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DEATH MERCHANT

Death_Merchant49 Death_Merchant10 Death_Merchant5 Death_Merchant67 Death_Merchant22 Death_Merchant56 Death_Merchant32 Death_Merchant68 Death_Merchant16 Death_Merchant27 Death_Merchant50 Death_Merchant21 Death_Merchant52 Death_Merchant6 Death_Merchant2 Death_Merchant3 Death_Merchant34 Death_Merchant66 Death_Merchant11 Death_Merchant29 Death_Merchant25 Death_Merchant47 Death_Merchant18 Death_Merchant35 Death_Merchant42
 
Full Name: Richard Camellion
Series Name: Death Merchant
Nationality: American
Organization: CIA
Occupation Agent

Creator: Joseph Rosenberger
Time Span: 1971 - 1988

ABOUT THE SERIES

Richard Camellion is a freelance assassin usually for the CIA.

Sometimes also operating as a spy, he gets most of his business from the Agency but he does get seconded to other outfits such as the NSA. He has a set fee for each assignment although that amount, seldomly mentioned, has been quoted as being between $100,000 and $150,000.

Extremely little is recorded about the man nicknamed the Death Merchant. His early years are a total mystery as are the means he used to acquire his awesome killing abilities. For a series with 70 different adventures, this is remarkable.

Unlike most operatives who would rather remain unknown and unheralded to increase their chances of survival, the Death Merchant is extremely well known. Not only do members of the various spy organizations around the world know of him, the press and the general public seem to have a fair knowledge of the 'notorious' bringer of death.

He is an expert at killing, whether it be guns, knives, or hand-to-hand. He has no particular brand of weapon but he does lean towards hand-guns. In several early adventures, he has or considers using twin .357 Magnums. Additionally, he has often included in his arsenal a small caliber handgun fitted in the small of his back attached to his belt.

He is also a specialist in disguises. In addition to being able to change his looks sufficient to elude enemies, Camellion has at times gone to tremendous links. Often he has changed his apparent age, usually going for an old and infirm man. However, he has sometimes gone to tremendous steps. In one adventure, he had to fly cross-country in the visage of a Catholic nun. In another, he used special chemicals taken internally to alter his skin color, making him an African-American.

BOOKS

Number of Books:71
First Appearance:1971
Last Appearance:1988

1 The Death Merchant The Death Merchant
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1971

In the series opener, the Death Merchant is the greatest of organized crime's contract killers, hired to find and remove a turncoat now under FBI protection awaiting testimony. He does the job and takes out a few agents and a couple of innocents, showing a clear heartlessness.

2 Operation Overkill Operation Overkill
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1972

The billionaire Cyrus Carey and his nationwide organization, the Knights of Vigilance, thought themselves the answer to the problems plaguing the U.S. To preserve the work created by the Founding Fathers, his group plans to assassinate the President and others. It is up to the Death Merchant to stop them.

3 The Psychotron Plot The Psychotron Plot
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1972

The Soviet Union has created a new horrifying weapon called the Psychotron, capable of blasting the brain waves of any victim. Hired by the CIA, it is the Death Merchant's task to find and destroy this device as well as kill the man who created it.

4 Chinese Conspiracy Chinese Conspiracy
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1973

The head of Project Toro, the NASA initiative to create the first space shuttle system, has been kidnapped from Cape Kennedy. The CIA says he has been nabbed by an ex-SS officer heading up a Red Chinese spy ring in the U.S. Camellion's job is to stop his being smuggled out of the country.

5 Satan Strike Satan Strike
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1973

The title refers to a vicious little virus developed by the even more vicious Jean Pierre Duvessalines, head of the poor Caribbean island nation of Bonheur. He plans to unleash it across the northern hemisphere and watch the super powers self destruct.

6 Albanian Connection Albanian Connection
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1973

High in the Albanian Alps the headquarters for Spider, a group of neo-Nazis trying to restore the fallen glory of the Third Reich, is the scene of a new endeavor. With uranium stolen from a French reactor, they intend to create their own atomic bomb.

7 The Castro File The Castro File
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1974

When he was first told by the director of the CIA that he was headed to Cuba, he commented that the killing of Fidel Castro was a tall order. Camellion was stunned, however, when he was told his mission was just the opposite - he is to protect the leader.

8 Billionaire Mission Billionaire Mission
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1974

The billionaire in question, Cleveland Silvestter, titled himself as the Ambassador of Lucifer. Wanting to create an environment suitable for his liege, the insane leader of the group called New Dawn is trying to get every nation at the throat of its neighbor or enemy.

9 Laser War Laser War
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1974

In the closing days of WWII, the Nazis had created a super powerful laser weapon. The scientists hid the weapon in the desert of Libya before being captured. Now the word of the laser has leaked out and agents from around the world are out to find it first.

10 The Mainline Plot The Mainline Plot
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1974

'Wreck the youth of a nation and you wreck the future.' That is the simple objective by the North Korean government who have come up with a new form of heroin, a perfect weapon for the Koreans and a financial gold mine for the Mafia.

11 Manhattan Wipeout Manhattan Wipeout
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1975

Angered about their loss of the heroin in the previous adventure, the Mafia has put out a contract on their former associate and Camellion knows that the only way to survive this edict is to take the war to the capos themselves and make them withdraw it.

12 The KGB Frame The KGB Frame
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1975

Tired of having the Death Merchant interfering in their missions, the Soviet KGB unleash a plot to have him eliminated by the organization for whom he does the most work, the CIA.

13 Mato Grosso Horror Mato Grosso Horror
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1975

Deep in the jungles of Brazil, a gang of ex-Nazis have been busy perfecting a deadly biological weapon with which they can reclaim their lost power. To keep their secret safe, they have enslaved an entire tribe of Indians, forcing them to be both guards and guinea pigs.

14 Vengeance Of The Golden Hawk Vengeance Of The Golden Hawk
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1976

The group whose name matches the title of this adventure is a splinter group from the Palestine Liberation Front, tired of the time it has taken to not destroy Israel and reclaim the Holy Land. Their impatience has led them to create their own small atomic bomb.

15 The Iron Swastika Plot The Iron Swastika Plot
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1976

The Spider is back. That band of ex-Nazis has found a way to continue to finance their activities. Off the coast of Argentina, the German submarine, U-429, had sunk near the end of the war, carrying $2 billion in gold and gems.

16 Invasion of the Clones Invasion of the Clones
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1976

Marswada Garbu is the insane dictator of the African nation of Korlumba. He is also the man in control of a device capable of producing almost instantaneous clones of virtually anyone. With this technology, he plans to create an army to invade South Africa.

17 Zemlya Expedition Zemlya Expedition
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1976

Those who controlled the seas could control the weather. That is the belief of a major Soviet scientific operation call Zemlya II, extending so far as to create an underwater experimental community. The CIA sends Camellion to infiltrate the project to smuggle out the lead scientist.

18 Nightmare In Algeria Nightmare In Algeria
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1976

When the the Black Avengers, an African-American liberation terrorist group, joins up with the Blood Sons of Allah, a radical group of Palestinian terrorists in Algeria, the combined plan is to assassinate the Presidents of the U.S. and Egypt.

19 Armageddon, USA! Armageddon, USA!
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1976

The extremist group, the George Washington Brigade, has two simple demands of the American government. The President and Vice-President must resign immediately or hidden atomic bombs would lay waste to 3 major cities.

20 Hell In Hindu Land Hell In Hindu Land
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1976

Operation Dragonnade is the name given by the CIA to the assignment which will take Camellion to a hot and arid region of India where rumors speak of a hidden vault in an ancient Buddhist monastery and the strange device in it said to have come from the stars.

21 The Pole Star Secret The Pole Star Secret
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1977

Information gleamed while in the vault in the Buddhist monastery in the previous adventure sends Richard Camellion to the North Pole to check out the possibility that aliens had once visited there. Adding to this wild idea is the report that the Soviet weather base there is up to more than research.

22 The Kondrashev Chase The Kondrashev Chase
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1977

Colonel Vladimir Kondrashev was a member of the KGB who had crossed swords with Camellion several times before and had always lost. Now he was lost in a different way, missing somewhere in East Germany. To Camellion's surprise, he is asked to travel there to bring him out for he was a double-agent for the CIA.

23 The Budapest Action The Budapest Action
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1977

The DIA learned that the Hungarian government was working on a dangerous new weapon, an extremely powerful gas containing a dangerous hallucinogenic capable of rendering any victim incapable of resistance for up to two weeks. Camellion's job is to find out how far along the research is and to stop it.

24 The Kronos Plot The Kronos Plot
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1977

According to an anti-Castro intelligence outfit, the Cuban leader is planning to blow up two large vessels as they pass through the Panama Canal, destroying the locks and stopping all traffic for years.

25 The Enigma Project The Enigma Project
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1977

An American religious group was mounting an expedition up Mr. Ararat in search of Noah's Ark. Camellion is to travel with them take spectacular photos off Soviet installations along the eastern Turkish border. Then it is learned the group has another reason for going.

26 The Mexican HIt The Mexican HIt
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1978

A new revolutionary group is plaguing the Mexican government. Armed with the latest American weaponry, they are posing a very serious threat to the government and straining relations with the U.S. Camellion is to stop the rebels.

27 The Surinam Affair The Surinam Affair
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1978

An apparent malfunction on the latest NSA satellite has sent it across the United States, filming U.S. military installations and not the enemy's. Now the whole thing has crashed in the jungles of Surinam in South America and its intelligence is up for grabs.

28 Nipponese Nightmare Nipponese Nightmare
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1978

It was the desired plan of the United Red Army, the Japanese terrorist organization, to incite revolt in numerous countries in the Far East. They intended to kill selected leaders and open the way for the 'oppressed' people to rise up.

29 Fatal Formula Fatal Formula
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1978

Word has come from the Crimean region of the Soviet Union that the Russians have been working on a highly contagious and extremely lethal flu virus which could easily decimate an entire population.

30 The Shambhala Strike The Shambhala Strike
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1978

The word coming from a defecting Soviet agent, bringing with her stolen documents, indicated that rumors about Shambhala, a mythical country beneath the Himalayan Mountains, Camellion is sent to Tibet to check it out.

31 Operation Thunderbolt Operation Thunderbolt
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1978

A plane has goen down off the coast of North Korea and the survivors were under the care of the North Korean government. Among those survivors, is Dr. Hausheer, chief architect of the American's newest weapon, an ultrasonic bomb.

32 Deadly Manhunt Deadly Manhunt
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1979

For several years, Camellion has had a ranch in Texas, maintained by his friend, Jesus Sontoya, his refuge between missions. Now someone has invaded his home and killed his friend and the method used was a clear signal that they were coming for the Death Merchant.

33 Alaska Conspiracy Alaska Conspiracy
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1979

'Council Six' was a group of large European corporations tired of the dominance of OPEC and determined to break up that cartel. To get the U.S. to do its work for it, they plan to destroy the Alaskan Pipeline and lay the blame on OPEC.

34 Operation Mind-Murder Operation Mind-Murder
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1979

Wrangel Island was north of Siberia in the Arctic wasteland. It was the home for a Soviet radar installation. It was also the prison for a group still held since the end of World War II and the subjects of a project too dangerous for the Americans to let continue.

35 Massacre In Rome Massacre In Rome
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1979

The CIA's Office of Science and Technology does not really believe that Maria Gondozatti of Rome truly has ESP and can predict the future. Still, they cannot be certain and they would like to talk with her to find out the truth. Unfortunately, the Red Brigade has kidnapped her.

36 The Cosmic Reality Kill The Cosmic Reality Kill
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1979

An old friend of Camellion worked as a deprogrammer of victims of religious cults and it was in that capacity that he ran up against the Cosmic Reality Church and its insane leader, the Reverend Hannibal Frimm. He died in a very violent, painful manner.

37 The Bermuda Triangle Action The Bermuda Triangle Action
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1980

For decades the rumors of the Bermuda Triangle and the disappearances therein of planes and ships had made great press and chilling movies. When the U.S. submarine Kingfisher went missing in that region, the Office of Naval Intelligence decides it is time to take another look.

38 The Burning Blue Death The Burning Blue Death
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1980

Several important people with little to connect them have fallen apparent victim to to Spontaneous Human Combustion and the CIA's Scientific Research Division wants to know why.

39 The Fourth Reich The Fourth Reich
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1980

The Brotherhood of the Fourth Reich was an extremely powerful band of terrorists whose branches stretched across Europe. Now their activities threatened to make the tension in the Middle East boil over and then to commit acts guaranteed to start the Third World War.

40 Blueprint Invisibility Blueprint Invisibility
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1980

During WWII, the U.S. Navy ran an experiment on invisibility. The U.S.S. Eldridge was chosen. It disappeared when the device was turned on. Unfortunately, it reappeared hundreds of miles away with a largely insane crew. Now the file has disappeared and the NSA wants to know why.

41 The Shamrock Smash The Shamrock Smash
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1980

Someone is smuggling arms to the IRA in numbers never seen before and the body count of Protestants and British soldiers is threatening to rise to unprecedented levels. Neither the CIA nor SIS have been able to track down the source of the influx but they know it has to be stopped immediately.

42 High Command Murder High Command Murder
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1980

At the end of WWII, a band of Allied soldiers, comprised of American and French, buried 100 boxes of gold once held by Hitler. Camellion is hired to find out who buried it and where before the answers and the gold disappear forever.

43 The Devil's Trashcan The Devil's Trashcan
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1981

Eager to break the back of ODESSA, the Nazi protection organization, the CIA in conjunction with West German Intelligence plan to use the legend of highly damaging SS files lying at the bottom of Lake Toplitz as bait but they need someone to close the loop.

44 Island of the Damned Island of the Damned
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1981

Experiments with the Bio Memory Scanner by the Soviets were progressing too well, and to add insult to injury, they were taking place on a remote Hawaiian island. With the device, the communists would be able to monitor the thoughts of virtually anyone, giving them a tremendous advantage in any confrontation.

45 The Rim Of Fire Conspiracy The Rim Of Fire Conspiracy
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1981

The evidence clearly indicated that off the coast of the Western U.S., buried deep into the ocean floor, a hydrogen bomb had been exploded. As it was explored, the region showed a series of bombs planted in a line along an important plate.

46 Blood Bath Blood Bath
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1981

The well-spoken leader of a region in southwest Africa was demanding, and fighting for, independence from the Pretorian government. Unfortunately, the backing of the Soviet Union has escalated the conflict and the whole region is ready to explode.

47 Operation Skyhook Operation Skyhook
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1981

The Soviets had created Voktok-1 and placed that highly sophisticated satellite, loaded with deadly lasers, into orbit as a threat to the United States. The Americans overrode the controls and tried to bring it down in the ocean. Unfortunately, it landed in Indonesia.

48 The Psionics War The Psionics War
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1982

Dr. Wayne Davis was a psionics expert whose research into mind control has become of great interest to the U.S. military as a valuable new weapon. Unfortunately, his knowledge is also desired by the opposition. The CIA needs someone to protect the doctor.

49 Night Of The Peacock Night Of The Peacock
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1982

Qahtan Al Shaabi controlled the communist-leaning nation of Yemen, backed by a powerful, 35,000-man group of Devil-worshippers. The CIA wished that he did not continue doing so. They hired Camellion to eliminate the charismatic leader.

50 The Hellbomb Theft The Hellbomb Theft
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1982

The acronym ADM refers to atomic demolition munitions. It means small atomic bombs capable of being carried in a briefcase, presenting a fearsome destructive power that can be moved anywhere. Two have been stolen from an airbase in West Germany.

51 The Inca File The Inca File
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1982

An expedition of American scientists into the jungles of Peru sought natural compounds to be used as medicines. The KGB gets wind of the trip and falls under the belief that it was really a CIA excursion. They send their own people to investigate and steal whatever secrets are found.

52 The Flight Of The Phoenix The Flight Of The Phoenix
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1982

Someone is determined that the Phoenix X-2, a revolutionary new cargo aircraft, never sees production. Several deaths occur during the creation of the prototype and now, as it prepares for a multi-stop promotional flight around the world, the probability of more disasters loom.

53 The Judas Scrolls The Judas Scrolls
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1982

The scrolls mentioned in the title were a set of 27 ancient scrolls found in the West Bank of Jordan. What made the scrolls of spectacular importance is their purported author: Judas Iscariot. Suddenly, everybody wants to take a look. Too bad a Palestinian band had already stolen them.

54 Apocalypse, U.S.A. Apocalypse, U.S.A.
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1982

The plan was fairly simple. A team consisting of Libyans and East Germans would take a shipment of VXB-2L6, a deadly nerve gas, and release it along the Eastern seaboard of the United States. Millions would die and the power of the West would be broken.

55 Slaughter In El Salvador Slaughter In El Salvador
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1982

Once again the tiny Central American nation of El Salvador is the scene of a deadly conflict between factions backed by the West and those favored by the Iron Curtain. Thousands are in danger of dying unless someone can stop the mayhem.

56 Afghanistan Crashout Afghanistan Crashout
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1983

While the United States was backing the rebels fighting the Soviet backed Afghan government, it didn't want to become directly involved itself. Then two American spies were caught and the CIA asked Camellion to go into Kabul, break into the high-security prison there, and free the agents.

57 The Romanian Operation The Romanian Operation
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1983

When the head of the Romanian secret service decided he would like to defect to the West, the CIA was pleased to welcome him, even when he demanded that he be accompanied by his wife. The catch was, however, that she was a dedicated KGB agent placed to keep an eye on him.

58 Silicon Valley Connection Silicon Valley Connection
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1984

The U.S. has created a supercomputer missile guidance system of phenomenal capability. Naturally, the Soviets want it. To get it, they decide to get the man who created it and to do that they enlist the aid of a cutthroat motorcycle gang called Satan's Gentlemen.

59 The Burma Probe The Burma Probe
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1984

Red China wants to expand its control of the Indochina region. To do so, it has created an awesome biological weapon capable of killing millions in the region within a few days, leaving countries like Laos and Thailand incapable of resistance.

60 The Methuselah Factor The Methuselah Factor
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1984

After years of research, the scientists of West Germany had found the proverbial fountain of youth, a process that would slow down the aging in humans. Naturally, they want to keep the secret to themselves and just as naturally, both the CIA and the KGB want to take a look.

61 The Bulgarian Termination The Bulgarian Termination
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1984

Get your degree in assassination. That seems to be the offer by the Bulgarian Secret Service, an offer that is sent out throughout the world inviting people from all walks of life to come to Bulgaria and learn from the best, the KGB. The numbers answering the offer were quite high.

62 The Soul Search Project The Soul Search Project
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1985

At first glance, the strange research that Cecil Montrose was doing, using electronic means to contact the dead, would have little interest to the KGB. Nevertheless, they were very interested, enough to kidnap him and try to ferret him out of the country.

63 The Pakistan Mission The Pakistan Mission
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1985

It has been felt for some time that the Soviet interest in Afghanistan was mostly as a stepping-stone to Pakistan and India. Now proof has come of a base in that arid land for the much-feared Spetnaz, assassin-commandoes who specialize in quick, vicious strikes with no mercy.

64 The Atlantean Horror The Atlantean Horror
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1985

A long-dead Atlantean named Baris, talking through the device of Cecil Montrose (see #62), told of the location of the fabled sunken continent, now buried beneath the ice of the South Pole. He also told of a fantastic energy device contained therein.

65 Mission Deadly Snow Mission Deadly Snow
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1986

The secret to success over an enemy has always been to exploit his weakness. A huge weakness of the American people has been drugs. The KGB, seeking to push that failing even further, has come up with a plan to work through Cuba to increase the Columbia drug trade.

66 The Cobra Chase The Cobra Chase
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1986

The chase is most definitely on. El Cobra, the head of the trouble in the previous mission (#65), was again on the loose and Richard Camellion was determined to track him down and end his career, even if it meant traversing most of Western Europe to do it.

67 Escape From Gulag Taria Escape From Gulag Taria
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1986

The word out of frozen Siberia is that a noted Russian scientist, imprisoned by his own people for improper thinking, has a formula for controlling the weather. He is willing to hand that procedure over to the West if someone got him out of his captivity.

68 The Hindu Trinity Caper The Hindu Trinity Caper
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1987

It didn't surprise either the FBI or the CIA when the man named Bledsoe, working in a highly secure plant in Texas, turned out to be an East German spy for they had suspected him. What did surprise everyone was that he was able to take with him 4 devices used by the President to launch nuclear missiles.

69 The Miracle Mission The Miracle Mission
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1987

The Brotherhood of Belial, as it called itself, was a newly formed terrorist group with ties to the Red Brigade of Italy. It came to the attention of the world when it staged a stunning robbery. For the good of humanity and all that, it had taken the famous Shroud of Turin.

70 The Greenland Mystery The Greenland Mystery
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1988

Scientists exploring the frozen land of the arctic have come upon an astonishing discovery buried beneath the ice - proof of an extraterrestrial visit. Suddenly the rush is on to investigate and possibly benefit from the technology.

71 Apocalypse Apocalypse
Written by Joseph Rosenberger
Copyright: 1987

Somewhere in Aegean Sea, the Soviet Union is perfecting a new device guaranteed to change the balance of power for this invention is able to alter the flow of the world's jet streams. As the winds go, so goes the much-needed rain. If the Soviets can complete their tests, they win.

PARODIES, SATIRES, AND PASTICHES

Number of Entries:1
First Appearance:2018
Last Appearance:2018

1 The Ways Of Killing Men The Ways Of Killing Men
Contributors: Richard Camellion ((supposedly))
Copyright: 2018

"... the Death Merchant is seething that the CIA has forced him back into their service! He'll save their bacon one more time - before he serves them breakfast in Hell! The Ways of Killing Men."
This is an interesting book. After 6 years of being promised or rumored, it was finally released in 2018. It talked about the Death Merchant being forced back into action and indicated he would be putting together a 'killer' team.
The prologue is the first half of the book. Then the main character shows up. By then, the two main characters from the original author's other series are no longer with us. Like I said, interesting. Note that I did not say "good" or "enjoyable".

REFERENCE BOOKS

Number of Books:2
First Appearance:1977
Last Appearance:1978

The first book was published by Paladin Press. The sketchy information I had comes thanks to Sean, a fellow action-adventure reader I met on Facebook who pointed to where I missed mention of it in Brad Mengel's terrific Serial Vigilantes of Paperback Fiction.


1 Assassination: Theory and Practice Assassination: Theory and Practice
Written by Richard Camellion
Copyright: 1977

This treatise by the Death Merchant apparently reviews the history of assassination as well as the difference between it and murder.

2 Mind Murder: The Art of Behavior Modification Mind Murder: The Art of Behavior Modification
Written by Richard Camellion
Copyright: 1978

[plot unknown - although I am guessing the subject deals with brainwashing]

MY COMMENTS

The publisher of the Death Merchant, Pinnacle, was on a heckuva roll. It was hitting big with the Executioner, launched in 1969, and was following it up with two more action-adventure series. One was the Destroyer and the other the Death Merchant. Of the three, the Death Merchant was the least successful, lasting until 1987 with 71 books while the other two were still going strong into the next century.

Still, the books were quite successful when compared to many other spy-fi series during the same period and, if the reports from Pinnacle are to be believed, numbered over 14 million in print.

The name is stupid. Death Merchant. What was even goofier was the dialogue of some of the bad guys, especially in the earlier adventures, screaming things like 'You'll never get me, Death Merchant!' Sometimes you had to grit your teeth.

But!!!!!

They were pretty damn good yarns and I enjoyed them a lot! Go figure!

GRADE

My Grade: C+

Your Average Grade:   A+

YOUR OPINIONS

wrath231 A+ 7/17/2012 9:40:32 AM

Had a ton of fun reading this series. There is always lots of great action, great dialogue and discussion on the merits of capitalism and a host of other worldwide issues. The amount of information they cram into these novels is incredible. There is even footnotes in many of them to expand on some the terminology used which is a nice touch. Do yourself a favor and start reading the Death Merchant series right now!


Rock Savage A+ 11/21/2012 4:36:23 PM

One of the best of the new ( at the time) tough guy books!! The DM never put down his gun if bad guys threatened innocents!! They had to gibe up or die! He would kill them anyway! Also the plots were sometimes very strange and off the wall! Sometimes there were encounters with UFOs, Spontaneous Human combustion and even an invention that can let you talk to the dead!! Read the DM today!!


David Hawk A+ 8/27/2014 12:50:47 PM

Some of these are a real drudge to get through. The New Age stuff is different enough to be good, but otherwise just standard "Exestroyer" fare taken to the extreme.


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