Serial Vigilantes of Paperback Fiction. An Encyclopedia from Able Team to Z-Comm
Page 22
The Books
The series was published by Warner Books under their Men of Action line:
1. Terror in Turin, 159 pages, 1981
2. Stars and Swastikas, 158 pages, 1981
3. The Battle in Botswana, 159 pages, 1982
4. The Fighting Irish, 175 pages, 1982
5. King of Kingston, 189 pages, 1982
6. Sierra Death Dealers, 190 pages, 1982
The Sexecutioner (Cherry Delight )
Twenty-nine books by Glen Chase
Cherry Delight's real name is Priscilla Dellissio and she works for NYMPHO (New York Mafia Prosecution and Harassment Organization), headed by Avery King. NYMPHO works around the world to stamp out the Mafia. And Cherry, named for her red hair, is the best agent of their Sexecutioner section; she loves sex and hates the Mafia. Cherry's father was a doctor and from studying his medical books, Cherry was able to learn how to cause pleasure and pain.
Cherry narrates all her own adventures and describes her sexual and crime fighting exploits in great detail. Even if she does forget her agency is named NYMPHO and refers to it as SPERM during The Italian Connection. Later, Cherry joins DUE (the Department of Unusual Events) and encounters supernatural menaces in the five All New Cherry Delight novels.
The Sexecutioner is a soft-core porn series where Cherry splits her time between sex and Mafia busting. In The Italian Connection, her entry to the Mafia is to make one of the dons so sexually dependent on her that he takes her along for his summit in Italy. Unfortunately, the Don's heart gives out during their first session and Cherry has to make alternate arrangements. Similarly, during Tong in Cheek, Cherry's plan is to screw an opponent until he is too tired to fight back. Cherry swings both ways and a stakeout can lead to a lesbian encounter. The Executioner never had such problems.
Behind the Scenes
The authors for this series include Gardner Fox and Leonard Levinson.
Gardner Fox is a prolific author of both novels and comic books. Born in 1911 and trained as a lawyer, Fox quickly turned to full-time writing; under his own name and pen names he turned out numerous novels of many genres, including historical adventures, fantasy, science fiction, swashbucklers, and romance, writing his own barbarian heroes Kothar and Kyrik as well as working on the soft-core Lady from L.U.S.T and Sexecutioner series. In the comics field, Fox created and helped further develop many of DC Comics characters, including Superman, Batman, the Flash, the Green Lantern, Zatara, and the Atom as well as writing both the Justice Society of America and the Justice League of America.
Leonard Levinson also used the Glen Chase pen name for this series. Levinson was born in 1935 and served in the US Army from 1954 to 1957. Under a number of pseudonyms and house names he has contributed to a number of series including Bronson, Butler, the Sharpshooter and Kung Fu (Mace).
In 1991, Eros Comix published the Sexecutioner by Skylar Owens. This Sexecutioner was Marcia Bolens, who, like the original, fights crime in two three-issue mini-series and teams up with another Eros heroine, Hell Mary from Bad Habits, for the three-issue mini-series Naked Angels.
The Books
All books were published by Leisure Books:
1. The Italian Connection, 165 pages, 1972
2. Tong in Cheek, 174 pages, 1972
3. Silverfinger, 153 pages, 1972
4. Up Your Ante, 186 pages, 1973
5. Crack Shot, 151 pages, 1973
6. I'm Cherry, Fly Me, 166 pages, 1973
7. Chuck You Farley, 187 pages, 1973
8. Hot Rocks, 169 pages, 1973
9. Jersey Bounce, 184 pages, 1974
10. Made in Japan, 179 pages, 1974
11. Broad Jump, 202 pages, 1974
12. Fire in the Hole, 184 pages, 1974
13. Over the Hump, 179 pages, 1974
14. In a Pinch, 183 pages, 1974
15. What a Way to Go, 178 pages, 1974
16. Busted, 173 pages, 1974
17. Treasure Chest, 171 pages, 1974
18. Hang Loose, 142 pages, 1975
19. In a Bind, 173 pages, 1975
20. Always on Sunday, 172 pages, 1975
21. Mexican Standoff, 173 pages, 1975
22. Big Bankroll, 171 pages, 1975
23. Lights, Action, Murder, 172 pages, 1975
24. Roman Candle, 184 pages, 1975
The All New Cherry Delight:
1. The Devil to Pay, 189 pages, 1977
2. Greek Fire, 187 pages, 1977
3. The Moorland Monster, 176 pages, 1977
4. Where the Action Is, 176 pages, 1977 (Levinson)
5. The Man Who Was God, 190 pages, 1978
Shadow Warrior (Scott Waylon McKenna)
Four books by Joseph Rosenberger
Scott Waylon McKenna is the first non-Japanese to survive the rigorous and dangerous training to become a true ninja. Raised in Hong Kong, McKenna began studying martial arts and eventually mastered ninjitsu.
With his ninja skills, McKenna is a devastating opponent. McKenna is called on by friends to help them in situations, such as being threatened by gangsters, or in need of protection against death squads and protecting treasure hunters. In other cases, the Shadow Warrior is hunted by members of rival ninja clans and other threats from his past. McKenna travels the world from Hong Kong to Cuba, Japan and Burma.
Behind the Scenes
Joseph Rosenberger became a professional writer at the age of twenty-one after selling an article. After working a series of jobs including Korean karate instructor, circus pitchman and private eye, he became a full-time writer in 1961. Rosenberger was the author of the Death Merchant, Murder Master and C.O.B.R.A series and, under the pseudonym Lee Chang, created and wrote the first martial arts series, Kung Fu (Mace).
The Books
All books were published by Dell Books:
1. Hong Kong Massacre, 253 pages, 1988
2. Caribbean Blood Moon, 191 pages, 1988
3. Ninja Nightmare, 184 pages, 1988
4. Hell Wind in Burma, 178 pages, 1988
Sharpshooter (Johnny Rock/Johnny Rocetti)
Sixteen books by Bruno Rossi (house name)
Rocetti Designs was a family business run by the Rocetti family until the Mafia tried to take it over. When the family refused to allow the Mafia to use their business, the whole family was killed, except for one son, Johnny Rocetti. Rocetti went to the police for justice for his murdered family but corrupt cops shafted him and the men who killed his parents and brother went free.
At that point Johnny Rocetti ceased to exist and Johnny Rock was born. A Green Beret in Vietnam, Rock had been trained in the use of all types of deadly weapons and even bare handed was dangerous. Rock took the law into his own hands and swore vengeance against the Mafia.
Financed by his family's business, run by a trusted family friend, Rock purchased an arsenal of the finest weapons and travelled the United States fighting his self-appointed war on the Syndicate. Johnny Rock's war on the Syndicate received media coverage, including a feature in one of the true crime magazines complete with photograph taken by telephoto lens. This media coverage allows some of Rock's army buddies to contact him and tip him off to Mafia activities in their area.
Behind the Scenes
Bruno Rossi is a house name used several writers, including Paul Hofrichter, Russell Smith, John Stevenson, Leonard Levinson and Peter McCurtin.
Peter McCurtin was an editor for Belmont Towers books before becoming an author. McCurtin, under his own name, was the author of several western series such as Carmody and Sundance as well as the Soldier of Fortune/Death Dealer series; under various pen names he contributed to the Sexecutioner and Marksman series. McCurtin also novelized the movie The Exterminator as well as several exposes on organized crime, such as Mafioso, The Syndicate and Omerta.
Leonard Levinson also used the Bruno Rossi pen name for this series. Levinson, born in 1935, served the US Army from 1954 to 1957. Under a number of pseudonyms and house names, he has contributed to a n
umber of series including Bronson, Butler, Kung Fu and the Sexecutioner.
Paul Hofrichter is the author of the post-apocalyptic Roadblaster as well as Able Team #5: Cairo Countdown.
The Books
All books were published by Leisure Books:
1. Killing Machine, 171 pages, 1973
2. Blood Oath, 156 pages, 1974
3. Blood Bath, 96 pages, 1974
4. Worst Way to Die, 95 pages, 1974 (Levinson)
5. Night of the Assassins, 185 pages, 1974 (Levinson)
6. Muzzle Blast, 147 pages, 1974
7. Head Crusher, 182 pages, 1974 (Levinson)
8. No Quarter Given, 161 pages, 1974
9. Stiletto, 95 pages, 1974
10. Hitman, 161 pages, 1974 (Stevenson)
11. Triggerman, 161 pages, 1975 (Smith)
12. Scarfaced Killer, 181 pages, 1975 (Hofrichter)
13. Savage Slaughter, 218 pages, 1975 Hofrichter
14. Las Vegas Vengeance, 1975 Stevenson
15. Dirty Way to Die, 1975
16. Mafia Death Watch, 188 pages, 1975
Shield (Michael Sheriff)
Three books by Preston MacAdam
Management Information Systems (MIS) is in the business of information gathering and has the largest computer system outside of the Pentagon. This information is then sold to the highest bidder approved by the Chairman of the MIS. The Chairman, whose name is never revealed, selects his clients with the aim of world security. MIS is headquartered in a small non-descript building nicknamed the Fort on Route 128 north of Boston.
Michael Sheriff is the main troubleshooter used by the Chairman, who has code-named Sheriff the Shield. Little is known about his history except that he was a CIA agent and that he was married for a short period. At the end of the marriage, Sheriff was estranged from his wife and son Roger.
The series opens with the now adult Roger attempting to reconcile with his father and, as part of that reconciliation, Roger seeks to become an agent of MIS. Michael is opposed to this move but the Chairman accepts Roger's application while Michael in on assignment. As the series progresses Michael and Roger eventually work together. The Shield travels the world, helping to bring stability by undertaking missions such as assisting the pro-democracy Fashanti tribe against the communist-backed Kindu tribe in the African nation of Leikawa, protecting American oil interests in the Arabian nation of Qatar and finally working with his son protecting the holdings of an American conglomerate on the Pacific island nation of Suparta. When not on assignment, Sheriff is renovating and restoring his home, a pre-Revolutionary War house.
Behind the Scenes
Preston MacAdam is the pen name of John Preston, an openly gay author. Many of his works were about the gay experience and gay erotica. Under the Jack Hild house name, Preston contributed several books to the Soldiers of Barrabas series. With the Mission of Alex Kane series, Preston was able to combine his two genres and created a gay action hero.
The Books
All books were published by Avon:
1. African Assignment, 188 pages, 1985
2. Arabian Assault, 192 pages, 1985
3. Island Intrigue, 204 pages, 1985
Soldato (Johnny Maroni)
Five books by Al Conroy
Johnny Maroni was a soldato, a soldier or enforcer for the Mafia working for Don Renzo Cappellani. Eventually, Maroni became sickened by his life and turned against his Don, giving evidence against him in court.
The US attorney prosecuting Don Renzi, Riley arranged for Maroni to enter the witness protection program when the Don was acquitted. Maroni, promised that he would be completely safe, set up a new life in Arizona as a storekeeper and eventually married. But after two years, a shady private investigator hired by Don Renzi discovered Maroni in his new life and two hit men were sent to kill Maroni. After a brutal game of cat and mouse in the desert mountains, Maroni dispatches his attackers and takes his wife Mary to New York to eliminate Don Renzi once and for all. After the death of his wife, Maroni vows to redeem his past and uses his skills and knowledge to infiltrate various Mafia families around America and destroy the families from the inside.
Behind the Scenes
Al Conroy is a pen name used by Marvin H. Albert and Gil Brewer. Marvin Albert (1924-1996) wrote a number of private detective series. Under his own name he wrote the Pete Sawyer mysteries about a private eye based in Paris. As Nick Quarry, Albert wrote the Jake Barrow series and as Anthony Rome he wrote the Tony Rome series. As Ian MacAlistair, Albert wrote a number of adventure novels.
Gil Brewer (1922-1983) was a Florida based-writer who wrote a number of sexy crime thrillers as well as novelizations of the espionage television series It Takes a Thief. Under the Ellery Queen pen name, he wrote the first novel in the Troubleshooter series.
The Books
All books were published by Lancer Books:
1. Soldato, 1972 (Albert)
2. Death Grip, 176 pages, 1972 (Albert)
3. Stranglehold, 222 pages, 1973 (Brewer)
4. Murder Mission, 1973 (Brewer)
5. Blood Run, 1973 (Albert)
Soldier for Hire (J. C. Stonewall)
Eight books by Robert Skimin and Mark Kelly Roberts
J. C. Stonewall served in Vietnam but after the war he was unable to return to civilian life. Stonewall decided to sell his soldiering skill becoming a mercenary; if the price is right he will fight and kill.
However, Stonewall will not work for the communists and frequently works with and trains anti-communists forces around the world. This attitude and his violent methods frequently put him at odds with bleeding hearts and left-wing politicians around the world and in America.
Stonewall has served all around the world, including Africa, Laos, Vietnam, Libya, Iran and Indonesia.
Behind the Scenes
Robert Skimin is the author of thirteen historical novels such as Ulysses about President Grant, and Gray Victory, an alternate history where the South won the Civil War. At age eighteen, Skimin left home and joined the Army, being the first Army pilot to become a Green Beret.
Mark Kelly Roberts is also the author of the Liberty Corps series, and co-authored the Penetrator series under the house name of Lionel Derrick with Chet Cunningham. Roberts also co-writes SEALS: Top Secret with Chief James "Patches" Watson.
The Books
All books were published by Zebra Books:
Books 1-4 by Robert Skimin; books 5-8 by Mark K. Roberts
1. Zulu Blood, 368 pages 1981
2. Trojan in Iran, 335 pages, 1981
3. UN Sabotage, 315 pages, 1981
4. Bloodletting, 302 pages, 1982
5. Libyan Warlord, 224 pages, 1982
6. Commando Squad, 235 pages, 1982
7. Pathet Vengeance, 224 pages, 1983
8. Jakarta Coup, 254 pages, 1983
Soldier of Fortune/Death Dealer (Jim Rainey)
Eighteen books by Peter McCurtin
Jim Rainey was born in Beaumont, Texas, during 1939. The son of a third-generation farmer, he had no desire to be a farmer and after two years of college joined the army and was sent to Vietnam. While fighting, Rainey spent six months in the Phoenix Group, discovering and killing subversive elements in the South Vietnamese government and military working with the Viet Cong. After the end of that war, Rainey decided that the only job he was suited for was soldiering and he became a mercenary. He contacted a mercenary contractor known as Mr. Ryan and his first mercenary job was with the Rhodesian Army as the head of an anti-terrorist force.
Rainey then traveled the world, taking missions wherever his skills were needed. Rainey has hunted communists in Argentina, fought Moslems in Beirut, fought Chinese rebels in Hong Kong and attempted to find soldiers listed as missing in action in Vietnam. Rainey also assisted several friends in times of need, such as rescuing fellow mercenaries who have been captured, helping a diplomat friend in Panama and avenging the death of a former lover by a Nicaraguan death squad.
&
nbsp; Behind the Scenes
Peter McCurtin was an editor for Belmont Towers books before becoming an author. McCurtin, under his own name, was the author of several western series such as Carmody and Sundance as well as the Assassin series; under various pen names, he contributed to the Sexecutioner and Marksman series. McCurtin also novelized the movie The Exterminator as well as several exposes on organized crime such as Mafioso, The Syndicate and Omerta. When New England Library printed British Editions of this series, the name of the series was changed from Soldier of Fortune to Death Dealer.
The Books
Books 1-9 were published by Belmont Towers Books; books 10-18 published by Leisure Books:
1. Massacre at Umtali, 191 pages, 1976
2. The Deadliest Game, 182 pages, 1976
3. Spoils of War, 180 pages, 1976
4. Guns of Palembang, 208 pages, 1977
5. First Blood, 124 pages, 1977
6. Ambush at Derati Wells, 126 pages, 1977
7. Operation Hong Kong, 189 pages, 1977