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The Destroyer #3
Chinese Puzzle
A Chinese diplomat is decidedly deceased and the communist chairman's advisor is shanghaied while burrowing in the Bronx. The State Department is seeing red and a sour situation gets spicy. Now Remo Williams and his Korean mentor, Master Chiun, must save the abducted adviser and compromise the conspiracy before the kung fu hits the fan. As the US and China prepare for nuclear battle and an assassin's bullet has The Destroyer's name on it, the fate of the world is as complicated to solve as a Chinese Puzzle.
182 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1972
111 people are currently reading
301 people want to read
About the author
Warren Murphy
295 books124 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 - 30 of 70 reviews
July 26, 2011
The greatest single volume of what is perhaps the greatest pulp serial of all time (with all due respect to Lester Dent's Doc Savage). Chinese Puzzle established the formula and template, if you will, for most of the Destroyer novels that followed--cantankerous, curmudgeonly, and sly Chiun, Master of Sinanju, hits the road with star pupil Remo--and a trail of dead bodies, one-liners, interrupted soap operas, unsatisfying seductions, and history lessons about Sinanju ensue. It ain't Henry James, but, that's the biz, sweetheart.
September 22, 2014
Growing up, I missed the whole ‘The Destroyer’ phenomenon. As a kid, I was never that much of a reader (with the exception being comic books mostly) so it’s understandable that any franchise – however big or small – never quite dropped onto my radar. As I matured, I did find a bit of a niche in reading some light science fiction novels, but I heavily gravitated toward vintage crime and pulps from the 30’s and 40’s. When I became aware of The Destroyer, I grew interested … but then I saw that REMO WILLIAMS movie, and I tuned out. The lowbrow snark just wasn’t my thing at the time, and the whole idea seemed to smack of a 70’s era recreation of dime novel sensibilities though with a 60’s era sense of humor.
Still, I found online friends recommending to me to delve into the literary world of Remo Williams over and over the past few decades. In fact, so many did that I decided to pick up a compendium of three ‘best of’ novels and give it a whirl. I’ll read them one at a time, and I’ll sound off them individually before tackling my thoughts on the whole collection in a separate review.
CHINESE PUZZLE (THE DESTROYER BOOK 3) is a bit puzzling in and of itself.
From what I’ve learned reading about why it’s considered a worthy read, this book firmly establishes for the franchise what the relationship between Williams and his Korean mentor Chiun will be (apparently, books 1 and 2 toyed with mild variations-on-a-theme given the delay in actually getting the first novel onto shelves – it took seven years). Remo came across to me as pretty much the same way he did in the 80’s flick (Fred Ward was perfectly cast, in my humble opinion), but Chiun seemed like more of a wild card as a character. His obvious love/hate relationship with his young protégé blossomed as the foundation for their rapport, and his skills in the House of Sinanju were firmly cemented.
As for the plot? At a time of fostering amity between the United States and China, a Chinese diplomat goes curiously missing while scouting American soil as an inspection for the impending visit of that nation’s Premier. In order to conduct an investigating into what may be an unfortunate kidnapping, the President of the United States instead contacts C.U.R.E. – the ultra-secret organization Remo serves – enlisting the agency’s best to conduct a low-profile search. Can Remo and Chiun find the missing general before political forces spiral out of control?
That’s always the operative question I suspect in any of The Destroyer’s books, and – to its credit – CHINESE PUZZLE is a quick paced and (mostly) harmless read. The story as written by Warren Murphy and Richard Sapir is unfortunately shackled with some sexism of its era (don’t look for feminists to endorse Remo’s attempts to ‘subdue’ the General’s unruly 22-year-old bride with his sexual assault physical prowess any time soon) and a few all-too-easy plot twists that serve to heighten the action while watering down the intrigue. As formulaic thrillers go, this one might have required more salt and less pepper.
Come the end of this (it builds to a climax pitting our heroes against a shadowy villain who ends up being more of a plot twist than a legitimate international heavyweight), I’m not sure everything worked out as perfectly sublimely as it could’ve. But it always remains harmless merriment.
Still, there’s something curiously intoxicating about the simplicity of Remo Williams’ world and adventure. Chiun and Mei Soong (the aforementioned 22-year-old) suffer from racial hatred directed at one another, and they spend the bulk of the novel bantering in one ugly yet comical exchange after the other. (I’ve noticed some folks found this relationship a bit grating; all I can say is that it worked for me, though I’ll confess comic relief can occasionally go on too long.) And of course there’s always that father/son teacher/student dynamic at play between Remo and Chiun that sustains the piece; like a violent twist on Abbott and Costello, these two trade barbs almost as often as they trade blows with assorted bad guys, establishing both a tone and a tempo that gives this body its heart.
Granted, The Destroyer series may not be to everyone’s particular tastes. There’s plenty of action, but most of it ends up feeling rather tongue-in-cheek. If you don’t mind a healthy diet of testosterone and the bloody cadence of the tale, then you could do far worse.
Still, I found online friends recommending to me to delve into the literary world of Remo Williams over and over the past few decades. In fact, so many did that I decided to pick up a compendium of three ‘best of’ novels and give it a whirl. I’ll read them one at a time, and I’ll sound off them individually before tackling my thoughts on the whole collection in a separate review.
CHINESE PUZZLE (THE DESTROYER BOOK 3) is a bit puzzling in and of itself.
From what I’ve learned reading about why it’s considered a worthy read, this book firmly establishes for the franchise what the relationship between Williams and his Korean mentor Chiun will be (apparently, books 1 and 2 toyed with mild variations-on-a-theme given the delay in actually getting the first novel onto shelves – it took seven years). Remo came across to me as pretty much the same way he did in the 80’s flick (Fred Ward was perfectly cast, in my humble opinion), but Chiun seemed like more of a wild card as a character. His obvious love/hate relationship with his young protégé blossomed as the foundation for their rapport, and his skills in the House of Sinanju were firmly cemented.
As for the plot? At a time of fostering amity between the United States and China, a Chinese diplomat goes curiously missing while scouting American soil as an inspection for the impending visit of that nation’s Premier. In order to conduct an investigating into what may be an unfortunate kidnapping, the President of the United States instead contacts C.U.R.E. – the ultra-secret organization Remo serves – enlisting the agency’s best to conduct a low-profile search. Can Remo and Chiun find the missing general before political forces spiral out of control?
That’s always the operative question I suspect in any of The Destroyer’s books, and – to its credit – CHINESE PUZZLE is a quick paced and (mostly) harmless read. The story as written by Warren Murphy and Richard Sapir is unfortunately shackled with some sexism of its era (don’t look for feminists to endorse Remo’s attempts to ‘subdue’ the General’s unruly 22-year-old bride with his sexual assault physical prowess any time soon) and a few all-too-easy plot twists that serve to heighten the action while watering down the intrigue. As formulaic thrillers go, this one might have required more salt and less pepper.
Come the end of this (it builds to a climax pitting our heroes against a shadowy villain who ends up being more of a plot twist than a legitimate international heavyweight), I’m not sure everything worked out as perfectly sublimely as it could’ve. But it always remains harmless merriment.
Still, there’s something curiously intoxicating about the simplicity of Remo Williams’ world and adventure. Chiun and Mei Soong (the aforementioned 22-year-old) suffer from racial hatred directed at one another, and they spend the bulk of the novel bantering in one ugly yet comical exchange after the other. (I’ve noticed some folks found this relationship a bit grating; all I can say is that it worked for me, though I’ll confess comic relief can occasionally go on too long.) And of course there’s always that father/son teacher/student dynamic at play between Remo and Chiun that sustains the piece; like a violent twist on Abbott and Costello, these two trade barbs almost as often as they trade blows with assorted bad guys, establishing both a tone and a tempo that gives this body its heart.
Granted, The Destroyer series may not be to everyone’s particular tastes. There’s plenty of action, but most of it ends up feeling rather tongue-in-cheek. If you don’t mind a healthy diet of testosterone and the bloody cadence of the tale, then you could do far worse.
January 18, 2021
In the third Destroyer novel Murphy and Sapir finally began to figure out the magic that would make the series work. Chiun travels with Remo through the whole book and their back-and-forth banter brings some wonderful levity to the novel. Plus we learn important things about Remo and Chiun. Remo is a patriot (a change from Chiun’s initial assessment of him) and while Remo is becoming brilliant in the practice of Sinanju (sun source of all martial arts) he is actually not very intelligent. Oh, and Remo really enjoys teasing his boss, Harold Smith.
For his part, Chiun, gets his first serious development. He loves American soap operas (and the occasional updates on what is happening in his favorite television show are always hilarious). We also learn that Chiun really hates everyone with the possible exception of Remo. (This comes off at racism at first, until it becomes clear that it’s more akin to universal misanthropy.) Chiun can also be as temperamental as a child, which always causes additional problems for Remo—because this child can kill with a single finger and has no compunction against doing so.
The authors also recognize (perhaps after their experience with Death Check) that there is a lot of room for satire in this series. Sometimes this comes off as stereotyping, but it’s really satire. And while the satire is rarely sophisticated, it is almost always fun.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
For his part, Chiun, gets his first serious development. He loves American soap operas (and the occasional updates on what is happening in his favorite television show are always hilarious). We also learn that Chiun really hates everyone with the possible exception of Remo. (This comes off at racism at first, until it becomes clear that it’s more akin to universal misanthropy.) Chiun can also be as temperamental as a child, which always causes additional problems for Remo—because this child can kill with a single finger and has no compunction against doing so.
The authors also recognize (perhaps after their experience with Death Check) that there is a lot of room for satire in this series. Sometimes this comes off as stereotyping, but it’s really satire. And while the satire is rarely sophisticated, it is almost always fun.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
May 13, 2019
Well, I've made it through three of these novels, I guess I'll keep going. Would I recommend these books to someone else? No. Will I keep reading these men's harlequin action romance novels? Yes.
This is the first book where Chuin becomes a major character and has a brief section near the end of the book where the scene is in his first person narrative.
Favourite line: "Oh yes. Credit cards. The economical exploitation of people through subterfuge, giving them the illusion of purchasing power but making them merely wage slaves to the corporations that issue the cards."
This is the first book where Chuin becomes a major character and has a brief section near the end of the book where the scene is in his first person narrative.
Favourite line: "Oh yes. Credit cards. The economical exploitation of people through subterfuge, giving them the illusion of purchasing power but making them merely wage slaves to the corporations that issue the cards."
April 28, 2024
Read this back in the 70s, and the story reflects that time period.
Remo is tasked with bodyguard duties, helping to find a Chinese general who's disappeared in our country. The general is an advanced scout for the Premier who is serious about detente.
Remo is tasked with bodyguard duties, helping to find a Chinese general who's disappeared in our country. The general is an advanced scout for the Premier who is serious about detente.
November 15, 2021
Another quick read, this time much more enjoyable and well-crafted than the first two books. This series finally feels like its hit its stride, having finally defined the characters and setting well enough to tell a compelling story.
Its flawed in a lot of ways; the main characters are pretty unlikable (with Remo Raping A Woman Until She Likes It™ then calling a black man "Sambo" after beating the hell out of him and a bunch of radicals), but still is a well-crafted tale that moves along well, has several clever twists, and retains the distinct personality and feel of each character.
The radicalism and communism encountered is mocked well without being preachy, and the martial arts abilities described are well defined and portrayed. The overpowered, unstoppable Remo and Chiun will get boring eventually as they never really face the slightest challenge, but its fun for now.
Its flawed in a lot of ways; the main characters are pretty unlikable (with Remo Raping A Woman Until She Likes It™ then calling a black man "Sambo" after beating the hell out of him and a bunch of radicals), but still is a well-crafted tale that moves along well, has several clever twists, and retains the distinct personality and feel of each character.
The radicalism and communism encountered is mocked well without being preachy, and the martial arts abilities described are well defined and portrayed. The overpowered, unstoppable Remo and Chiun will get boring eventually as they never really face the slightest challenge, but its fun for now.
July 6, 2023
First introduction of Sinanju mystique... though some small goofs are annoying, like calling Tai Chi the Chinese version of Karate. Or having a loyal 1970s Chinese communist visiting a karate school in Chinatown, taught by Chinese, as a cultural art. I mean... the author must have seen the Kung Fu TV series.
October 21, 2025
Kaikki tässä on kohdallaan, Chiun saa isomman roolin, mutta silti jokin tuntui olevan vähän vinossa. Yhdessä välissä oivalsin, mikä se vinossa: Tästä puuttui kokonaan myöhemmin tutuksi tullut keveys ja huumori. Mutta matka tuohon on selkeästi alkanut.
October 2, 2022
Remo practiced running over wet toilet paper rolled over carpet without disturbing it, that's what ninja's can do! His master Chuin making him practice, making him ready. When the normal organisations can't do the work the President knows who to ring, the destroyer. Reno's cover is broken and he will crush adam apples, with his left foot he will destroy kidneys and temples, he is the man when it comes to close combat. Remo and Chuin on a job together, the ultimate killing machine. The banter between these two is what has finally made this series to achieve its peak. A man who has never missed a shot, a man who talks to his rifle, he feels each bullet, he absorbs it, the shape the temperature will try to kill the destroyer but will be killed instead. Chuin says the hand is for attack, the sword is for execution. Chuin tells a Chinese waiter to return the dead cats to the refrigerator and sell it as pork tomorrow after he has eaten.
June 5, 2014
I won't go so far as to say this is my favorite Destroyer novel. With so many great ones, it's hard to pick one favorite. What I will say is that it's neat to see how it all started coming together. I have read scattered books throughout the series, but somehow, other than Created, the Destroyer (Destroyer 1), many of these early books have passed me by. I plan on changing that. This was a fun read. It is somewhat dated, not only because of the plot, but because of some of the humor and prose being decidedly politically incorrect by today's standards. I'm not saying that's good or bad; it's a product of its time, and should be regarded as such. It certainly didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book.
I recommend this book to fans of the Destroyer series who, like me, may have missed the beginning, and for anyone who enjoys pulp adventure stories --with the caveat that this is the 1970s, not the 1930s, and one should keep that in mind when reading. Like it or not... that's the biz, sweetheart.
I recommend this book to fans of the Destroyer series who, like me, may have missed the beginning, and for anyone who enjoys pulp adventure stories --with the caveat that this is the 1970s, not the 1930s, and one should keep that in mind when reading. Like it or not... that's the biz, sweetheart.
May 25, 2014
I'm told that with this third entry, the Destroyer books took on their humorous aspect. Having listened to an audio version of the 95th book and enjoyed its humor, that's what I was hoping for here. And I can't truthfully say I didn't enjoy it, but I can say that I thought the author was trying a bit too hard. His heavy handed attempts at humor regarding Chinese Communists and African Americans left me a bit uncomfortable. The author seems to have that comedian's notion that "as long as I'm picking on everyone, it's okay to be offensive." it's light reading, actually fun in its own way, and perfect for an audiobook that you don't have to listen to too closely as you drive. All that said, I've come to really love books that don't take themselves too seriously and will probably try a few more.
January 3, 2015
Murphy at his best. Being the third book of the Destroyer series, it finally has enough of Chiun. Grumpy, world-wise Korean master turned out to be the missing piece, only adding to Remo's badass action hero attitude. Think along the lines of constant bantering, lectures and riddles. Throw soap operas and ancient legends into the mixture, and you might just get the idea how over the top it might get.
One simply can't go wrong with Chinese communists, dreams of world peace, retired snipers and night tigers of Sinanju.
Instant pulp classic, fun, easy read with just the right amount of cheese.
One simply can't go wrong with Chinese communists, dreams of world peace, retired snipers and night tigers of Sinanju.
Instant pulp classic, fun, easy read with just the right amount of cheese.
November 20, 2011
"Chinese Puzzle" is the third book in the Destroyer series by Richard Sapir and Warren Murphy, and it is the first book to bring all the hallmarks of the long-running series together. Smith instructs Remo (with Chiun, for the first time) to escort the wife of a missing Chinese general while attempting to locate said general. Bodies of hitmen, gangsters, and thugs pile up as the plot races. Fans of the series will not want to miss this one!
October 8, 2017
The Destroyer... This brought back some memories.
This was one of the first pulp-fiction series I read as a teen.
I enjoyed it then, was captivated by the action sequences and was intrigued by Chiun and Remo's relationship.
This may not be the best literary work, but I enjoyed it. This is where the basic formula for the later books came together.
Maybe it's the nostalgia, but I give this a hearty 4 stars.
This was one of the first pulp-fiction series I read as a teen.
I enjoyed it then, was captivated by the action sequences and was intrigued by Chiun and Remo's relationship.
This may not be the best literary work, but I enjoyed it. This is where the basic formula for the later books came together.
Maybe it's the nostalgia, but I give this a hearty 4 stars.
April 4, 2017
A thought that I couldn't get out of my head has led me back to the Destroyer series. Well, it's been a long time since I reread them. Still enjoy them.
April 23, 2013
Kind of slow. Lots of action but no real suspense.
June 25, 2019
I've read many reviews of Chinese Puzzle that point to it as the ideal place for a new reader to begin the series, and I can definitely see the validity in these statements. Chinese Puzzle is the third book in the Destroyer series, and it is in this book that the formula fans of the series are used to finally began to jell.
In Chinese Puzzle, Remo and Chiun are recruited by the president to accompany the wife of a Chinese general searching for her husband, whose disappearance on American soil threatens to sabotage upcoming peace talks.
The second chapter of the book clearly states that the events within take place almost exactly one year from the events of Death Check, which places the action firmly within the year of publishing, 1972. The president in this case - unnamed, of course - is still obviously Nixon, and the plot of Chinese Puzzle is a clear reference to Nixon's historic visit to China in 1972. The authors treat Nixon very reverentially, spending plenty of time underlining how sincere his concern for world peace is. There are also a couple of scenes with his "most trusted adviser," who I assume is Kissinger based solely on not being able to identify any other Nixon advisers with "curly locks."
The plot isn't more complicated than the first two books in the series, but its interweaving with the precarious nature of CURE, Sinanju mythology, and the relationship between Remo and Chiun is much smoother feels a bit more organic.
HIS NAME WAS REMO: "His name was Remo." Still haven't nailed this one down yet. But they're getting close.
THE BAD GUY: COMMIES! More specifically, Chinese communists attempting to thwart the current Premier's attempts at peace talks with the U.S. Revealing the specifics might be too much of a spoiler alert, so COMMIES is all you get.
REMO & CURE: A lot of time is spent with Smith, with greater detail given to how CURE operates, and more importantly, how it will be dissolved if it becomes compromised, including Smith's suicide and Remo's termination ate the hands of Chiun. Smith also spends a little time with Remo and gets to - sort of - see him in action.
REMO & CHIUN: This is how Destroyer fans are used to Remo and Chiun interacting. Remo respects Chiun, calls him Little Father, and is protective of him. They work the case together, with Chiun alternating between sage wisdom and childish, impulsive behavior. Both the humor and the chemistry is on full display. In this installment, Chiun takes up yiddish phrases he learned from an old lady at a diner, and Remo confronts Chiun about his arrangement with CURE to kill Remo if ever instructed by Smith. Also interesting is how the plot includes a tie-in to Sinanju history, and the inclusion of an assassination attempt on Remo by a sniper who was once briefly trained by Sinanju villagers.
REMO’S LADIES: Remo only beds one woman this time, the General's wife. However, he does so only to try and keep control of her, and doesn't enjoy it. Another in a long line of sleeping with the enemy moments.
BODY COUNT: With this review I'm instituting the rule that the only bodies I'm counting are those belonging to Remo. He is, after all, the Destroyer. Even with this new restriction, the body count comes in at 18. Counting Chiun kills would take that total closer to 25.
In Chinese Puzzle, Remo and Chiun are recruited by the president to accompany the wife of a Chinese general searching for her husband, whose disappearance on American soil threatens to sabotage upcoming peace talks.
The second chapter of the book clearly states that the events within take place almost exactly one year from the events of Death Check, which places the action firmly within the year of publishing, 1972. The president in this case - unnamed, of course - is still obviously Nixon, and the plot of Chinese Puzzle is a clear reference to Nixon's historic visit to China in 1972. The authors treat Nixon very reverentially, spending plenty of time underlining how sincere his concern for world peace is. There are also a couple of scenes with his "most trusted adviser," who I assume is Kissinger based solely on not being able to identify any other Nixon advisers with "curly locks."
The plot isn't more complicated than the first two books in the series, but its interweaving with the precarious nature of CURE, Sinanju mythology, and the relationship between Remo and Chiun is much smoother feels a bit more organic.
HIS NAME WAS REMO: "His name was Remo." Still haven't nailed this one down yet. But they're getting close.
THE BAD GUY: COMMIES! More specifically, Chinese communists attempting to thwart the current Premier's attempts at peace talks with the U.S. Revealing the specifics might be too much of a spoiler alert, so COMMIES is all you get.
REMO & CURE: A lot of time is spent with Smith, with greater detail given to how CURE operates, and more importantly, how it will be dissolved if it becomes compromised, including Smith's suicide and Remo's termination ate the hands of Chiun. Smith also spends a little time with Remo and gets to - sort of - see him in action.
REMO & CHIUN: This is how Destroyer fans are used to Remo and Chiun interacting. Remo respects Chiun, calls him Little Father, and is protective of him. They work the case together, with Chiun alternating between sage wisdom and childish, impulsive behavior. Both the humor and the chemistry is on full display. In this installment, Chiun takes up yiddish phrases he learned from an old lady at a diner, and Remo confronts Chiun about his arrangement with CURE to kill Remo if ever instructed by Smith. Also interesting is how the plot includes a tie-in to Sinanju history, and the inclusion of an assassination attempt on Remo by a sniper who was once briefly trained by Sinanju villagers.
REMO’S LADIES: Remo only beds one woman this time, the General's wife. However, he does so only to try and keep control of her, and doesn't enjoy it. Another in a long line of sleeping with the enemy moments.
BODY COUNT: With this review I'm instituting the rule that the only bodies I'm counting are those belonging to Remo. He is, after all, the Destroyer. Even with this new restriction, the body count comes in at 18. Counting Chiun kills would take that total closer to 25.
November 29, 2019
A great read. You can really tell that this book was made in a different time. A more simple time before the PC nonsense took over. The characters regularly make jabs at each other based on their race, appearance, whatever. Racist maybe, but definitely more realistic to how people act when not in front of a camera. The story does not lose anything because of this.
If anything the story only has one detriment which is a lack of explanation of what is happening especially in the action scene. There is one incident in where a bad guy´s head is just chopped off. Not with a knife or an axe, but with kung fu. That would be good and all, but just reading how a kung fu master moved an inch and a guy´s head came off screams lazy writing. We are just meant to accept that these masters are able to do this. I can take it, but only because it is the type of book where this is acceptable. Any more serious works would not have something like this just fly by.
A fun light hearted read. Not for the faint of heart or for those out of touch with reality.
If anything the story only has one detriment which is a lack of explanation of what is happening especially in the action scene. There is one incident in where a bad guy´s head is just chopped off. Not with a knife or an axe, but with kung fu. That would be good and all, but just reading how a kung fu master moved an inch and a guy´s head came off screams lazy writing. We are just meant to accept that these masters are able to do this. I can take it, but only because it is the type of book where this is acceptable. Any more serious works would not have something like this just fly by.
A fun light hearted read. Not for the faint of heart or for those out of touch with reality.
February 7, 2023
With book 3, the Destroyer series found its voice by finally bringing Chiun along for the ride. This book establishes pretty much all the major tropes used by the series afterward: the son/little father relationship between Remo and Chiun, the legend of Shinaju and its night tigers, and the antagonism between Shinaju and China.
It’s not a surprise that the depictions of Nixon and Kissinger are favorable. These books, intended to be racked next to Marc Bolan and other pulp military books, are conservative in nature. What is surprising is how nuanced the treatment of race is. Although there are many stereotypes used, Murphy and Sapir slipped in some ringers in an attempt to sway their white male audience that not all X are like X.
The fact that Remo and Chiun are indestructible is just another aspect of this series’ real inspiration: the world of comics. They are superheros without capes, meant to bring justice to the world. Of course, the way they do it is very anti-heroic, similar to Marvel’s The Punisher, who would have likely done well as a pulp action-adventure book star.
It’s not a surprise that the depictions of Nixon and Kissinger are favorable. These books, intended to be racked next to Marc Bolan and other pulp military books, are conservative in nature. What is surprising is how nuanced the treatment of race is. Although there are many stereotypes used, Murphy and Sapir slipped in some ringers in an attempt to sway their white male audience that not all X are like X.
The fact that Remo and Chiun are indestructible is just another aspect of this series’ real inspiration: the world of comics. They are superheros without capes, meant to bring justice to the world. Of course, the way they do it is very anti-heroic, similar to Marvel’s The Punisher, who would have likely done well as a pulp action-adventure book star.
January 23, 2026
This classic pulp book, written in the early 1970s is my first taste of Remo Williams (besides the bad movie from the 80s) and it was a great ride.
Equal parts funny, brutal and engaging, the action moves at a fast pace as the Destroyer and Chiun search for a missing Chinese General who came to the US to instigate peace talks between the nations. Someone is determined to stop the peace talks, and it’s up to Remo and Chiun to find out who and stop them.
Lots of cool, hand to hand combat in this book, and I enjoyed the different ways Remo trained, such as scaling down the side of his hotel room. The idea of him being aware of people observing him or trying to observe him while appearing to not do so was interesting as well.
Also, the fact Smith, leader of Remos group, is so willing to sacrifice himself and have Remo killed by Chiun if the group is compromised is an interesting plot point.
Overall I enjoyed my first read of Destroyer, and will look for more of those books in the future.
Equal parts funny, brutal and engaging, the action moves at a fast pace as the Destroyer and Chiun search for a missing Chinese General who came to the US to instigate peace talks between the nations. Someone is determined to stop the peace talks, and it’s up to Remo and Chiun to find out who and stop them.
Lots of cool, hand to hand combat in this book, and I enjoyed the different ways Remo trained, such as scaling down the side of his hotel room. The idea of him being aware of people observing him or trying to observe him while appearing to not do so was interesting as well.
Also, the fact Smith, leader of Remos group, is so willing to sacrifice himself and have Remo killed by Chiun if the group is compromised is an interesting plot point.
Overall I enjoyed my first read of Destroyer, and will look for more of those books in the future.
August 21, 2020
I wanted to read a short and light novel after finishing Alex Cross' The Shadows. I've always been a fan of the Remo The Destroyer books so decided to read this one. This book brings back memories and is probably the first Destroyer book I have ever read back in the 80's. I can't remember if it was senior high or college when I first read this book but it introduced me to Remo and Chiun and their crazy adventures.
I am especially fond of this book because it brings back a sense of nostalgia in those days when society is not so polarized and there is no "PC" or politically correct topics to watch out for. I know this book has stereotypes but that is just for humor and not really meant to denigrate a race or a person.
Finished this book in just a day. It was a funny story and I enjoyed it :-)
I am especially fond of this book because it brings back a sense of nostalgia in those days when society is not so polarized and there is no "PC" or politically correct topics to watch out for. I know this book has stereotypes but that is just for humor and not really meant to denigrate a race or a person.
Finished this book in just a day. It was a funny story and I enjoyed it :-)
June 16, 2017
My first Destroyer book and it was pure entertainment. Frequently un-PC, but more frequently hilarious, manages to pack in a decent plot, sex, laughs, action and more - all this in two hundred and eight pages. Remarkable.
Supposedly Destroyer superfan Shane Black (who collaberated with Warren Murphy on an early script for Lethal Weapon 2) is gonna make a new Destroyer movie. My dream casting would've kept Fred Ward but theown in Mako as Chiun. Regardless, if such a film were made these days (unlikely) Chiun would either be a black guy or eliminated from the story completely. Yawn.
Supposedly Destroyer superfan Shane Black (who collaberated with Warren Murphy on an early script for Lethal Weapon 2) is gonna make a new Destroyer movie. My dream casting would've kept Fred Ward but theown in Mako as Chiun. Regardless, if such a film were made these days (unlikely) Chiun would either be a black guy or eliminated from the story completely. Yawn.
March 14, 2018
Had read a small number of Destroyer novels here or there but now that they are easily and very cheaply available on Kindle am planning to exploring them more in depth. I was advised that CHINESE PUZZLE, the third in the series, is actually the best entry point as this is where the authors first manage to get the feel for books right, so this is what I did.
It's a fast and fun read. None of that 1000+ page malarkey that permeates the industry these days. Sometimes you feel like having a quick snack and books like The Destroyer are perfect for that.
It's a fast and fun read. None of that 1000+ page malarkey that permeates the industry these days. Sometimes you feel like having a quick snack and books like The Destroyer are perfect for that.
May 11, 2018
The third Destroyer novel involves Remo in the opening of relations with Communist China. The reissue of this novel has a foreword that argues this book marks the true beginning of the series. This was the point where the authors fully embraced humor and satire to distinguish the series from others in the men’s adventure genre, and was the book that fully developed the role of Chiun. There is also an interesting discussion on how the short production cycles of the era supported timeliness. This title, for example, was published the same week as President Nixon’s trip to China.
April 21, 2021
Needed a light hearted vacation read and this from my past popped into my head so I revisited it.
Holy f*uck, it's hard to believe we used to think that this sort of thing was OK. "This gal won't do what I want so I'll rape her. She'll like it so much she'll be more compliant." -- is just gobsmackingly amazing to see on the page. Yeah, I know, it was everywhere (looking at you Bond, James Bond) but that was really, really hard to read.
Setting that gigantic flaming, rancid turd aside -- it was fun to reacquaint with Remo, Chiun and Smith.
Holy f*uck, it's hard to believe we used to think that this sort of thing was OK. "This gal won't do what I want so I'll rape her. She'll like it so much she'll be more compliant." -- is just gobsmackingly amazing to see on the page. Yeah, I know, it was everywhere (looking at you Bond, James Bond) but that was really, really hard to read.
Setting that gigantic flaming, rancid turd aside -- it was fun to reacquaint with Remo, Chiun and Smith.
October 28, 2025
Now we’re getting there. The second book was awkward because it lacked the one thing that makes The Destroyer books so much fun, which is the interaction between Remo and Chiun. Here, it is out in full force, amplified by Chiun’s (and basically everybody else’s) horrible racist and nationalist tantrums. Yes, everyone is a caricature, and yes, even the authors have more than a few more than questionable forays into political incorrectness (especially from today’s perspective), but it is precisely the caricatural nature of it all that turns everything into (mostly) a bit of harmless fun.
April 25, 2018
Best of the three I've read. It's got ridiculous feats of martial arts. Chiun comes along for the first time. I think he was what this series needed to set it apart. Awesome read. You could start here and not be out of sorts. NOTE: CURE is a super secret organization that's sole function is to have Remo kill people who are a danger to America and can not be dealt with any other way. There, that was what you needed to know from books one and two.
January 11, 2019
The third book in the series adds a healthy dose of humor and satire into the over-the-top adventures of Remo Williams. This humor comes primarily in the interactions between Remo and Chiun, his teacher, as they follow their mission to find a missing Chinese General. I found this book to be much more entertaining than the first two --there's still a lot of "politically incorrect" content, but the whole thing is incredibly over the top and strangely entertaining.
November 12, 2022
Inspired by my affection for the cheesy 80s movie Remo Williams, I decided to check out Chinese Puzzle. It's a formulaic pulp novel, featuring extremely unbelievable characters. I also have to deduct points for stereotypical and culturally insensitive portrayals of Orientals and blacks. It's awfulness inspired a few chuckles, but overall it was an utterly forgettable experience.
August 20, 2023
The definition of a Dad book. I can see why Shane Black loves this series. This book reads like an unmade '80s action movie. (Too bad the Fred Ward movie didn't take off.) The type of corny humor in this book, balanced with over the top action and violence, is perfect for an airplane read. Just be sure to check your PC at the door.
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