Solid Gold Kidnapping

Six Million Dollar Man #4

by Evan Richards

Vintage TV tie-in paperback

Genres: Science Fiction

144 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[Karen Ford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good novelization of the second 90 minute episode that aired as part of the ABC Suspense Movie package on Saturday nights in the fall of 1973. The Six Million Dollar Man became an hour long series in January 1974, with a different production team. The 90 minute episodes were helmed by Glen A. Larson, who was also producing McCloud at the time and later would go on to bring Knight Rider, Quincy M. E. and the original Battlestar Galactica to the small screen, among many other shows. Also notable was the theme song over the closing credits, done by sixties star Dusty Springfield.

On the book which is why we're here. It's a good adaptation of the screenplay, dealing with a corporation that specializes in kidnapping diplomats for ransom. They seize their largest target in the Secretary of State of the United States and hold him for a random of one billion dollars in gold. Oscar Goldman, in charge of security for the Secretary, calls in Steve Austin. Austin is aided by a scientist, who tries a risky experiment on herself by injecting a dead suspect's memory cells into her own brain to get leads on the corporation.

There are several differences from the television show, the novel staying in tune with the original book Cyborg, by Martin Caidin. I'm the novel, his left arm is bionic, while in the series it is his right. The organization Goldman heads is called the Office of Special Operations, while the television show has the Office of Scientific Intelligence. Austin is also outfitted with several gadgets in his bionic arm and legs not explored in the series and they are put to use effectively in the book. Putting the differences aside, it's a solid action story from one of the great television shows of all time.

[John Peel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Steve Austin is back in action again, using his special abilities to go after an international gang that specializes in kidnapping very important people and holding them for ransom. Lots of running around (powered by bionic legs), from Mexico to Switzerland. Fairly well written, only... the author uses too many exclamation points!!!

[bluetyson]

Solid Gold Kidnapping by Evan Richards

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

standard novalization

[John Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting twist at the end as we get a backstory for the chairman and a different ending for him. In the end, the book is better than the movie, but the story overall is pretty dumb.