Brain Drain

The Destroyer #22

by Warren Murphy, Richard Sapir

Artists, composers, and writers are being mutilated and destroyed in the bloodiest murders in police history. This maniac is taking one thing - their brains! The chief of CURE nearly ends up as the next corpse . . . Remo and Chiun are acting fast, and discovering the killer's an old enemy, stockpiling brains to extract the creativity he's lacking . . . They are tracking him to Hollywood - top brain center - where work can be fun! A sexy agent wants Remo for a new career . . . Chiun meets his soap opera idol . . . and there's a great spectacle irresistible force, Sinanju, meeting indestructible object, Mr. Gordons.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Action, Adventure, Pulp, Martial Arts

140 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

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

[Bryan457 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Gordons, #2

Mr. Gordons has returned. He is still looking for creativity and decides to go find it in Hollywood. Before he goes, he injures Smitty and booby traps his hospital room to get rid of Remo and Chiun, because they are serious threats to his survival.

This one had edge-of-the-seat, fingernail-biting action and pacing. Mr. Gordons is one of the more dangerous villains they encounter.

Favorite tidbits: Remo plays got your nosey wosey with a motorcyclist, and actually takes the guy’s nose off. The biting humor in this one really slams Hollywood.

Warning, sex and graphic gory violence.

[Gilbert Stack · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel opens with a horrific multiple murder in which terrible things have been done to the victims’ bodies. The crime was carried out by recurring Destroyer foe Mr. Gordons on his perpetual quest to become more creative and destroy Remo and Chiun as the major threats to his long-term survival. Mr. Gordons is a great opponent. He doesn’t think the way we do and his mechanical nature makes him a particularly difficult foe for Remo and Chiun. Perversely, he also (in my opinion) proves to be quite creative in the ways in which he goes after Remo and Chiun—even if no one in the novel admits it. (And humorously, it’s uncreative Harold Smith who finds himself most in sync with uncreative Mr. Gordons.)

This isn’t one of the better Destroyer novels. It struck me as being slower moving than most books in the series so far, but it’s fun to see Mr. Gordons and it was an utter delight to watch Chiun get starstruck when he gets to meet his favorite soap opera actor, Rad Rex. And even if this wasn’t my second time through the series, it would be difficult to imagine that the threat of Mr. Gordons is actually ended at the end of the book.

If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.

[John Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second novel featuring the android villain Mr. Gordons is not as frightening as the first despite an excellent opening chapter. Here the authors take their first vicious jabs at Hollywood so there's a lot of showbiz satire that might mystify current readers. I suppose Chiun's favorite soap opera star Rad Rex is a caricature that's still relevant today. Entertaining and very fast paced, like most of the original Pinnacle Books run.

[Suresh Vijendran · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual quite fast and thrilling.

The usual wisecracks and a different story line these books make it enjoyable for a short read

[Jeff J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

#22 in the Destroyer series. Remo & Chiun go Hollywood to battle their archenemy Mr. Gordons. Much chaos ensues.

[Joel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The return of Mr. Gordon's, but still a bit dry (haha).

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

great

I love stories that keep you guessing, and this one did just that. I enjoyed this one and look forward to the next one.

[D. E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 22nd Destroyer Puts Reno &Chin Against a Humanistic Robot

WM has penned a Destroyer novel which includes a mental battle with a Humanistic robot who is capable of controlling those around him/her with some form of mental telepathy. Chin and Reno realize that they meet make the robot find them to do battle. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS

[Paul, · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good entry into the series.

My favorite quote was:

Therefore one must never go to a new town. One must be at home everywhere."

"How to do that would be a secret worth knowing."

"It is simple," said Chiun. "It comes from inside. When one knows what he is inside, then
everyplace he goes is his place and he belongs there. And thus no town is new because no town
belongs to someone else. All towns belong to him. He is not controlled. He controls."

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the big men's adventure series from the 70's than ran an impressive 150 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. This issue has the 2nd appearance of the killer android Mr. Gordons. Recommended

[DOUGLAS J BERRY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Avoid Hollywood at all costs.

Warren Murphy and Richard Sapir offering. Suitable for teens and adults.Remo and chiun have to deal with Hollywood and a killer robot. Guess which is more annoying?

[Carl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mister Gordons is back!

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

The homicidal android Mr. Gordons returns for another attempt on the lives of Remo and Chiun. This time Mr. Gordons has a new ally offering creative powers.