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The Destroyer #95
High Priestess
When an American national ascends the throne in China and begins a territorial war, Remo Williams and his martial arts master, Chiun, rush in to restore peace. Original.
349 pages, Paperback
Published April 1, 1994
8 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Warren Murphy
294 books123 followersWarren 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 23, 2021
Went looking for an action novel and thought "how can you go wrong with something called The Destroyer?". Well...
I don't know about the rest of the series, but this book is literally a comedy. Even when they do have some action (which is mostly crammed in toward the end) it's overly cartoony and pretty silly (in one scene, the top of someone's head gets popped off "like a Champaign cork", complete with audible cork popping sound).
Maybe that's just the point of this series, but it certainly wasn't what I was looking for.
I don't know about the rest of the series, but this book is literally a comedy. Even when they do have some action (which is mostly crammed in toward the end) it's overly cartoony and pretty silly (in one scene, the top of someone's head gets popped off "like a Champaign cork", complete with audible cork popping sound).
Maybe that's just the point of this series, but it certainly wasn't what I was looking for.
July 5, 2019
For an adventure that makes the reader smile and even laugh out loud at points, one can't go wrong with the Destroyer series. This edition has Remo's mentor, Chuin, moonlighting and pulling a scam when he's approached to help find the Bunji Lama, whose reincarnation is destined to free Tibet from Chinese occupation. Chuin leads them to Hollywood, where veteran actress Squirrelly Chicane, with her New Age beliefs, gladly slips into the role.
Remo is called in by his boss, Smith, when Chicane crosses into Tibet and is arrested, causing international tensions between the United States and China to rise. He is then forced to become a one man invasion force to locate Chicane and meet up with Chuin, who has reasons of his own to free the actress.
The dialogue, especially between Remo and Chuin, is at times hilarious, and the story, written by a ghost author, doesn't itself totally seriously. There is a good subplot involving Remo experiencing deja vu, even though he has never been to Tibet.
Recommended for a light read, not to be taken seriously but a lot of fun.
Remo is called in by his boss, Smith, when Chicane crosses into Tibet and is arrested, causing international tensions between the United States and China to rise. He is then forced to become a one man invasion force to locate Chicane and meet up with Chuin, who has reasons of his own to free the actress.
The dialogue, especially between Remo and Chuin, is at times hilarious, and the story, written by a ghost author, doesn't itself totally seriously. There is a good subplot involving Remo experiencing deja vu, even though he has never been to Tibet.
Recommended for a light read, not to be taken seriously but a lot of fun.
January 12, 2025
The silliness of this series frees it up to explore a variety of premises that the other contemporary action/adventure series wouldn't be able to pull off. Here we get a cavalcade of confusion brought on by the interference of China in the reincarnation of Tibetan Lamas (always a timely issue, but played here for slapstick value). Hollywood, eat-pray-love diplomacy threatens to turn the whole balancing act on its head while, as ever, Remo and Chiun waltz through the background performing comically superhuman violence.
At their best, these are, if not a Swiss watch, then at least an entertaining Rube Goldberg device that results in a little egg on everyone's face. I don't know if this is the series at its best or if it just happens to be one that's themed more closely to my personal interests, but either way, I had a good time with this one.
There are, of course, issues. I should note that my enjoyment was brought down by the significant colonialist themes that are always present in these types of stories. Spies are agents of empire, after all, which makes this era of spy novel, teetering on the brink of end of the Cold War, all the more interesting. Your mileage will likely vary, especially if you were alive and aware of public opinion in the late 80s and early 90s, and therefore are in less need of a window into the mindset of the American Empire at the time.
At their best, these are, if not a Swiss watch, then at least an entertaining Rube Goldberg device that results in a little egg on everyone's face. I don't know if this is the series at its best or if it just happens to be one that's themed more closely to my personal interests, but either way, I had a good time with this one.
There are, of course, issues. I should note that my enjoyment was brought down by the significant colonialist themes that are always present in these types of stories. Spies are agents of empire, after all, which makes this era of spy novel, teetering on the brink of end of the Cold War, all the more interesting. Your mileage will likely vary, especially if you were alive and aware of public opinion in the late 80s and early 90s, and therefore are in less need of a window into the mindset of the American Empire at the time.
June 16, 2009
Good action. Well read with very distinct chacter vocalizations.
July 24, 2017
The first Destroyer published by Gold Eagle is a mixed bag. The action, what little there is, is nice. The jokes started to grate on me. Kula the Mongol who proclaims to have herpes in abundance was funny though. Squirrelly Chicane, who, in my best quess is a Shirley MacLaine type, is a bit tiresome. The book in general is too long for this story.
The gist of this is, some holy men seek the new Bunji Lama. Chiun is payed a room full of gold to find him/her. He picks Squirrelly. Off to Tibet they go to free it from China. Many Hollywood jokes fly. Even Fred Ward, who played Remo in the movie is brought up briefly. The endind was a switch that I did not expect. Other than that, it was a basic book of the genre with to many in jokes.
The gist of this is, some holy men seek the new Bunji Lama. Chiun is payed a room full of gold to find him/her. He picks Squirrelly. Off to Tibet they go to free it from China. Many Hollywood jokes fly. Even Fred Ward, who played Remo in the movie is brought up briefly. The endind was a switch that I did not expect. Other than that, it was a basic book of the genre with to many in jokes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2024
What’s the difference really? Where do these ideas come from? Warren must have a binder with all these ideas written down, because in the three or four books. I have read they have all been completely different. The action is roughly the same, but each is themed differently. But they were all great. Love it.
July 26, 2022
☆☆ SPOILER ALERT ☆☆
Quite a bit silly, almost too silly for me. The Shirly McCain ish simi lead was kinda too much.
I'll find something else for my next distraction. 🤔📚
Quite a bit silly, almost too silly for me. The Shirly McCain ish simi lead was kinda too much.
I'll find something else for my next distraction. 🤔📚
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2024
#95 in the Destroyer series. Tensions spike between Tibet and China. Much chaos ensues.
April 23, 2022
As a fan of old radio shows and modern audio dramas, I was intrigued by GraphicAudio’s promise of “A Movie For Your Mind”. A full cast and sound effects recording of a Destroyer story sounded right up my alley. I’m happy to say it met all my expectations.
Like most/all entries in The Destroyer series, this one was packed with satire and ridiculous, over-the-top action, hilariously brought to life by the cast and various sounds (such as popping champagne corks when the bad guys were having the tops of their heads popped off). Yes, it is silly. It would be silly to read, but the sounds really took this over the top in all the right ways.
Anyone expecting a serious action/thriller has obviously not read anything in The Destroyer series before. However, those wanting a sendup of the action/thriller genre will find this an enjoyable listen.
Like most/all entries in The Destroyer series, this one was packed with satire and ridiculous, over-the-top action, hilariously brought to life by the cast and various sounds (such as popping champagne corks when the bad guys were having the tops of their heads popped off). Yes, it is silly. It would be silly to read, but the sounds really took this over the top in all the right ways.
Anyone expecting a serious action/thriller has obviously not read anything in The Destroyer series before. However, those wanting a sendup of the action/thriller genre will find this an enjoyable listen.
February 19, 2016
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. Squirrelly Chicane is a channeler. She made a fortune by being the go-between for the living to talk with the dead. Now she is ready to begin a new career as representatives from Tibet arrive declaring her to be the newest Bunji Lama. Recommended
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews