Shock Waves

Mack Bolan the Executioner #81

by Don Pendleton (Series Creator), Michael Newton (Contributor)

Brief essays discuss more than a thousand films, look at what makes each film interesting, and list main cast and credits

Genres: Action, Fiction

185 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 1, 1985

About the author

Don 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

Reviews

[Jordan Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now that we are up to 81 books in this series, you know exactly what you are going to get when it comes to Mack Bolan and his never ending hellfire crusade. There will be lots of action, lots of violence, lots of death, and, gerenraelly speaking, a good time to be had all around. Nothing really changes with Shock Waves as it follows the same formula that these books have followed for over a decade.

The difference here, however, is that Mike Newton proves he should have been the only author to carry on Don Pendleton’s legacy. While there have been a ton of different authors carrying on the Executioner books with varying amounts of success, it’s been Mike Newton who has had the most consistency in storytelling and writing in a similar vein to the original creator. Shock Waves continues that trend as Newton pits Bolan against the mafia in one of the most violent and deadly encounters yet. Using his wit and knowledge, as well as his numerous contacts in the field, Bolan sets up a civil war amongst the members of the mafia, as they all struggle for control. Being that this is an Executioner novel, you can guess the results pretty quick.

I think Shock Waves really stands out as a shining example of this second iteration of Bolan taking on his arch nemesis. It’s incredibly well paced, and easily one of the most violent and gory entries into the series.

Plus, you gotta love Newton’s writing. Yes, it’s simple and to the point, but it’s perfect for this genre of dad lit. Need any other proof? Here’s a perfect example, straight from the book: “Bolan swung in that direction and found himself confronted by a member of the Mau Maus. Long and lean, with scrawny arms and an outlandish Afro hairstyle, he resembled a B-movie alien. But there was nothing otherworld about the sawed-off shotgun in his hands and Bolan took an instant to decide if he would live or die. The punks stepped in and Bolan’s Ingram zippered him from crotch to throat, slamming him back against the doorframe; he hung there for a moment, finally slumping in a bath sprawl.”

[Kyrilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The usual guns and action you can expect from a Mack Bolan book.