a good one.
Mack Bolan is back, and this time, instead of taking out the Mafia, he has carte Blanche from the president to take out terrorists all over the world. It’s a ridiculous concept, no doubt, yet it is so much fun and probably the most exciting Exeuctioner novel since the very first in this series.
Everything about The New War is quintessential 80s dad lit: high tech weapons, explosions, blood and guts, and terrorists galore, complete with hot women and helicopters. Is it cliche? Of course, but it’s entertaining as hell and a huge step up from the previous 38 books of Bolan’s never ending war against the mob.
I think a big reason this works is a change in both publisher (Golden Eagle instead of Pinnacle) and a new author. Pendleton’s name is attached to this book but it was written by Saul Wernick, a late 70’s horror author, who, quite surprisingly, does an amazing job kicking off this new era of Mack Bolan.
Mack Bolan is back, and this time, instead of taking out the Mafia, he has carte Blanche from the president to take out terrorists all over the world. It’s a ridiculous concept, no doubt, yet it is so much fun and probably the most exciting Exeuctioner novel since the very first in this series.
Everything about The New War is quintessential 80s dad lit: high tech weapons, explosions, blood and guts, and terrorists galore, complete with hot women and helicopters. Is it cliche? Of course, but it’s entertaining as hell and a huge step up from the previous 38 books of Bolan’s never ending war against the mob.
I think a big reason this works is a change in both publisher (Golden Eagle instead of Pinnacle) and a new author. Pendleton’s name is attached to this book but it was written by Saul Wernick, a late 70’s horror author, who, quite surprisingly, does an amazing job kicking off this new era of Mack Bolan.
April 11, 2021
He lives to fight another day. Exit Mack Bolan, enter John Macklin Phoenix, Colonel, Retired.
May 9, 2022
A nice start to a new beginning. I do miss Pendleton's writing but Saul Wernick does an adequate job. This book is by a new publisher so not only do you have to set up the new Stony Man organization and what Bolan is now, but also have to catch up new readers that may have come on board because of that change. Wernick does the job fine and still manages a nice mission into Colombia to rescue an undercover operative with important info. Info so important that Bolan has to act right away. Oh and by the way there is a massive hurricane about to hit as well. Luckily ace pilot Grimaldi comes through to help out.
Recommended, probably closer to a 3.5 but its an enjoyable book that had to explain quite a bit while still being an action packed book. That's hard to do.
Recommended, probably closer to a 3.5 but its an enjoyable book that had to explain quite a bit while still being an action packed book. That's hard to do.
August 25, 2019
This was good. Its a departure from the previous 38 books but I liked it. There were a few cheesy lines but the storyline was solid and it kept moving. Great carryover of the supporting characters. Definitely worth a read!
October 12, 2018
I've read a bunch of Mack Bolan books, but, this one really tops them all with the poetic garble about how ethical it is for Mack to blow up fifty guys - he plays by the rules of freedom for all!
It's a classic story of Mack beating the impossible odds of a suicidal mission...again. This time he is in the deep jungle saving a fellow soldier from nasty terrorists who have managed to set up a nuclear missle base undetected. You can guess that Mack saves the day and foils the terrorists plans of nuclear destruction...he even manages to get the girl (one of the terrorist's sister of all people, and he almost has her changing religions! What a man!)
The book is really just a wordy short story. Nothing deep. More of a time wasting book you read b/c you are a reader and that is how you spend your time.
It's a classic story of Mack beating the impossible odds of a suicidal mission...again. This time he is in the deep jungle saving a fellow soldier from nasty terrorists who have managed to set up a nuclear missle base undetected. You can guess that Mack saves the day and foils the terrorists plans of nuclear destruction...he even manages to get the girl (one of the terrorist's sister of all people, and he almost has her changing religions! What a man!)
The book is really just a wordy short story. Nothing deep. More of a time wasting book you read b/c you are a reader and that is how you spend your time.
December 22, 2023
Before Jack Reacher, there was Mack Bolan.
Like a cheesy Cannon action flick, you just need to set the politics aside - and this is definitely not a tale that would fit with modern sensibilities (choice of villain and the Bechdel test would fall flat) - and let the relentless action take hold.
The Executioner novels were definitely a big influence on the vigilante action flicks of the 80s - I sometimes think of Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s shenanigans in -985’s Commando as a ‘Best of Bolan’ showreel.
Also, there had to have been an awareness of Bolan in the creation of Rick Dagless/Garth Marenghi in Garth Marenghi’s Dark Place
Like a cheesy Cannon action flick, you just need to set the politics aside - and this is definitely not a tale that would fit with modern sensibilities (choice of villain and the Bechdel test would fall flat) - and let the relentless action take hold.
The Executioner novels were definitely a big influence on the vigilante action flicks of the 80s - I sometimes think of Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s shenanigans in -985’s Commando as a ‘Best of Bolan’ showreel.
Also, there had to have been an awareness of Bolan in the creation of Rick Dagless/Garth Marenghi in Garth Marenghi’s Dark Place
August 2, 2024
Rating 3
Thought this was an okay entry in the series and one that acts as a reboot for the characters, no longer fighting the mafia the series changes to become the USA fighting all manner of terrorists international gangs and enemy states.
Does pretty much what you would expect from the cover and blurb.
Thought this was an okay entry in the series and one that acts as a reboot for the characters, no longer fighting the mafia the series changes to become the USA fighting all manner of terrorists international gangs and enemy states.
Does pretty much what you would expect from the cover and blurb.
June 5, 2019
The first of a new story arc
February 28, 2013
This was my First Mack Boland book as a kid (early 1980 something LOL)and I remember I really liked it. Guns, fighting and a good story line. I must re-read it again as an adult to see if I still hold that same opinion. :)
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July 27, 2016read some time in 1982
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews