Serial Vigilantes of Paperback Fiction. An Encyclopedia from Able Team to Z-Comm
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Terminator (Rod Gavin)
Six books by John Quinn
Rod Gavin was a Marine serving in Vietnam when he was recruited into the CIA's Terminator program. The Terminator project was to train a team of freelance operatives to perform clandestine missions. In return for their training, members of the Terminator unit are required to undertake eight missions for the CIA. Gavin was a reluctant participant in the program and when he inquired if he could get out of his contract, he was informed that if he wanted out he would be returned to the military and serve the remainder of his military service as a prisoner in Leavenworth. The series begins with Gavin being given his eighth and final mission for the CIA.
For his final mission Gavin is sent to the Central American nation of Costa Bella to eliminate the man responsible for the murder of several missionaries. On arrival, it is discovered that the man is on death row and, after eliminating the target, Gavin discovers that the true target of this mission is himself. Caught between the Costa Bella military and Mafia hit men, Gavin must use all of his training and skills to survive.
After surviving his final mission, Gavin retires and tries to settle down for a quiet life in Colorado but his former life keeps dragging him back. Friends and their family members often contact Gavin to help them when they are in trouble. Luckily for Gavin, he is able to be hired by various government agencies such as the Justice Department, NSA, DEA and FBI.
Gavin often discovers that his friends have stumbled on much larger conspiracies, such as the Yakuza attempting to steal top-secret encoding machines, secret assassin training camps, drug smugglers and terrorists.
Behind the Scenes
John Quinn is the pen name of Dennis Rodriguez. Rodriguez was editor of pornographic magazines for Pendulum Press where he worked with Ed Wood Jr. Rodriguez was the author of Pachuco, a novel set in the barrios of Los Angeles. While director Ed Wood Jr. also used the John Quinn pen name, there is no evidence that he wrote any of the books in this series.
The Books
All books were published by Kensington Publication Corporation:
1. Mercenary Kill, 186 pages, 1982
2. Silicon Valley Slaughter, 208 pages, 1983
3. Kill Squad, 199 pages, 1983
4. Crystal Kill, 208 pages, 1984
5. Chameleon Kill, 184 pages, 1985
6. Checkmate Kill, 1985
.357 Vigilante (Brett Macklin)
Three books by Ian Ludlow
Brett Macklin is a helicopter pilot who renovates classic cars as his hobby, living a peaceful and quiet life. But when his father, a Los Angeles police officer, is burned to death on duty that all changed. The street punks responsible were set free on a bogus technicality, which led Macklin to hunt these criminals with his father's .357 Magnum. Dubbed by the press as Mr. Jury for his vigilante acts, Macklin must avoid the efforts of his best friend, a police detective assigned to capture Mr. Jury.
Further complicating this is the deaths of several of Officer Macklins friends, which Mr. Jury discovers is part of a political conspiracy to bring about a gubernatorial contest.
After avenging the death of his father, Macklin is contacted by the police chief and mayor to tackle the criminals that have escaped justice, setting him against a child pornography mogul who recently escaped justice. After a failed attempt to capture the pornographer, Macklin's girlfriend is killed by a bomb meant for him. This death is the spur Macklin needed to fully commit himself to becoming Mr. Jury again. After eliminating the child pornographer, Mr. Jury takes to the streets to tackle a white supremacist group.
Behind the Scenes
Ian Ludlow is the pseudonym of Lee Goldberg and Lewis Purdue. Goldberg chose the name Ian in honor of James Bond creator Ian Fleming and Ludlow so that the books would be next to Robert Ludlum on the shelf. Goldberg went on to a career in screenwriting, writing scripts for Spenser: For Hire, The Cosby Mysteries, Diagnosis: Murder, Martial Law and Monk, Goldberg now writes tie-in novels for Diagnosis: Murder and Monk. In the novels Diagnosis Murder: The Death Merchant and Mr. Monk and the Two Assistants,Goldberg has a best-selling novelist Ian Ludlow appear and interfere with the investigations in those books. Lewis Perdue was Goldberg's lecturer in college and helped him launch his career. Perdue is the author of The Da Vinci Legacy (1983), which predates Dan Browns The Da Vinci Code. A fourth book, "Killstorm," was written but Pinnacle Books declared chapter 11 bankruptcy before the book was due for release.
The Books
All books were published by Pinnacle Books:
1. 357 Vigilante, 214 pages, 1985
2. Make Them Pay, 150 pages, 1985
3. White Wash, 151 pages, 1985
The Movie
New Line Cinema did option the series to be made into movie; while scripts were written by Goldberg, the movie was never made.
TNT (Anthony Nicholas Twin)
Seven books by Doug Masters
Anthony Nicholas Twin, a freelance reporter better known by his initials TNT, was caught in the eye of an atomic blast while covering American nuclear weapons test. Instead of leukemia, he was endowed with superhuman abilities including night vision, increased stamina, and increased sexual prowess. Twin had been in semi-retirement as a reporter to look after his daughter October, who was born mentally handicapped, only taking jobs to finance her treatment.
Twin is reluctantly drawn into adventures by Arnold Benedict, a broker of information. Benedict is a ruthless pedophile, using his resources to procure young boys. The broker has fear of germs and being touched. Benedict has promised to look after October and find her a cure; this promise alone is all that keeps TNT from killing his handler.
TNT is frequently aided by soldier of fortune Dawlish who has a pathological hatred of all Russians, even going as far to see all enemies as Russians. TNT has faced some unusual situations, including eight deadly identical dwarves, a death trap based on Dante's Inferno, an indestructible vehicle, and a deadly training arena. Often Twin is the only person who could survive these situations thanks to his unique physiology.
Behind the Scenes
Both Michael Borgia (French versions) and Doug Masters (American translations) are pseudonyms. The books were written by Pierre Rey and Loup Durand. Pierre Rey (1930-2006) wrote books about the rich and famous, fictionalizing the lives of Aristotle Onassis {The Greek), Grace Kelly {The Rock) as well as the Hollywood party scene {Sunset). His novel about the Italian Mafia {Out) brought death threats, causing Rey to hire bodyguards. This fascination with the rich and famous seems to have stemmed from his tenure as editor of Marie Clare magazine and informed the tastes of Benedict Arnold in the TNT series. Loup Durand (1933-1996) is the author several thrillers, including The Ankor Massacre (1983), Daddy (1988) and Jaguar (1990). He started writing late in life at age forty-three after working on a variety of jobs including dock worker and journalist and travelling extensively in the Far East.
The Books
The original books by Michael Borgoa were published in France by Editions Robert Laffont :
1. Les sept cercles de lenfer, 1978
2. Le grand congelateur, 1978
3. La bete du Goulag, 1978
4. Huit petits hommes rouges, 1978
5. Les jeux d'Hercule, 1978
6. Le grand chaperon noir, 1979
7. Les cobras de Lilliput, 1979
8. Terminus Eldorado, 1979
9. Les huit femmes de Barbe-bleue, 1980
The English versions were published by Charter Books as by Doug Masters:
1. TNT, 216 pages, 1985 (Les sept cercles de lenfer)
2. The Beast, 201 pages, 1985 {La bete du Goulag)
3. The Spiral of Death, 197 pages, 1985 {Terminus Eldorado)
4. The Devil's Claw, 184 pages, 1985 (Huit petits hommes rouges)
5. Killer Angel, 1986 (Les jeux d'Hercule)
6. Ritual of Blood, 185 pages, 1986 (Les huit femmes de Barbe-bleue)
7. Kingdom of Death, 185 pages, 1986 (Le grand congelateur)
In 1989, Claud Lefranq Editions began a three-volume series of comic book adaptations:
1. Octobre, 1989
2. Les 7 cercles de l'enfer, 1991
3. La horde d'ore, 1992
Track (Dan Track)
Thirteen books by Terry Ahern and Patrick Andrews
Daniel Hunter Track was born 21 June 1948 in Chicago, Illinois. When his parents died in 1956, he was raised by his sixteen-year-old sister, Diane. Dan eventually became like an older brother to his nephew George Beegh, born 1959 after his sister's marriage to Robert Beegh in 1958. Dan ran wild, dropped out of school and joined a gang and at age seventeen. He was hauled before a judge when a rival gang member died in a rumble. The judge advised Track that he would soon have a criminal record if he kept up this kind of behavior and offered him the opportunity to join the Army. Track accepted. Instead of serving in Vietnam, he found himself stationed in West Germany.
It was during this time that Track was encouraged to get his high school equivalency and start studying. Eventually, Track rose to the rank of Major in CID, investigating gunrunners and anti-terrorism activities. After retiring from the army, Track began teaching special weapons and tactics to police and military personnel.
Track's nephew George joined Air Force intelligence and retired to hauling nuclear material across America. It was during one of those runs, hauling one of four loads of twenty-five defective nuclear weapons, that George's truck was ambushed and all of the weapons were stolen. George was the only driver to survive the ambushes and he was a prime suspect in their disappearance. George reached out to his uncle Dan.
Dan was able to help his nephew and took a job as troubleshooter for a group of international insurance companies known as the Consortium. The nuclear weapons that had been stolen were a serious threat to many of the policy holders of the Consortium.
Working with the Consortium, through his contact, Sir Abner Chesterton, Track was able to do more than conventional law enforcement, with the Consortium picking up the bill and smoothing the way. Track is assisted by his nephew George in the field. Track also receives help from his lover and gunrunner Desiree Goth and her giant African bodyguard Zulu, an Oxford graduate. Track and his team chase stolen nuclear weapons, rescue kidnap victims, stop KGB plots, and take on the secret society D.E.A.TH. (Directorate for Espionage, Assassination, Terrorism and Harassment) as well as escorting valuable archaeological treasures.
Behind the Scenes
Jerry Ahern is the author of the Survivalist and the Defender post-apocalyptic series as well as the Takers and Surgical Strike and, under the name Alex Kilgore, (They Call Me) the Mercenary series. Ahern has also written more than 600 articles for various magazines and is the former president of Deutronics Firearms. Sharon Ahern is Jerry's high school sweetheart and wife. She has provided all the photos to Jerry's articles and has researched, proofread and edited all of Jerry's books. Together, the pair has investigated crimes. They have, on occasion, had to check their car for bombs each morning and have almost been involved in a shootout with a pair of hoods.
In book 11, there is a one-page introduction to Patrick Andrews, born in 1936, who has written westerns and action-adventure novels. An ex-paratrooper, he retired after twenty-three years of service and has written articles on military history for Soldier of Fortune and Infantry magazines. Andrews also mentions that he is friends with Phoenix Force author Gar Wilson. Under the pen name Patrick Lee, Andrews wrote several books in the Six-Gun Samurai western series. As John Lansing, he wrote the Black Eagles series set during the Vietnam War.
The Books
1. The Ninety-Nine, 220 pages, 1984 (Ahern)
2. Atrocity, 222 pages, 1984 (Ahern)
3. The Armageddon Conspiracy, 219 pages, 1984 (Ahern)
4. The Hard Way, 220 pages, 1984 (Ahern)
5. Origin of a Vendetta, 218 pages, 1985 (Ahern)
6. Certain Blood, 219 pages, 1985 (Ahern)
7. Master of D.E.A.T.H, 219 pages, 1985 (Ahern)
8. Revenge of the Master, 219 pages, 1985 (Ahern)
9. The D.E.A. TH. Hunters, 217 pages, 1985 (Ahern)
10. Cocaine Run, 219 pages, 1985 (Ahern)
11. The Ghost Dancers, 219 pages, 1986 (Andrews)
12. Drug Runner, 217 pages, 1986 (Andrews)
13. Amazon Gold, 218 pages, 1986 (Andrews)
Tracker (Nathaniel Tracker)
Eight books by Ron Stillman
Major Nathaniel Tracker was a pilot in the Air Force. He also developed many new technological advances in the radar and tracking devices used in their planes. Driving home one night, Tracker swerved to avoid a dog and rolled his car. One of the bystanders lit a roadside flare, igniting the leaking petrol and, as a result of his injuries, Tracker was blinded.
Due to his injuries he was invalided out of the military. But Tracker was determined that he was not finished and, utilizing his expertise in radar and other tracking devices, began to develop OPTIC, essentially a new set of "eyes" which took the form of a pair of glasses. This allows Tracker to effectively see again. Over time Tracker refines his OPTIC to a pair of contact lenses. During his missions Tracker is injured and loses body parts; a finger was replaced by a laser and his left shin was replaced by a generator.
Tracker then approached the government and was able to unofficially return to active duty as an operative. Tracker's control was Wally Rampart, an undersecretary of State and former Army major general.
Tracker was hired to be the government's tracker, the go-to guy when an agency loses something. In his first mission, Tracker is sent to retrieve an Air Force pilot lost in Libya.
Behind the Scenes
Ron Stillman was the pseudonym of Don Bendell. Bendell wrote the first six books in the series but was replaced when Bendell began to insist that the books be issued under his own name ("Don Bendell — The Author," 2002, http://chass.colostate-pueblo.edu/magazine/2002/wildapplause2.html). Bendell served in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969 and used his experiences to write a series of autobiographical novels. He is also the author of several westerns and the Criminal Investigation Detachment terrorist hunting series. Bendell is also a master martial artist.
The Books
All books were published by Charter Diamond:
1. Tracker, 187 pages, 1990
2. Green Lightning, 172 pages, 1991
3. Blood Money, 185 pages, 1991
4. Black Phantom, 184 pages, 1991
5. Fire Kill, 166 pages, 1991
6. Death Hunt, 166 pages, 1991
7. Shock Treatment, 184 pages, 1992
8. Dynasty of Evil, 182 pages, 1992
Veil (Veil Kendry)
Two books by George C. Chesbro
When Veil Kendry was born, a brain infection nearly killed him. This also left him with the ability to dream through time and space and see into the minds of others. Veil served in Vietnam and Laos with the CIA. When a dangerous and illegal mission organized by his controller, Archangel, went wrong, Veil left the CIA and became a painter. Veil paints the landscapes he sees in his dreams and makes a career out of his paintings.
Eventually, Veil begins to investigate his unique abilities with the Institute of Human Studies and becomes involved in a top-secret Army project code-named the Lazarus People, which studies the experiences of people who have been declared clinically dead and resurrected. These experiences match Kendry's paintings. Someone wants Kendry dead and he fights to find why, taking the battle to the next realm.
After that battle, Kendry's past comes back to haunt him as his former CIA controller Archangel is about to be appointed as Secretary of State and Kendry is kidnapped. Warned by his dreams, Kendry hires private detective, Dr. Robert Frederickson better known as Mongo, to investigate his disappearance. Mongo's investigations uncover details about Veil's past with the CIA and allow Mongo to rescue Veil and expose Archangel's illegal activities.
Kendry's next exploit has him using his dream abilities to visit the mi
nd of other men to track down the thief who stole an African tribal artifact from the gallery that displays Kendry's paintings. Kendry discovers that the warrior prince of the Kalahari tribe is responsible and that he is being hunted by corrupt police officers and the Cosa Nostra. The law of the jungle comes into play as Kendry and the warrior-prince fight their way through the evil men seeking the idol. Kendry is occasionally called to assist Mongo on cases, including tracking down the vigilante Chant Sinclair, and his dreams lead him to fight supernatural menaces.
Behind the Scenes
This series was written by George C. Chesbro, who initially wrote the first book under the David Cross pseudonym with the hero named Chant Kendry. 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. For that publisher, Chesbro created John "Chant" Sinclair and wrote three books. Chesbro is also the author of the Mongo mystery series.
The Books
Both books were published by Mysterious Press:
1. Veil, 228 pages, 1986