Operator #5: Liberty's Suicide Legions

Operator #5 #30

by Curtis Steele

Operator #5, America's Secret Service Ace, appeared in 48 novels in the classic pulp magazine bearing his name. From April 1934 to November 1939, Jimmy Christopher fought villains from inside the United States and invaders from without. With World War II looming on the horizon, the Operator #5 novels became a reflection of the times, showcasing American fears of technology and oppression. In Liberty's Suicide Legions, after America has been invaded and nearly destroyed, Jimmy Christopher battles the forces of the insidious Purple Emperor, with the fate of the United States hanging in the balance! One of the bloodiest pulp magazines ever produced, Operator #5 has a well-deserved reputation for thrill-a-minute action and peril.

Genres: Pulp

120 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1995

About the author

Henry Steeger, the owner of pulp publisher Popular Publications, launched the monthly pulp magazine "Operator #5," about a hero who would "single-handedly, or almost, save the nation from complete destruction regularly every month," in 1934. The novels were published under the pseudonym Curtis Steele, and were written by Frederick C. Davis until November 1935, then by Emile C. Tepperman until March 1938, and then Wayne Rogers for the remainder of the run.

Reviews

[John Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally, an old pulp novel set where I live! A speculative war novel with no real sci-fi or fantasy elements, it passes the time during coffee and lunch breaks at work. Supposedly others in the series are "pulpier." We'll see.

[Jeff J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

#30 of the Operator #5 pulp series, the fifth book in the Purple War sequence. Enemy battleships approach the Pacific coast. Diane is in jeopardy! Much chaos ensues.

[Ronald · Rating 5 out of 5]

written by Emile Tepperman, this is the 5th novel in the Purple Invasion story arc; read SOMETIME in 2002