It has been too many years since I last read a book from Mcquay, and after reading Tooth and Claw, I am reminded how much I enjoyed his Bolan adventures. He penned some great classics like Death Has A Name, Code Of Dishonor, and one of my all time favorite Bolan novels, Fire In The Sky. The second of only three supers he wrote, this book is right up there in quality of entertainment as those earlier titles.
The setting is Hong Kong, not long before the Communists are to take over the area. Chinese citizens looking to get out before the deadline are targeted for death by Red Chinese hardliners backed by a banker poised to take everyone’s money. So sets the plot for an excellent quality entertainment mission as Bolan helps these citizens, and goes after the army of goons bent on killing them all.
The writing here is cover to cover great entertainment value, at times over the top, the only-in-the-movies stunts that push the bounds of make believe, but there is never a dull moment, in this fast paced thriller. The balance of plot and action, the great scenes, the drama between characters, the danger of the bad guys on a crazy drug, allies for Bolan you get to feel for, the crazy action sequences, the typhoon adding to the exciting conclusion, all add up to one heck of thrilling and original storytelling, I just gotta give this one a ten. My only criticism would be that Bolan was a little too eager to add citizens to his war, but all in all I really liked this book a lot and it really makes the ordinary run-of-the-mill books here and there in this series even more ordinary by comparison.
Well gotta say after #10 Fire in the Sky by this author I was very much looking forward to this title and it would be fair to say that I was somewhat disappointed maybe I had too high expectations.
The plot well the Chinese are getting close to taking back Hong Kong and apparently there is a group of dissidents who need to be silenced (killed) before this happens (why?).
Anyway the Big Guy who happens to be in Hong Kong to meet the leader of said dissidents to take possession of something?, on his way to the hotel for the meeting he is somewhat surprised to find this leader splattering on the footpath in front of him after having been thrown out of one of the windows of the skyscraper hotel.
This is a temporary setback as he gets his sidekick for the title who is none other than the granddaughter of the recent leader.
Off the title goes and there are some very good action scenes which follow and as has been mentioned the splatter is back full time with brains/blood/bone etc. getting a big focus which I must admit I don't mind at all and agree it has been quite a while in this series.
Some good characters as well which all have there little things but Li is a classic from his childhood through what happened to him on the path to what he achieved only to lose it as he did. What happens between him and the Big Guy just prior to his finale was good.
So you should give this one a go a very good story with heaps of original stuff which will keep you entertained I reckon.
Two stars deducted here as part of the story involves the introduction by the Chinese of some sort of drug/potion which when injected into an already highly trained soldier will turn him into some sort of zombie who would like to bite your neck and just keeps coming and coming after being shot how many times and how many body parts are missing.
Folks I personally couldn't care less what you were injected with FACT you will not still be walking on this planet with the back of your skull and brains being blown out (but that's just me) and I found these sections tedious.
Also many times I found myself saying huh would the Big Guy actually do this and if you have read a lot of these series he appears out of character many times where if you read this I feel you would be the same as me constantly stopping questioning things/events etc.
A decent novel from Mike McQuay, whom I hadn't read anything by in a while. Plenty of action, and gore (something that used to decorate the older Bolan's). I too liked the character of Li and his struggle with his superiors orders along with his personal honor. But, there were times where I thought the characterization of Bolan got a bit skewed. Some of his dialogue and situations didn't seem like him.
I'm slowly working my way down on reading all my superbolans between my bi-monthly shipments. I found Tooth and Claw very interesting. I especially enjoyed the conflict between Major Chao and Colonel Li. I really expected Chao to kill Li earlier on. The fact that Mao lived through the whole novel was a pleasant surprise. For some reason it seemed like it took me longer than normal to read this book, but I enjoyed every minute of it. I've just begun reading "Dead Center" so I'll see you all on the flip side. rtex2
this was good, mack trains civilians to fight while going at the enemy with the women (sorry i forgot her name). very good action, espcally on the boat.
