TNT

TNT #1

by Doug Masters

After surviving an atomic blast, Anthony Nicholas Twin emerges as a new man—now as deadly a killer as he was a skilled lover—with superhuman abilities that cannot be stopped

216 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

Reviews

[Jack Tripper · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Review 12/25/24)

Tasteless and utterly reprehensible pulp trash from France that probably belongs in a garbage can. 4 Stars.*


*While the fact that our hero TNT must bang — and bring to orgasm — 40 mentally challenged/psychotic women locked in cages in order to escape an elaborate 7 level death-maze may be in slightly poor taste, it was nearly impossible to stop reading. Especially when you throw the ninjas, deadly plants, scorpion pit, and such into the mix. Our hero has enhanced sensory abilities and is buck naked during all this by the way, which makes it interesting when he’s dealing with acid vats and ladders made of razor blades. Good times. And this is just the first of seven volumes — that have been translated into English, that is. This is pretty much all you need to know in order to decide if the book/series would be of special interest to you or not.

But it also couldn’t hurt if you find the idea of TNT being told a story by his mega-rich and powerful captor that goes on continuously throughout a car ride, four or five flights across several countries, and a yacht ride to be quality humor.

[Valerie Book Valkyrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Dynamite Stars
TNT #1, the first of a seven installment series published from 1985 to 1986 by Charter Books (English version), translated by Victoria Reiter from the original French originally published in France from 1978 to 1980.
My only regret is not having the ability to read the original French submission, for which btw, goodreads shows no record. As a bonus, here's the cover of the original French publication of TNT volume 1, which in France was titled Les Sept Cercles (The Seven Circles):



The best part about reading this book was the comment or two posted by gr members and friends under my status updates:
Valerie Book Valkyrie {Glitchy gr 🎪Circus} is on page 98 of 216
⛎ "Her body undulated as she settled herself above him."
A literal body wave, that. pg 97
Feb 14, 2025 06:57AM

message 1: by BerengariaFeb 14, 2025 06:59AM
BerengariaI SPY in the armoury? And 😂 about the body wave!
message 2: by Marc *Dark Reader with a Thousand Young! Iä!*Feb 14, 2025 07:41AM
Marc *Dark Reader with a Thousand Young! Iä!*She's doing the worm on him.

message 3: by Valerie Book Valkyrie - rated it 3 starsFeb 14, 2025 08:37AM
Valerie Book Valkyrie {Glitchy gr 🎪Circus}Bull's eye Berengaria🎯! Plus this read is as fast as a speeding bullet!
message 4: by Valerie Book Valkyrie - rated it 3 starsFeb 14, 2025 08:42AM
Valerie Book Valkyrie {Glitchy gr 🎪Circus}That she is, Marc! This is a pretty good read "in the genre", but the sex scenes are really 1-Star 🙄. Maybe that is also part of being "in the genre", not sure, this is a new-to-me reading experience.

The goodreads page for this book has no indication as to what that genre might be. Other reviewers have dubbed it "mens adventure", "pulpy slop", "great-schlock", "pure pulp", and "utter trash."

According to the AI infecting my Search Engine, "The pulp genre is characterized by its focus on thrills, action, and simple entertainment rather than deep ideas." Looks like this AI has never met Anthony Nicholas Twin (aka TNT)! Try these for some deep ideas:
1. "After surviving an atomic blast, Anthony Nicholas Twin emerges as a new man—now as deadly a killer as he was a skilled lover—with superhuman abilities that cannot be stopped." from the gr book blurb.
2. "A man forced to steal a secret formula that makes gasoline cheaper than water." from the book's back cover
3. " 'Men have a weak spot,' she said to Tony Nicholas Twin. 'There is always a point where their bodies can no longer respond. Every man has a limit. I wonder where yours is.' " Question posed by the undulating woman cited/sited in the above status update.

The sex scenes are not as graphic as you might expect, nor is the violence. Indeed, TNT #1 is almost puritan in its descriptions: profanity is kept to a minimum, there's not much gore, and the horrors of our hero's escapades are relayed almost clinically.

This book was the "get one free" in a "buy three get one free" deal offered by an internet used book seller🧚‍♀️🙋🏼.

[Oliver Clarke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring and a bit confusing until the end which was just massively offensive. Colour me disappointed.

[Eric Watchous · Rating 2 out of 5]

Follows all the rules you look for in a thriller and it's a quick, dirty read if you're looking for one. If you enjoy pulpy slop and have a penchant to suspend your disbelief then this male version of a romance novel will certainly satisfy you.

I would call utter trash, but in a good way.

[Mikepottz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A weapons testing on a atoll left a man in a coma. How or why he survived a nuclear explosion nobody knew? His body should have disintegrated but he only had slight burns. He was a miracle of nature, fascinating to the scientists. Coming out of his coma he had developed some kind of mutation ability, he could see in the dark, hear stuff 100s of meters away, satisfy women. All his senses were now exceptionally increased. His name was Tomy Nicolas Twin (TNT). His hospital was a maximum security prison, he is given the chance to escape and will be awarded freedom to see his only love his mentally challenged daughter, a 3 year old in a teenagers body. An organization wants to cover up stuff and one of the nurses treating TNT is raped, smashed repeatedly with a sledgehammer, bones disintegrating, body chopped in pieces, mixed with concrete and made into a wall. Once escaped the government is worried this extraordinary ability will be captured by Russia, Uganda or Samoa hahaha. TNT will take on a job to kill the heaviest guarded person in the world living in a security compound called the seven circles. Scorpions, wind tunnels of 150 miles an hour, poisonous gases, maggots, smelling of rotten flesh TNT will endure with his powers to kill and get his daughter back. Awesome start to a pretty rare series.

[Matt Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

“She was the first to discover — the subject learning it at the same time — the first two mutations had taken place in his body. He could see in the dark. And his sexual energy was inexhaustible. Absolutely inexhaustible.”

I think this quote sums up how ridiculous this book is. It’s bananas. This first TNT book (OUT OF SEVEN?!) is an origin story for the character. It’s very “Marvel method” how he gets his powers. Anthony Nicolas Twin aka TNT, is an investigative journalist who gets blown up on a nuclear test island while investigating a story.

How did he get his powers? Radiation. How can he fight so well? No idea. Why would his sex drive become insatiable? Because it must!

This book is fun and bonkers and perfect if you want to read a quick trashy book. He literally has to have sex with over 40 women, during one of the antagonists evil games… what more can I say.

[Trevor · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dumb-fun men’s adventure novel for 3/4 of its length, then in the final act it takes a morally reprehensible turn that is so obviously an attempt to shock that it just feels more silly and pathetic than it does daring. The entire read is still an interesting relic of a very different time in publishing, but I wouldn’t say it made me want to run out and track down the rest of the series or anything.

[Tony Fecteau · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book many years ago. The origin story has the be read with belief suspended. His powers are kind of humorous if you really think about it. The book has a slow start then jumps into action mode. Reading this book is definitely a form of escapism. :)

[Michael Brooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a pure pulp novel with an unstoppable hero who makes women wet.

[Glen · Rating 1 out of 5]

A terrible book about reporter turned into a sort of super being after being caught in a nuclear explosion.

Really bad.

[I.D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's written in an almost clinical style and a lot of it really has no bearing on the so-called plot, but it's dark, weird, and violent with a couple of gonzo scenes out of an acid trip.