Serial Vigilantes of Paperback Fiction. An Encyclopedia from Able Team to Z-Comm
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CAGE (Huntington and Hadley Cage)
Six books by Alan Riefe
Huntington "Hunt" Cage is a successful private investigator, one of the best operating in New York City. Nobody knows about his secret weapon, his identical twin brother Hadley.
The brothers have no family except for their father, a recluse who lives in Canada, and the brothers have no friends in common. Hadley, Lee for short, is an artist who lives across the river in New Jersey. Lee, when he has to travel to New York, wears a disguise to avoid being recognized.
This gives Hunt the ability to be in two places at once and the brothers can call for help with a specially made radio watch. While Hunt is a licensed private investigator, his contact in the DA office, Richard Giordano, frequently uses Hunt's skills to unofficially obtain evidence for matters.
But while Hunt is prepared to work within the law, Lee is more inclined to take the law into his own hands. Lee often kills the people his brother is investigating, such as the mobster who ordered a hit on Hunt and nearly killed his brother.
It is Hadley who makes this a serial vigilante series. He operates in an unofficial capacity and takes the law into his own hands. This is a source of friction between the brothers but it does make them an effective team.
Behind the Scenes
Alan Riefe is also the author of the Tyger Decker series. Under the pen name of Barbara Riefe, he has written a number of Gothic romances.
The Books
All books were published by Popular Library:
1. The Lady Killer, 126 pages, 1975
2. The Conspirators, 141 pages, 1975
3. The Black Widower, 176 pages, 1975
4. Silver Puma, 176 pages, 1975
5. Bullet Proof Man, 175 pages, 1975
6. Killer with the Golden Touch, 174 pages, 1975
Chameleon (Vince Garde)
Three books by Jerry LaPlante
Vince Garde was a lucky man; he had a genius-level intellect that allowed him to graduate from MIT with a PhD at age nineteen. His father had left him a small fortune and he was the founder and owner of Garde Scientific Associates (GSA), a scientific research firm that worked in all scientific areas, from undersea mining and medicine to space exploration and meteorology.
When Garde's younger half-sister, a runaway, turned up dead — the victim of an overdose — Garde changed his focus from scientific advancement to the pursuit of justice, starting a new firm VIBES. VIBES was an acronym chosen before the meaning, but it eventually came to stand for Vindication against Injustice, Bureaucracy and Ensconced Stupidity.
Garde used this new firm to bring justice to those who prey on others and have escaped conventional law enforcement. Garde's justice is like his temper, quick and deadly.
Initially investigating the drug trade and taking down the Anaconda, the drug kingpin responsible for his sister's addiction, Garde then brought his wrath against a cult leader, Sol Luna, using low frequency radio waves to brainwash his followers to unspeakable crimes so that Luna could take over the world. Garde's final recorded mission brought him against the feminist group DELILAH and DELILAH's plot to steal plutonium from the American Energy Commission (AEC) in a plot to rule the world.
Behind the Scenes
The Chameleon series is Jerry LaPlante's only writing credit.
The Books
All books were published by Zebra Books:
1. Wrath of Garde, 192 pages, 1979
2. In Garde We Trust, 240 pages, 1979
3- Garde Save the World, 224 pages, 1979
Chant (John Sinclair)
Three books by David Cross
Arthur Sinclair was a career diplomat who was posted to Japan, where he absorbed the culture. His son, John, was born in Japan and the older Sinclair had his son trained in the martial arts. At the age of sixteen, John was sent for training with the Black Flame Ninja master, Master Bai. John was to be trained as a weapon for good but Master Bai believed that he could corrupt his apprentice to the ways of the Black Flame, which burns away all humanity and allows Black Flame ninjas to be the ultimate assassins. John, however, walked away before the final test and Master Bai killed Arthur Sinclair.
John Sinclair then joined the American Army and so impressed his trainers that he was immediately offered an instructing job. But Sinclair wanted to serve in Vietnam and refused the job.
In Vietnam, Sinclair was able to quickly rise through the ranks to become the youngest captain in the Army, but his criticism of a top-secret operation code-named Cooked Goose led to attempts made on his life. Sinclair deserted the Army and lived with the Hmong in Laos. It was during his time in Vietnam that he acquired the nickname Chant, from the sound his victims made.
Sinclair then made his way back to America and began using his skills in martial arts, disguise and forgery to take on criminals and those who exploit others. Chant tackles slavers, prostitution and pornography rings, torturers and dictators.
Behind the Scenes
David Cross was the pseudonym used by George C. Chesbro. Chesbro initially wrote another book as the first Chant novel but the only thing the publisher liked was the name Chant, and so that novel was reworked and became the first novel in the Veil Kendry series published under his own name. Chesbro is also the author of the Mongo mystery series.
The Books
All books were published by Jove Books:
1. Chant, 231 pages, 1986
2. Silent Killer, 217 pages, 1986
3. Code of Blood, 212 pages, 1987
Other Appearances
Both Chant and Veil Kendry appear in the Mongo novel Dark Chant in a Crimson Key (Mysterious Press, 217 pages, 1992).
Check Force
Seven books by Ralph Hayes
Check Force is two men: Chane, a fugitive CIA agent, and Karlov, a disaffected KGB agent. The two men discovered a conspiracy known as Force III, an ultra-secret cabal set on taking over the world by forcing the United States and the Soviet Union into a nuclear war. The pair is often forced to work against their own governments as Force III manipulates world powers.
The awareness of this conspiracy has forced these former enemies to work together to stop Force Ill's sinister plans. Force Ill's plans involve them infiltrating and utilizing any group they feel will aid their plans, such as Israeli extremist groups and ambitious Chinese generals. The pair travels the globe, preventing assassinations and foiling terrorists and other warmongers.
Behind the Scenes
Ralph Hayes was born in 1927 and served in the Air Force 1945-47. After leaving the Air Force he studied and became a lawyer specializing in insurance. In 1969, Hayes became a freelance writer writing a number of travel guides and individual novels as well as the Buffalo Hunter western series and Stoner, the Hunter and Agent for COMINSEC series. Under the Nick Carter house name, he wrote eight Kill master books. Hayes travelled extensively and utilized that experience for his travel guides and the settings for his books (Contemporary Authors Online, 2002).
The Books
All books were published by Manor books
1. 100 Megaton Kill, 208 pages, 1975
2. Clouds of War, 188 pages, 1975
3. Judgment Day, 186 pages, 1975
4. The Peking Plot, 189 pages, 1975
5. Nightmare Island, 186 pages, 1975
6. Seeds of Doom, 192 pages, 1976
7. Fires of Hell, 1976
Chill (Dr. Russell V. Chillders)
Seven books by Jory Sherman
Dr. Russell V. Chillders is a world-renowned expert of supernatural phenomena. Born into a farming family to Judson and Carrie Chillders, he was an active boy and was sent by his mother to live and study under her brother Martin in Vienna.
Martin trained his nephew in the occult and performed rituals to raise the spirits. After the death of his Uncle Martin, Chill continued his studies, writing several works on the occult such as Modern Occultism, Dark Mysteries, The Case for Reincarnation and Steps Beyond the Veil. The fame from these wor
ks brought him public attention and he appeared on Johnny Carson and spoke at many public events.
With the funds, Chill bought an estate in Chamblee, Georgia. The estate was cheap, as it was reported haunted, and it gave Chill enough room to grow all his own vegetables, make wine and store all of his books.
But Chill doesn't just write about the occult, he also investigates paranormal events. Chill is assisted by Laura Littlefawn, a sensitive Indian telepath; the pair shares a psychic bond which alerts them when the other is in danger.
Chill's other assistant is Hal Strong, a fellow psychic investigator who assists Chill with research and as a sounding board for ideas and theories.
Together they have investigated vampires, possessions, haunting, demons and werewolves. Chill is called to investigate these events by fellow paranormal scholars, law enforcement and the victims.
Behind the Scenes
Jory Sherman (born 1932) started his career as a writer by writing poems that appeared in many different magazines and journals. His books of poetry went into multiple printings and received critical acclaim. Sherman then branched off into writing westerns and other series fiction for many publishers. Currently residing in Texas, Sherman is experimenting with the e-book format and reissued the first two Chill novels through Hard Shell Word Factory.
The Books
All books were published by Pinnacle Books:
1. Satans Seed, 213 pages, 1978
2. Chill: The Sepulture, 244 pages, 1978
3. Bamboo Demons, 182 pages, 1979
4. Vegas Vampire, 176 pages, 1980
5. Phoenix Man, 175 pages, 1980
6. House of Scorpions, 176 pages, 1980
7. Shadows, 181 pages, 1980
C.O.B.R.A. (Jon Skul)
Six books by Joseph Rosenberger
There are times when the rules prevent official government agencies from operating effectively. In situations such as this, the CIA, DIA, FBI and NSA send their problem to C.O.B.R.A.
C.O.B.R.A. was founded by the highest authority in America. In consultation with the five top men of the NSA, he placed Jonas Barron to head this agency. A small agency, it has only 250 agents, 165 male agents called Eagles and 85 female agents called Doves. The top agent of C.O.B.R.A. is Jonathon Skul. Skul is cut from the same cloth as Richard Camellion, the Death Merchant, and he gets the toughest of the toughest missions that C.O.B.R.A. has to offer.
Not surprisingly, given that the missions directed to C.O.B.R.A. come from the intelligence community of the United States during the Cold War, the majority of their problems were created by the Soviet Union and in particular by the KGB.
Skul travels the world tackling threats to world security, such as drug operations run as a joint Mob-KGB operation, plugging security leaks in other intelligence agencies, and stopping terrorist attacks as well as protecting defectors.
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 Murder Master and Death Merchant 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 Critic's Choice:
1. Heroin Connection, 253 pages, 1986
2. Paris Kill-Ground, 224 pages, 1987
3. Red Dragon, 256 pages, 1987
4. Nightmare in Panama, 249 pages, 1987
5. Project Andromeda, 250 pages, 1988
6. Belgrade Battleground, 240 pages, 1989
CODENAME
Six books by William Johnstone
The Codename team was formed by a consortium of wealthy men and those in the government who felt that the laws protected the criminals, as a secret strike force to combat America's enemies. The team was rigorously tested and drawn from many departments of American law enforcement.
The team consists of:
• John Barrone (CIA), team leader
• Don Yee (CIA), computers
• Mike Rojas (IRS Internal security)
• Jenny Barnes (FBI), explosives
• Chris Farmer (Secret Service), sniper
• Al Durstman (FBI)
• Linda Marsh (LAPD)
• Paul Brewer (Border Patrol)
• Lana Henry (ATF)
• Bob Garrett (NSA)
In the second book (Codename Survival) Al Durstman is killed. Typically each book involves the Codename team being called into action by their backers and split into teams of three or four. Typically, we follow Johns team, which generally includes Jenny Barnes.
In Codename Death, one of the team's backers, Marist J. Quinncannon, hires Bar-rone for a private mission to find his granddaughter's killers when she is killed in a snuff porn film.
Behind the Scenes
The series was created by William W. Johnstone, author of numerous horror, adventure and western novels. Johnstone is the author of the Rig Warrior series. Johnstone was discharged from the French Foreign Legion for being underage, then worked in a carnival, became a deputy sheriff and did a stint in the army. He started writing in 1970 but did not make his first sale until 1979 with The Devil's Kiss. Johnstone died in 2004 in Shreveport, Louisiana.
The Books
All books were published by Kensington Pinnacle Books:
1. Codename Payback, 335 pages, 2000
2. Codename Survival, 333 pages, 2000
3. Codename Death, 253 pages, 2001
4. Codename Coldfire, 253 pages, 2002
5. Codename Quickstrike, 256 pages, 2003
6. Codename Extreme Prejudice, 256 pages, 2004
Confirmed Kill
Four books by Mike Morris
The Confirmed Kill Team is the top-secret anti-terrorist sniper team answerable only to the president of the United States.
The field team consists of two men:
• Con Duggan — the twenty-year veteran sniper and team leader.
• Steven Dye — the red-headed freckle-faced spotter, just as lethal as his commander. The field team is augmented by two unofficial members:
• Penelope James — This fiery Englishwoman, after joining the team during their first mission in England, is an expert infiltrator and information gatherer.
• The team is transported by Ivan Tescher in his advanced Whisper Helicopter.
The Confirmed Kill Team is supported by an intelligence-gathering team working with a super computer known as SCAR (Security Caretaker and Research) that is able to analyze and evaluate threats and determine that a mission is unable to be handled by conventional forces and requires the specialized skills of the team.
The team's liaison with the president is Michael Burns, a cigar-smoking Special Forces veteran who organized the team.
Their first mission took them to London to eliminate a terrorist cell; this was followed by a mission in Japan to tackle a gangster threatening the bullet train. The team's next mission was personal when rogue sniper Peter Coy Booker kidnapped Duggan's lover Maggie Stuart. Their fourth and final mission was the infiltration and elimination of an American terrorist cell that had stolen a shipment of biological weapons.
Behind the Scenes
Mike Morris is a former Marine sniper, according to the brief biography on the back of the books. In reality, Morris was the pseudonym of Gregory Vanhee. Vanhee was the author of two other action novels, Night Strike and The Shooter. Vanhee lived in Seattle and served as a rifleman in the Marines. In 1992, at fifty-five Vanhee died of a heart attack after completing the four books in the Confirmed Kill series.
The Books
All books were published by Diamond Books:
1. Confirmed Kill, 183 pages, 1992
2. Sniper Shot, 185 pages, 1992
3. Direct Hit, 171 pages, 1993
4. Point Blank, 199 pages, 1993
Contract (C
olin Lynch)
Four books by Paul Mann
Colin Lynch served in the Special Boat Squadron (SBS) of the British naval service during the Falklands War. The SBS trained Lynch in all forms of warfare, such as reconnaissance, sabotage, infiltration and assassination. After that war finished, Lynch joined the Counter Terrorism Command drawn from all arms of the British Service. Quickly rising through the ranks, he became a squad leader.
It was Christmas 1988 when Lynch's squad had duty at Heathrow airport when a major terrorist attack took place. Sickened and disheartened, Lynch resigned from the service. It was then that he was offered the chance to take on the terrorists using their own tactics by American Jack Halloran. Halloran, a former Marine who served in Korea, is a wealthy businessman who is sick of the foreign policy of the United States and Great Britain in dealing with terrorists.