Political Pressure

Rating:
Summary: Same as before!!!
Review: Blah,blah,blah..same as before...No really scary bad guy,just some second rate organization..Same as before..The book is long and too many boring scenes.Its strange that the auther seems to have gotten the Smith/Harold dynamics down but fails on the main
relationship with Remo and Chiun..Remo still tells Chiun,the father he loves, to"shut up"..again..theformer warm feeling of love between them,crutial to the story "fabric" is gone..The new Master of Sinanju,who will "usher in an era greater than any that has come before"..Hasn't a clue as to what to do with himself..again,there will be those who will love this book,the old timers are still waiting...

Rating:
Summary: Less is More
Review: I can't help comparing the present 346 page Destroyers to the original 180 pagers that we old timers know and love. What's the difference, well unfortunately its mostly padding. There's a lot of surplus stuff in the modern incarnation that is just there to fill the pages and doesn't help the story move at all. And the more they pad the more mistakes rather than quality fills the padding.So its seems to me there are two choices, either get somebody who can fill 300+ pages with a taut well paced Destroyer story or go back to the good old days.

Regarding the story on this one, its just so so, another by the numbers Destroyer that really doesn't add anything much to the established mythology and rolls to its inevitable conclusion. Not to sound like a geeky pedeant but within this story there are a few jarring moments that don't quite fit with Remo and Chiun I know. Examples are Chiuns genuine interest in the political rally and his discussion of the same in Chapter 4 which is totally out of sync with the studied and wilful ignorance of such things that he normally espouses. Even worse, in a desperate attempt to keep the bad guys alive for a few more chapters Remo actually misses a kill in Chapter 14 through BAD LUCK ! This is the worlds second greatest (perhaps first) assassin, who has trained for 20+ years and can down a helicopter from 5 miles away with a pebble, but who misses a target 30 feet away. Pulleese !

So all in all, whilst there are some nice touches, I'm afraid that this one just doesn't do it fo me.

Rating:
Summary: The first book in the Destroyer series I have read.
Review: I found this book to be very entertaining,a real joy to read.Few action books take such a light and funny direction with so many people murdered.This book grabbed me so much that I intend to collect the series.This is so much fun compared to other action series.

Rating:
Summary: The new writer is at least familiar with the series!
Review: This is a better-than-average Destroyer. I believe it is the first from the new author (whose name eludes me at the moment).

Witty bickering and banter between Remo and Chiun? Check.
Bad-ass deaths and Sinanju stylings? Check.
Chiun travelling with his steamer trunks? Check.

Not every Destroyer needs a new super villain. I'm sure we'll get more than a few with the new author.

If you like the series, I'm sure you've already purchased this book. If you are new to the series, it is not a bad place to start, but you are better off purchasing The Assassin's Handbook or reading some of the earlier books.

Rating:
Summary: Oy
Review: What is wrong with Gold Eagle? Don't they care about selling books? Obvioulsy not. Don't make the mistake I made, DON"T BUY THIS BOOK.