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The Rat Bastards #2
Death Squad
Friend or foe, stay out of their way!
Malaria can’t slow them down. A stockade can’t keep them penned up. Tanks can’t stop them. They’re the most blood-hungry platoon of killers in the jungle. The enemy fears them. Their own army hates them. But friend or foe, when they’re on their red-meat rampage of terror, you’d better steer clear of the Rat Bastards.
Originally published under the pen name John Mackie
206 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1983
About the author
Len Levinson
79 books23 followersAKA John Mackie, J. Farragut Jones, Nicholas Brady and Gordon Davis; also has ghost written as Clay Dawson.
Born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Len Levinson served on active duty in the U.S. Army from 1954-1957, and graduated from Michigan State University with a BA in Social Science. He relocated to NYC that year and worked as an advertising copywriter and public relations executive before becoming a full-time novelist.
Len has had over eighty titles published and has created and wrote a number of series, including The Apache Wars Saga, The Pecos Kid, The Rat Bastards, and The Sergeant.
After many years in NYC, Len moved to a small town (pop. 3100) in rural Illinois, where he is now surrounded by corn and soybean fields ... a peaceful, ideal location for a writer.
Born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Len Levinson served on active duty in the U.S. Army from 1954-1957, and graduated from Michigan State University with a BA in Social Science. He relocated to NYC that year and worked as an advertising copywriter and public relations executive before becoming a full-time novelist.
Len has had over eighty titles published and has created and wrote a number of series, including The Apache Wars Saga, The Pecos Kid, The Rat Bastards, and The Sergeant.
After many years in NYC, Len moved to a small town (pop. 3100) in rural Illinois, where he is now surrounded by corn and soybean fields ... a peaceful, ideal location for a writer.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 8, 2021
Simple and quick, with a ton of action and gore. The characters are great, and very diverse which adds to a lot of great and funny moments. I find myself saying one more chapter only to wrap up the book before I know it.
January 25, 2022
"The Rat Bastards" (as a few commanding officers have dubbed them) have proven their mettle in the previous novel. Now they embark on their first actual mission: Go behind enemy lines and disrupt "The Tokyo Express," a regular supply run for the Japanese troops on Guadalcanal. It's difficult to describe the plot to Death Squad beyond that — When Sgt. Butsko tells everyone to split up, so too does the narrative.
At one point, Butsko is captured and tortured by a cruel Japanese sergeant. During the quieter moments, we learn more about Butsko's background and his seemingly psychotic hatred of Japanese soldiers. The emerging picture isn't pretty, and it's difficult not to feel sorry The Rat Bastards' commanding officer, who only seems at peace while waging war.
The scenes change frequently, like a fast-paced television series, with a dozen little subplots following the different squads. Len Levinson, writing as "John Mackie," the narrative moves like a B-52, but he deftly switches scenes. The novel ends with an ending that's fiery, and NOT "mostly peaceful." An affable PT-boat commander picks up the surviving members — all of The Rat Bastards — and there ensues a bombastic naval showdown as the hapless Tokyo Express drops anchor.
Perhaps contemporary CGI would help, but it's difficult to imagine anyone filming this as a motion picture and doing it justice. Len Levinson's only had typewriter and paper, not a camera and film, but his imagination and powers of description weren't hindered by any monetary budget. His characters are fully-developed, three dimensional beings, as we learn when they aren't waging war with the enemy — or amongst themselves, which is most of the time.
At one point, Butsko is captured and tortured by a cruel Japanese sergeant. During the quieter moments, we learn more about Butsko's background and his seemingly psychotic hatred of Japanese soldiers. The emerging picture isn't pretty, and it's difficult not to feel sorry The Rat Bastards' commanding officer, who only seems at peace while waging war.
The scenes change frequently, like a fast-paced television series, with a dozen little subplots following the different squads. Len Levinson, writing as "John Mackie," the narrative moves like a B-52, but he deftly switches scenes. The novel ends with an ending that's fiery, and NOT "mostly peaceful." An affable PT-boat commander picks up the surviving members — all of The Rat Bastards — and there ensues a bombastic naval showdown as the hapless Tokyo Express drops anchor.
Perhaps contemporary CGI would help, but it's difficult to imagine anyone filming this as a motion picture and doing it justice. Len Levinson's only had typewriter and paper, not a camera and film, but his imagination and powers of description weren't hindered by any monetary budget. His characters are fully-developed, three dimensional beings, as we learn when they aren't waging war with the enemy — or amongst themselves, which is most of the time.
September 12, 2023
The second book in the series starts out in the midst of action, with three members of the titular platoon out in the jungle of Guadalcanal looking for Japanese infiltrators.
Soon, the platoon is given a difficult job--travel by submarine behind enemy lines and scout out the location where the Japanese navy is landing reinforcements and supplies each night. Things go wrong, one of the Americans is captured and tortured. Most of the platoon pulls out, but one squad stays behind to rescue their comrade.
The rescue effort is followed by the squad scattering through the jungle, having mini-adventures involving Japanese troops, crocodiles and a raging river that needs to be crossed. Eventually, the squad is rescued by a PT boat, but then finds themselves with an opportunity to complete their original mission. This, in turn, leads to some intense PT boat action. I love PT boats. Put one in a WWII story and I'm all in.
Non-stop action from start to finish. A really, really fun read.
Soon, the platoon is given a difficult job--travel by submarine behind enemy lines and scout out the location where the Japanese navy is landing reinforcements and supplies each night. Things go wrong, one of the Americans is captured and tortured. Most of the platoon pulls out, but one squad stays behind to rescue their comrade.
The rescue effort is followed by the squad scattering through the jungle, having mini-adventures involving Japanese troops, crocodiles and a raging river that needs to be crossed. Eventually, the squad is rescued by a PT boat, but then finds themselves with an opportunity to complete their original mission. This, in turn, leads to some intense PT boat action. I love PT boats. Put one in a WWII story and I'm all in.
Non-stop action from start to finish. A really, really fun read.
November 18, 2022
Starting right after the first book ended, the Rat Bastards are sent behind enemy lines to see where the Tokyo express is landing troops on Guadalcanal. Of course nothing is that simple and when Sgt Busko is captured the others decided to break him out against orders. They are all nuts but resourceful and tough so they may just make it.
Highly recommended, such a fun series so far. All of the troops have over the top personalities and are entertaining in their own way. The books are written with lots of action and a pedal to the metal style that seldom lets up.
Highly recommended, such a fun series so far. All of the troops have over the top personalities and are entertaining in their own way. The books are written with lots of action and a pedal to the metal style that seldom lets up.
October 11, 2022
Just finished this great
edition to the Rat Bastard's! It was another fast paced
action packed death dealing adventure. If you enjoy over the top 80's adventures
movies.. looking at you Rambo
and Commando! These stories are for you.
edition to the Rat Bastard's! It was another fast paced
action packed death dealing adventure. If you enjoy over the top 80's adventures
movies.. looking at you Rambo
and Commando! These stories are for you.
July 10, 2018
Entertaining war pulp.
January 11, 2025
I am thoroughly impressed with this series so far. No wasted moments. Characters are either fighting for their lives or engaged in rip-roaring dialogue that you never want to end. Our heroes are plunged into fresh scenarios and increasing dangers, with constant death around every turn. I love the way the author blends actual Japanese military figures in the mix, along with high ranking American leaders, blurring the line between fact and fiction. But no one is truly good or bad in these books, you just get flawed, paranoid, anxious, and in a few cases, depraved characters.
This entry, Death Squad, contains extremely graphic violence, gore, and some very strong sexual content. I strongly suspect that in current times, this book would never be published, but back in 1983, it was 'anything goes'. No woke mob or delicate snowflakes back then. Just real men, real characters, portrayed without filters or apologies. Thank you, Bold Venture Press, for reissuing this series!!!
This entry, Death Squad, contains extremely graphic violence, gore, and some very strong sexual content. I strongly suspect that in current times, this book would never be published, but back in 1983, it was 'anything goes'. No woke mob or delicate snowflakes back then. Just real men, real characters, portrayed without filters or apologies. Thank you, Bold Venture Press, for reissuing this series!!!
June 30, 2014
More war stories from Guadalcanal WWII 1942-43. I keep seeing visions of Joe Ledger; go figure!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews