The Gallowsman by Will Cade

Will Cade is not exactly a household name among Western writers.  But if this novel serves as an example of his work, he should be.  He wrote just a handful of books, all published by Leisure Books in the late 1990’s to early 2000’s. His work generally deviates from the traditional western yarn in that he adds a great deal of mystery and suspense to his stories rather than a bunch of flying lead and fisticuffs. Often there is a sense of defending the rights of innocents.

This novel opens with Ben Woolard arriving in the small mining town of Ferguson, Colorado, ready to start his life anew. We soon uncover his backstory, his job as a Union spy during the Civil War, infiltrating Bushwhackers (Confederate guerrillas), and feeding intel to his brother. It was a job that didn’t sit well with him, forcing him to lie and turn his back on people who thought him loyal. However, his critical testimony at the trial of murderer Henry Champion led to a successful conviction and hanging. In addition, we also unfortunately learn of the terrible loss of Ben’s wife and children to the dreaded measles at about that same time resulting in his nosedive into heavy drinking.

But now Ben has joined his successful brother in Ferguson and been grubstaked for a silver mine. All was well until the rumors started. Henry Champion had been seen alive, right there in Ferguson. That couldn’t be true, of course – they’d seen him hang. But then some of Champion’s gang was spotted and Ben’s brother’s business is set afire.  How could this be? Ben would have to solve the mystery while juggling his mining concern, look out for his new friends, and avoid the bottle. 

This one really kept me turning the pages. Cade writes in a smooth, campfire-story-telling style and Ben Woolard makes for a relatable, sympathetic hero. A side plot involving a pretty girl who disguises herself as a grubby man in order to avoid her abusive/killer brother was an added bonus. Mysterious deaths, mistaken identities, kidnappings, and colorful characters all combine to make a fun read with a satisfying (and not at all predictable) finish. I definitely want to read more from Will Cade.

The Stochastic Man by Robert Silverberg

Every once in a while I like to read one of the Grand Masters of Science Fiction and this time it was Robert Silverberg’s turn.  He always provides a good ol’ fashioned science fiction yarn, and doesn’t forget to add the science. He’s always good at playing the what-if question and then constructing a story around it, often including some intriguing concepts to ponder along the way.

The story here is about a man named Lew Nichols who uses stochastic methods to accurately predict outcomes and probabilities.  He is so good at it that he is recruited by a team of people dedicated to electing the next mayor of New York, with the ultimate goal of getting their charismatic man all the way to the White House.  Lew soon learns of another man who is even better at predicting events though…a man who is 100% accurate because he can “see” the future.

Silverberg uses the concept of alternate realities and parallel universes in a pretty cool way in this novel.  His what-if scenario is, “what if our timeline brushed up against a parallel universe’s timeline so we could “see” what’s happening over there?  Only that other timeline is flowing in the reverse direction…”  So when we see into that other life we are seeing what is still to come in our own lives. A lot of questions arise in Lew’s mind, including the inevitable questions of time paradox and what happens when one witnesses their own death, but Silverberg handles them deftly.  Ultimately, he explores the idea of prediction leading to predestination vs. any sort of free will to change our own paths.  Intriguing concepts to be sure.

This novel was written and published in the early 1970’s and the plot takes place in the late 1990’s.  But just as Silverberg doesn’t forget about the science, he also doesn’t forget about the story and the characters, a problem that seems to routinely crop up in many science fiction novels I’ve read from that era.  Curiously, for a novel about accurate predictions of the future, his own view of what life would be like in the late 1990’s was way off.  It’s easy to look back from our vantage point now and smirk but much of what Silverberg postulated is similar from book to book and in common with other science fiction authors from that time.

This book was nominated for a number of awards including the Nebula, Campbell, Hugo, and Locus SF awards.  I enjoyed it and look forward to reading a few more Silverberg novels that I already have on my shelf.

The Thousand-Headed Man (Doc Savage) by Kenneth Robeson (Lester Dent)

The 17th Doc Savage novel, (as originally published, and 2nd in the Bantam publishing order) has long been a fan favorite, frequently listed among the top 10 and even on top 5 lists. And it's no surprise considering the avalanche of pulp adventure that lies within. 

The plot revolves around an explorer who’s gone missing somewhere in the jungle forest of Indochina while searching for a strange cult. Originally published in 1934, the novel takes full advantage of “Yellow Peril” themes that had become popular with the Fu Manchu novels, making use of a mysterious Chinaman character named Sen Gat who prides himself on his incredibly long fingernails. Ultimately, it’s a race between Sen Gat and Doc Savage to see who can discover the secrets behind what appears to be an all-too-real Thousand-Headed Man.  The novel has all you could ask for in a pulp adventure story including a lost civilization in a mysterious land, perilous plane rides, river boat adventure among crocodile infested waters, an attractive yet desperate girl who needs help rescuing her father, and plenty of twists and turns. All five of Doc’s aides participate and are actually useful this time out with their individual skills, especially Monk and his chemistry expertise.

For me, this was a nostalgic re-read. I can remember the summer after the sixth grade when my family moved to a new town. I was filled with trepidation. My older brother and I had no friends yet so when we discovered the first dozen or so Doc Savage paperbacks in the local bookstore, we bought them all. It turned out to be a pretty good summer after all.

Assignment to Disaster (Sam Durell series) by Edward S. Aarons

A couple of weeks ago I came across a bunch of vintage paperbacks by Edward S. Aarons, all with the word “Assignment” in their title.  I had never heard of these books or the author, but they looked to be spy thrillers from the 1950s and 60s and since they would cost me all of 25 cents each, I took a small chance and bought a boatload of them.

And so it was that I picked up this first novel in the “Assignment” series.  This novel came out just after Ian Fleming’s first Bond novel 'Casino Royale' was published and so many people today seem to regard this series as a Bond rip-off.  But since this novel was published before 'Casino Royale' had a chance to make much of an impact yet, I would disagree.  The main character in this series is CIA agent Sam Durell and yes, he is sort of like an American version of Bond. But in its day, the books in the Sam Durell series were very popular.  There are 48 novels in the series; the first 42 were written by Edward S. Aarons and the final 6 were reportedly written by his brother although there is speculation that the name Will B. Aarons was just a house name for Fawcett. All were published over a span of 28 years.  That’s quite a successful run by any standards.

The novel itself is a hoot.  Of course, the reader must keep in mind the age in which it was written and so, like the Bond books, you’ll see some cultural references and attitudes that may seem odd today.  What we would call male chauvinism today was treated more like chivalry in the 1950s.  World War II is over and the world’s concerns tend to revolve around rockets and the power that can be unleashed at the whim of a mad scientist.  Durell is on the lookout for a missing American scientist, one of the brains behind the world's first man-made satellite, named Cyclops, a bomb of dramatic proportions. With just a few hours to go before launch, it is vital that Durell find the man and put an end to the sabotage.

Another nice thing about the series is that they really don't have to be read in order.  There are no overarching story lines that I am aware of that reach across individual novels but I understand Durell's relationship with Dierdre does run through the books.  The publisher usually lists the books in alphabetical order rather than by published date.  I am a stickler about reading series in order if at all possible but with so many in a series it would be a shame to hold up reading them just because you can’t locate book #2 in your local used book store.

Largely, because of the Bond movies, series like this Sam Durell set have fallen by the way side.  I’ll definitely be reading more and doing my best to spread the word about their existence. If you’ve enjoyed Bond or other spy novel series of that era, I recommend you give these a try.

Stinger by Robert R. McCammon

An alien spaceship crashes near a small Texas border town, its occupant a bounty hunter on the trail of another alien of a different species who has recently escaped from a prison planet.  That certainly sounds more like science fiction than horror but the way Robert McCammon unfolds this plot is pure horror.  Trust me.  The nature of the bounty-hunter alien (nicknamed “Stinger”) is a scorpion-like, mucus producing, monster with the ability to rapidly replicate allies using spare machine parts and captured human bodies.  In effect it can build its own army in its effort to capture its quarry.  Awesome!

Most of the novel is devoted to developing the many characters of the small town of Inferno.  It’s a town that is on its last legs due to the local copper mine being played out so all of the citizens are being forced to close up shop, finish their last few days of the school year, and prepare to move elsewhere.   There is a wide variety of characters in this town, from all walks of life.  The town also suffers from a racial divide due to its proximity to Mexico and a perception that illegals are taking local jobs.  But a common enemy can bring even the most viral enemies to work together and begin to understand one another a little better.  My only quibble with this novel is that there may have been too many characters.  That served to lengthen the novel a bit and slow down the build-up to the action sequences.

A UFO/alien/horror story can be pretty standard fare but in the hands of this author, it truly shines.  I first discovered Robert McCammon through his historical mystery novel, "Speaks the Nightbird", a novel that was so impressive that it made my all-time favorite list.  Subsequent novels in that series did not disappoint.  But I also knew his roots lay in the horror genre so I sampled his masterpiece, "Swan Song" and was, once again blown away by the quality of his writing.  So now he is on my list of must-read-everything-he-has-ever-written-including-his-grocery-list authors.

Monstrosity by Edward Lee

My first Edward Lee horror novel and based on this one, likely not my last.  Nice plot, good pacing and nicely done horror mixed with a lot of over-the-top craziness. Sort of like watching a car crash...repulsive in many ways but I can't look away. Reminds me a lot of Richard Laymon and since I've read most of his books, Lee might serve well as a replacement.

One problem with this novel, however, which struck me a lot more than it will most readers. The author's biography tells of some time served in the US Army. However, his characters in this book are almost all ex-Air Force security forces people. Unfortunately, the author made quite a few assumptions that the AF is the same as the Army. It's not. For example, his AF characters refer  to shopping at the PX ("Post Exchange" in Army terms) instead of the "BX ("Base Exchange for AF). He references security platoons (sorry, no platoons in the AF). I could list more examples but you get the idea. Minor points to be sure but it represents lazy writing. These are all easily researched items, even way back in 2003 when this was published.

I intend to sample more of Lee's work from time to time.

South of Sulu by George F. Worts

This collection of five short stories revolves around the character of Samuel Larkin Shay, otherwise known as “Singapore Sammy”.  Sammy is an American who has spent the last six years (1920’s) roaming around the Asiatic tropics, (the South Seas), trying to catch up to his no-good scoundrel of a father.  See, Sammy’s grandfather has left him a fortune in his will, but his father has absconded with the document, preventing the estate from passing on to Sammy.

Each of these five stories was a wonderful adventure yarn, packed full of exciting pulpy shenanigans.  An adventure in every port, you might say. Sammy isn’t afraid to let his fists do the talking when he spots an injustice.  Interestingly, each story is subtly different from one another.  For example, one is a heist story while one is a revenge story, and another is more of a mystery with supernatural elements.  But they all tie together in Sammy’s unending quest to catch his father and gain the upper hand.

George F. Worts was a prolific pulp writer, probably most famous for his character, Peter the Brazen. During the first World War, Worts was a wireless operator throughout the Pacific and later worked for Collier’s, visiting and writing articles on China, India, the Philippines, and Malaya.  The vivid landscapes he describes in these stories are evidence of his knowledge of the locations, the people and their culture.

These Singapore Sammy stories first appeared in "Short Stories" but the character eventually made his way into "Argosy" with another handful of stories, all of which were highly regarded at the time according to the Letters to the Editor.  I need to track those down now too, both for the sheer fun of reading them but also to find out if Sammy can ever wrestle away that only copy of the will from his father.

Deliver Us From Evil by Allen Lee Harris

Fourteen years ago, in the small rural town of Lucerne, Georgia, a horrible even occurred: the rape of a young insane girl by a mentally defective man.  The offspring was abandoned, orphaned, and spends his childhood bouncing through the foster care system.  His name is Jamey.  And now, 14 years later, there’s something about Jamey that makes people believe he just might be the anti-Christ.

Thanks to the good folks at Capricorn Literary, this horror novel from 1988 has been resurrected, as it were.  The author, Allen Lee Harris, attended Harvard Divinity school as well as studied for a PhD in Philosophy so it’s hardly surprising that this is a smartly written novel with deep philosophical themes.  The plot surrounds several key players in Lucerne who act as POV characters, including the sheriff, his 14-year-old son, his wife, and several members of the local church.  It is through their eyes that we meet Jamey and slowly work out what is transpiring.  The author’s background in divinity studies serves him well as a means to write about an alternate view of the Book of Revelations.

The writing is excellent and exudes atmosphere of small-town southern America.  It was interesting to see the way the writing style changed here and there depending on which POV character was active at the moment.  Not just in dialog but in the actual style of the prose.  It was subtle, but very effective.  As for the horror element, it built slowly through the entire book, creepy at times, scary at others, and downright horrific during the climactic scenes.

Overall, I do wish that the prose had been tightened up a bit.  Some scenes dragged out too long and some of the dialog was repetitive in what seemed to be an attempt to build up the suspense over a longer span.  I’m not a big fan of the religious fervor that some characters demonstrated so perhaps that made me wish it had moved along a little quicker. But overall, this is a quality read.

Nightmare in Pink (Travis McGee) by John D. MacDonald

The second Travis McGee novel finds our self-described boat-bum doing a favor for an old army buddy who has been confined to a VA hospital and, sadly, is unlikely to live much longer.  The man’s young sister, Nina, needs help as it seems her fiancé has just been murdered in an apparent mugging gone bad.  Travis’s investigation takes him to New York and leads him from one contact to another, the trail eventually leading to a high-priced call girl and an incredible scheme to steel millions from wealthy businessmen.  Along the way, despite trying not to, Travis falls for young Nina, and she for him, although they both know it won't be a lasting thing.

John D. MacDonald was still forming his character Travis McGee in this second book in the 21-book series, a decidedly different sort of protagonist than what the marketplace at the time was used to.  Travis has flaws and, generally speaking, being around him isn't always the safest place to be.  Collateral damage occurs and innocent people sometimes get caught in the crossfire (or by poisoned coffee in this case).  Most people agree that it is not until the third novel, "A Purple Place for Dying" that the general pattern and style for the rest of the books is laid down.  Regardless, this novel was an enjoyable read despite the drugged-out LSD tripping scenes at a 1960’s era lobotomizing horror factory masquerading as a mental hospital.  The title of the novel is most apropos!

Needle by Hal Clement

My brother was cleaning out his bookshelves in anticipation of his upcoming move, and so I "inherited" about 100 of his books.  A nice haul all the way around and among them, were about 30-35 science fiction books, many from the so-called classical era.  I haven't really read all that much of the older science fiction for many years now but have wanted to get back into it and thought this the perfect opportunity.

So this book was my first to read out of that whole collection from my brother.  I had read one other Hal Clement book, "Mission Of Gravity" but that was at least 25 years ago.  This one, I believe, was Mr, Clement's first published work, written in 1949.  Unfortunately it shows.  The book opened delightfully, with the nice hard science that the author is known for.  A protoplasmic alien creature has crash landed on earth while chasing another of the same species who has committed some sort of crime.  The "hunter" alien absorbs into a 15 year old boy and uses him to function and chase after the criminal alien.  Yeah I know it sounds a bit hokey but the first 1/3rd of the book was quite riveting to see how the biology of the alien species worked.  This was just the sort of hard science I was looking for.  Unfortunately, the actual "story" took off from there and turned into a detective story that seemed aimed at younger readers, reminiscent of Heinlein's juveniles only not nearly as good.

The book spawned a sequel several years later, which I may read, but I may have to get through those other 99 books from my brother first.

The Thousand Coffins Affair by Michael Avallone

THRUSH is nearing completion of a new super weapon that is capable of killing off whole cities in savage fashion.  It’s chemical warfare at its finest.  Napoleon Solo, U.N.C.L.E.’s best agent is dispatched to deal with the crisis.  

This is the very first book in The Man From U.N.C.L.E. novel series and I’ve been itching to get to it ever since I finished watching all four seasons of the TV show a couple of weeks ago. I was heartened to learn that these books are not just reincarnations of specific episodes but rather complete, stand-alone stories.  I found it to be a fun read with a lot of good background presented on the main characters, especially Solo and Mr. Waverly that you really can’t do easily in a TV show.  It also provided some good intel on the U.N.C.L.E. headquarters building that was only hinted at on TV. Illya Kuryakin, does have a small role here but is mostly confined to lab work.  This tells me that the book was conceived and written based on the TV script outlines of the first couple of episodes before the popularity of David McCallum’s character elevated the role.

“The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” TV show first aired on September 22, 1964.  It was a time of turbulence in American history, with news headlines including reports of a place called Vietnam where US Government forces had just inflicted “heavy casualties” on Communist forces invading South Vietnam.  The Warren Commission was on the verge of announcing its verdict that Lee Harvey Oswald had acted alone.  In the South, the Heart of Atlanta Hotel was asking the US Supreme Court to overturn the 1965 Civil Rights Act.  This was the backdrop from which this TV show sprang and a series of paperback novels were generated as part of an aggressive and ingenious marketing plan for its time.  Cold War themes prevail throughout the novel.

Noted mystery writer, Michael Avallone was recruited to write the series but after great success with this first novel, (for which he was paid a measly $1000) his handshake deal to write the rest was undercut and other writers were signed to do the rest.  However this novel’s healthy reception and success opened doors for him and he went on to write over 200 novels, many of them TV and movie tie-ins.

So, all in all, this was an excellent first start to the series.  I think it stands well on its own even for readers who have never watched the TV show. Note that the cover of the book I read (pictured) simply bears the title "The Man From U.N.C.L.E.". I suppose it's because this was the first. Later printings changed it to "The Thousand Coffins Affair". With different authors writing the other books, I look forward to seeing how they compare.