Monday, April 12, 2021

Paperback Warrior Podcast - Episode 86

On Episode 86 of the Paperback Warrior Podcast, we explore team-based action adventure series including Phoenix Force, Alpha Team, SOBs, and so many more. This is a jam-packed episode that men’s adventure paperback fans won’t want to miss. Listen on any podcast app or www.paperbackwarrior.com or download directly HERE

Listen to "Episode 86: Action-Adventure Teams" on Spreaker.

5 comments:

  1. Just wanted to say thanks for spotlighting so many team-based series in your latest podcast.

    If you are looking for more series, I think the books listed below also fall into the same category:
    Surgical Strike #1-3 by Jerry Ahern *
    Point Team #1-3 by J.B. Hadley *
    The Specialists #1-3 by Chet Cunningham *
    Talon Force #1-11 by Cliff Garnett *
    Code Zero #1-3 by D. A. Hodgman *
    Black Eagles #1-21 by John Lansing

    (* Denote series that I own but have not read, so I am basing the categorization via online comments)

    On a side note: my parents purchased one of the Black Eagles books for me when I was 9. I found it on a spinner rack at an airport store, and I was enthralled by the book during my 5 hour flight. My 9 year-old brain had no idea that books with a high level of violence and coarse language existed. About 25 years and a few dollars later, I was able to read the entire series, which I enjoyed because there was no way to know which team members would survive their various missions. In fact, as the series progressed, the first few pages of the books would list the members who were killed. I can't begin to tell you how much effort it took to not jump to the last book in the series to see who had survived up to that point.

    Thank you for your blog, which has inspired me during the last 16 months to build a library filled with hundreds of action-adventure books. Looking forward to the next episode!

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  2. Another great episode guys. You mentioned Len Levinson's RAT BASTARDS series but just briefly. I've been listening to the Audible version of the first one in the series and I like it, even though the gore level is over the top -- or maybe because the gore level is over the top. ;-)

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  3. So I started reading the Rat Bastards last year when I found the first book at a flea market. From there, I picked up book number 2 and 3. For some reason, book 4, Meat Grinder Hill is selling for $60+ so I thought I hit a dead end, until a seller on ebay popped up with EVERY Rat Bastards book for sale. Originally priced at $150, I took a shot in the dark and offered him $50. To my shock, he accepted and gave me free shipping!

    So now I have the ENTIRE Rat Bastard series, and I absolutely love it so far. Granted, I'm on Meat Grinder Hill, but so far I have enjoyed every book, and I can't wait to see what the series holds. But it was driving me crazy. because there isn't much out there in terms of this series, and I could not find any recommendations of books similar to this!

    I kept saying to myself, why don't they make books like this anymore? Just mindless fun, graphic, not politically correct, and killer artwork. I was convinced there had to be more people like me, who wanted to read more books like this. I kept google searching different term and then like a miracle I found this site!

    I haven't dove into the site yet, but I can already tell I found a new home and podcast! I just started this episode and I can't wait to hear it all, and start getting ideas of what to read after the Rat Bastards series! Do you guys have a twitter or instagram account that I can follow?

    Can't wait to dive into the site and get some much wanted recommendations!

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  4. I discovered the Rat Bastards series thanks to an add in the back of another book I found at a Flea Market called "Doctor Death". After reading Doctor Death, I said, "Man, I need to find more books like this!" So I decided to check out this Rat Bastards series in the back of the book. I went to thriftbooks and found a copy of "Hit the Beach." After the first few chapters, I was hooked. The characters, they writing, the action and gore, I was all in.

    I wrapped up book 1 and quickly moved to book 2 and 3. When I went for book 4 "Meat Grinder Hill" I was quickly disappointed to find the book goes for $65+. So I stopped there. That was until last month when a seller on ebay popped up with the entire series for $150. I figured what the heck and made him an offer of $50, and to my surprise he accepted it and offered free shipping!

    So now I have the entire series and I'm halfway through book 4 and I absolutely love it! As I was reading it today, I said there has to be more people out there that likes these type of books, and there has to be more books like this. However; everytime I tried to find something new, I would end up finding nothing. But today, my google search landed me here!

    I haven't had time to really dive deep into the site, but from what I can tell, it looks like I found a place to call home and get plenty of new reading! I just started this podcast and I can't wait to get some recommendations! Do you guys have a twitter or instagram I can follow along with? I'm glad to see I'm not the only person out there who has an affinity for these old paperback books!

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  5. It's great to hear a new PBW podcast! By the way, as you know, artist Gil Cohen did scores of iconic cover paintings for the Phoenix Force and Able Team novels, and over 100 for the Mack Bolan/Executioner novels. Many examples of his original art for those series are featured in the book ONE MAN ARMY: THE ACTION PAPERBACK ART OF GIL COHEN, which I co-edited with Gil and Wyatt Doyle. Gil's artwork is also featured in the third issue of the MEN'S ADVENTURE QUARTERLY, which I co-edited with Bill Cunningham. MAQ #3 also includes "Book Bonus" versions of Don Pendleton's first two Executioner novels, WAR AGAINST THE MAFIA and DEATH SQUAD and a special article about the Bolanverse by Linda Pendleton. ONE MAN ARMY and MAQ #3 are both available on Amazon worldwide, or directly from me with free shipping via my online bookstore, here -> https://www.menspulpmags.com/bookstore/.

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