Kill or Cure

The Destroyer #11

by Warren Murphy, Richard Sapir

A plot designed by the United States' top-secret agency, CURE, to dispose of a certain corrupt politician, is revealed in what unravels into a national scandal. The agency must be dismantled before greater suspicions arise and one of the top leaders, The Destroyer, is finally destroyed himself. But Master Chiun's days of work haven't ended, and he's not waiting around for his sidekick Remo to be out of a job either. The two are determined to do whatever possible to keep each other in business and continue to bring justice to society.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Adventure, Action, Pulp, Crime, Mystery

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

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

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Folcroft is compromised and Remo and Chiun are without support - a Miami election will help decide the future of America.

[Glen Engel-Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy how much Murphy and Sapir were willing to modify the formula of this pulp adventure series so early in the run. In this case, because of complacency within the ranks of CURE, someone discovers their existence, and it is up to Remo to save it, without all the help it provided him in the past. While he remains the Superman, the problem may be one that requires more brains than brawn, and there’s a question about whether Remo has those brains…at least in Chiun’s mind.

Oh, there’s no real suspense here. The pleasure to be found is in the testing of this formula, of the slight changes in the relationships between the emperor Smith, the master Chiun, and the still-becoming the destroyer, Remo. It’s a comic book in prose—each issue builds on the past to create something more than the single episode.

[Gilbert Stack · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the opening chapter of this novel, CURE is exposed to the nation and teeters on the brink of Harold Smith having to take his suicide pill. Everything depends upon Remo and Chiun finding a way to convince the world that there really isn’t a secret government agency violating the constitution to keep American democracy safe. This time the satirical target is the American political system and it’s hilarious to watch Remo try and figure out how to manipulate the election in a major city to bring down the bad guy without confirming to the world that CURE truly does exist. This is the most unusual Destroyer adventure yet.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, as all books in the Destroyer series, is the kind of thing you will like if you like this kind of thing. Written on, at best, a Middle School level, the Destroyer series offers a fun, easy to read diversion that represents a nice break from headier material. Enjoyable? Yes. High, haute literature? Of course not, but it never claimed to be.

[John Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

An early volume that probably baffled Pinnacle Books customers with an emphasis on political satire instead of action. I can tell Sapir started this one because it's set in Miami. Murphy's wraps it up like an extremely violent Shell Scott novel. Should be noted as the book where Chiun rips on the Kung Fu tv series for glorifying the "chicken thieves of Shaolin."

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book in this series. If you've never read a Destroyer book, this series is terrific. They are witty, engaging, and a short read that never disappoints. Chalk up another great book to Warren Murphy.

[John C. Malcolm · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ho hum.I read to escape politics,didn’t care for this entry.

[George K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Αποκαλυπτήρια δολοφόνων", εκδόσεις ΒΙΠΕΡ.

Ενδέκατο βιβλίο της σειράς Ο Εξολοθρευτής, όγδοο που διαβάζω. Είναι στα τρία πιο αδύναμα που έχω διαβάσει μέχρι στιγμής, αλλά και πάλι ήταν αρκετά διασκεδαστικό και χαλαρωτικό όσο τα υπόλοιπα.

Η οργάνωση CURE βρίσκεται σε κίνδυνο, μιας και αποκαλύφτηκαν τυχαία οι πληροφορίες που συνέλεγε για την διαφθορά του δημάρχου και των διαφόρων συνδικαλιστικών οργάνων της πόλης του Μαϊάμι. Αυτός που ανακάλυψε τις πληροφορίες ήθελε να τις πουλήσει σε έναν πολιτικό του Μαϊάμι, όμως δολοφονήθηκε και οι πληροφορίες έπεσαν στα χέρια των διεφθαρμένων τύπων που λύνουν και δένουν στο Μαϊάμι. Σαν ξυπνοπούλια που είναι, προμήθευσαν στον Τύπο ότι ένα ίδρυμα, το Φόλκροφτ, υπό τις διαταγές του Λευκού Οίκου, ασκούσε πολιτική κατασκοπεία στο Μαϊάμι.

Έτσι δεν μπορούσε η CURE να κάνει τις συνηθισμένες της ενέργειες. Ο Χάρολντ Σμιθ, διευθυντής της CURE, έθεσε σε κόκκινο συναγερμό την οργάνωση και έδωσε περιθώριο λίγων ημερών στους Ρέμο και Τσιουν να κανονίσουν, αλλιώς οι συνέπειες θα ήταν τραγικές. Ο Ρέμο και ο Τσιουν θα προσπαθήσουν να προωθήσουν έναν αποτυχημένο και λίγο βλάκα υποψήφιο δήμαρχο, έτσι θα δουν από κοντά τον κόσμο της μικροπολιτικής και πως δουλεύει το σύστημα... Αυτό δεν σημαίνει όμως ότι δεν θα σκοτώσουν ή δεν θα κάνουν τα συνηθισμένα τους κόλπα.

Διασκεδαστική ιστορία και με λίγη σατιρική διάθεση απέναντι στην πολιτική και στους πολιτικούς, με κάποιες δυνατές σκηνές, αλλά είχε τις αδυναμίες του στην πλοκή και στην όλη εξέλιξη. Η γραφή ωραία, παλπ όπως μ'αρέσει, και η ανάγνωση γρήγορη και εύκολη.

[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 4 out of 5]

CURE is trying to collect information to get rid of a corrupt mayor in Miami. One of its operatives figures out the codes and finds out about CURE. He tries to sell the info to the mayor and is killed. The info is released to the press so that CURE will have to call off the investigation to prevent exposure. Smith puts Remo on Red Alert and hopes that Remo can figure out what is going on and save the organization. The catch is that Remo has to do it himself without help from Smith or CURE.

A fun read. Murphy and Sapir were really clicking. There is very little said about Sinanju or Remo's training, but there is a lot of byplay with Remo and Chiun. Remo really comes through using his wits in this book.

Favorite tidbits: Remo shows off for a little girl by running up the lines of a ski lift. Chiun's newfound friends think that Remo is awful to his father, Chiun. Chiun is apalled by the TV show Kung-Fu. Chiun packs light with only 157 kimonos and 6 trunks. Chiun thinks Howard Cossel runs ABC.

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 145 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. In this issue the secret organization CURE is found out and the team must protect it's existence.

[Patrick Hayes · Rating 2 out of 5]

An adequate outing for Remo and Chiun. This time CURE is partially exposed doing politics in Florida and it's up to the Destroyer to solve things quickly, or CURE is gone forever. Not as much action, and really heavy (read "commentary") on politics. Also not as funny. I'd skip this book and find another if you're looking for some adventure from the House of Sinanju.

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

Due to unforeseen circumstances assassin, Remo Williams, is forced to run a political campaign. This leads to a series of comical situations and finally it leads to a deadly confrontation. Great fun!

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Campy Adventure, series of over 100 books about a Super Assasin

[Frank · Rating 4 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

[Michael Fortenberry]

average for the series

[Pablo Snazzy]

it's the destroyer. fun, quick, bubblegum, totally worth it.