MAQ 13 - FATAL FEMMES!

 

MEN’S ADVENTURE QUARTERLY Issue # 13

Fatal Femmes Issue

Edited by Robert Deis & Bill Cunningham

Guest Contributors Terrance Layhew & Eric Compton

Subtropic Productions, LLC.

154 pgs

 

If you’re the superstitious type, then the number 13 might make you feel a wee bit cautious in regards to this issue of MAQ. Whereas if you are a genuine Men’s Adventure Magazine fanatic, it only portents a volume chock-full of literary and visual goodies. As always, editors Deis and Cunningham have assembled a wonderful collection of stories, this time featuring the deadlier of the species; dames. We’re given a half-dozen story gems showcasing these lethal ladies.  

All of these enjoyable, but the best is the novella “Vendetta on the Street of Lonely Frauleins,” written by Mario Puzo under the pen-name of Mario Cleri. The story totally captured those old 1960s spy melodrama ala TV’s “The Man From Uncle,” complete with unique hidden guns and poison tipped hypos. The protagonist, one sexy Scarlett Tracy should have had lots more adventures in our humble opinion. 

All in all, from the articles to the fiction, MAQ # 13 is another solid entry. It even has a little bit of “old” pulp history in regard to Paul Chadwick, the creator of the Golden Age hero, Secret Agent X. That, like the rest of the package was much fun indeed. Here’s hoping issue # 14 is just over the horizon.

THE BROKEN CHAIN

THE BROKEN CHAIN

A George “Magpie” Collins Mystery

By Len Driscoll

Glowing Eyes Media

106 pgs

 

We love private-eye mysteries going back to our teen-years when we first discovered such gumshoes as Mickey Spillane, Sam Spade, Shell Scott and dozens of others. Generally, their settings were either the cold, dark streets of New York, or the glaring, Hollywood ruled Sunset Strips of Los Angeles. Now comes a brand-new hero whose home turf is the byways of Sydney, Australia. 

It is Sydney post World War II, and the city, along with rest of the country, is struggling to re-adjust to a normal world not trying to destroy itself. George Collins, nicknamed Magpie because of his larcenous past, is trying to go straight as a private investigator. When a distraught Isobel Latimer arrives at his office, he instantly recognizes the name as belonging to one of the most powerful financial dynasties in the city. Isobel’s half-brother, Charlie Bistrow, has disappeared while attempting to uncover the truth of his mother’s death. She was the Latimer’s maid, and he suspects that Dominic Latimer, heir and master of the house, may be his father. The boy not only wants the truth but also his rightful share of family wealth. 

Magpie takes the case and soon learns that before his disappearance, Charlie has found incriminating documents revealing the family’s illegal smuggling operations during the war; activities that only increased their holdings. Were these to be made public, the whole Latimer clan collapsed under the scandal and Dominic, along with his chief associates, would be imprisoned. It is enough of a threat that Magpie realizes the danger surrounding Charlie. The kid is playing with fire that could get him killed. 

Writer Len Driscoll offers up a terrific, moody mystery rich with period atmosphere. He wisely paints Sydney as a silent character witnessing the foibles and sins of its people. Typical of a solid noir offering, “The Broken Chain” is almost poetic in its style and masterfully told. It’s a great opening entry to what looks to be an excellent series. Well worth your time and read.

STARTER VILLAIN

 

STARTER VILLAIN

By John Scalzi

A Tor Paperback

279 pgs

 

It’s hard not to applaud writer John Scalzi’s imagination and radical sense of humor. Having read several of his sci-fi titles, he’s someone unwilling to be Pidgeon holed. From straight action adventure with futuristic military combat to diplomatic insanity among alien races who communicate emotions via flatulence. Scalzi isn’t about to be pigeon holed. 

Charlie Fitzer, an out-of-work journalist, is barely making ends meet as a middle-school substitute teacher in a suburb of Chicago. That all changes when an uncle he barely knew, Jake Baldwin, dies and leaves him a strange inheritance. Via a lovely young lady named Morrison, claiming to be his uncle’s assistance, Charlie learns that his very rich relative was in actuality a villain. But not just any run-of-the-mill bad guy. No sirree, Uncle Jake was one of those super villains often found in the pages of James Bond novels. 

The weirdness doesn’t end there. Morrison informs Charlie that Jake was one of many such super villains; all of whom now want to meet him and determine if he is any kind of viable threat to their current nefarious schemes. Then there are the genetically created intelligent cats who act as spies and the augmented dolphins capable of sabotaging an enemy’s fleet or naval bases. 

From his boring life in Barrington, Illinois, to that of Super Villain trainee on a secret base located on a private Caribbean island, our hero’s journey is one of non-stop suspense and danger every step of the way. There does exist the possibility of a pot of gold at the end of it, but first Charlie has to stay alive to enjoy it. “Starter Villain” is wacky, hilarious fun well worth your attention. John Scalzi really is one of a kind.

SHARPE'S STORM

 

SHARPE’S STORM

By Bernard Cornwell

Harper

346 pgs

 

This being the 24^th novel in the Richard Sharpe series of historical fiction by Bernard Cornwell featuring the exploits of an English soldier during the Napoleonic Wars. Though often written out of sequence, Sharpe first appeared as a private of the 33^rd Regiment of Foot in “Sharpe’s Tiger.” Through his courage and fighting prowess, he constantly gets promoted up the ranks as well as becoming a personal favorite of Lord Wellington. In the end he’s a lieutenant in “Sharpe’s Waterloo.” 

Most readers will know of the character via the popular British ITV televisions series starring Sean Bean in the role. 

In “Sharpe’s War” we encounter a Major Sharpe caught up in the 1813 Invasion of Southern France by British forces at the same time the French army was being devastated in their Russian winter campaign. Sharpe is as ever doing his best to keep himself, and his men alive, as the troops fight across a terrain of twisted riverways. And if that wasn’t enough responsibility for him, he’s ordered by Lord Wellington to both escort and guard, a navy admirable wishing to witness the fighting up close. 

As ever, Cornwell’s prose is lean and authentic. His knowledge of military ploys and maneuvers during actual combat mesmerizing. He puts his reader in the thick of things dodging musket balls and slashing razor honed bayonets. All making “Sharpe’s Storm” a welcomed new entry into this superb series.