VIKING CIPHER

Full Name:	Eric Ivorsen
Nationality:	American
Organization:	-
Occupation	Adventurer

Creator:	Rick Spencer
Time Span:	1983 - 1984

ABOUT THE SERIES

       Eric Ivorsen is an adventurer.
       When his parents were killed in a climbing accident, the young 14-year old Ivorsen was sent to live with his uncle, a very eccentric but successful gambler who plied his trade all over the world. The two brothers had been considerably different. Where his father had been a genius when it came to mathematics and the like, the uncle was a genius at knowing people and see opportunity, his wealth being a good testament to that. He was good at other things, too, but his ability to read a situation and profit from it was exceptional.
       Ivorsen's uncle took his new responsibility very seriously and, having no children of his own, decided he would do his best to raise his nephew to be the best he could be. For this reason, Eric did not continue normal schooling from then on. For the next five years he was moved by his uncle to different places to be taught by the best.
       In Berlin he was taught by the best mathematicians. In Oxford he studied the classics. Switzerland was where he learned to ski like a pro. Amsterdam and Paris and other places for art, finance, and other studies that his uncle felt he should have.
       Now as a well-rounded, highly intelligent and gifted man, Ivorsen is well-off enough to go where he wants and do what he wants. While excitement is something he craves and adores, the kinds he is always finding without looking are the kinds that can get him killed the quickest.

       The publisher's official name for the series was Viking Cipher.

BOOKS

Number of Books:	5
First Appearance:	1983
Last Appearance:	1984


1			Icebound Written by Rick Spencer Copyright: 1983 The mysterious group wants badly to get their hands on the Viking Cipher, a forecast for the future of civilization. Eric Ivorsen's father was the man who created it and he died years ago protecting it. Now the group is certain Eric has it and will do anything to force him to give it up.

2			All That Glitters Written by Rick Spencer Copyright: 1983 While on a romantic cruise, Eric Ivorsen and his girlfriend, Maggie, get unwillingly involved in a treasure hunt for an ancient golden statue. The search will send them about the world with others willing to kill them at each stop.

3			The Moneymaster Written by Rick Spencer Copyright: 1984 When a young financier is killed in a bizarre fall, his girlfriend begs Eric Ivorsen and Maggie to find out why. This leads them to come up against a brilliant but evil money manipulator with very unpleasant plans for the world economy.

4			The Terror Merchant Written by Rick Spencer Copyright: 1984 Numerous people wanted Eric Ivorsen, each for their own selfish goals and none of which were likely to keep Ivorsen breathing long. The most dangerous of these was the group known as Croesus who saw Ivorsen as a block to their plans for power.

5			The Devil's Mirror Written by Rick Spencer Copyright: 1984 The newscaster named Tallant was considered the most powerful man in the news media but he wanted far more. With his plan to put into space a powerful statellite capable of controlling all broadcasts, his power would be enormouse. Eric Iverson wants to stop him.

MY COMMENTS

I am definitely a sucker for adventure stories with a fallible yet capable hero who doesn't seek trouble but doesn't run from it. I know I'd run but that's me. Still, I love to read about those who wouldn't and Ivorson is definitely that kind. He can laugh and play as anyone but he also has an intensity when faced with danger that is fun to read. Also fun to follow is Ivorsen's girlfriend Maggie. He's a lucky man.
These are fast action adventures but worth the time to read. They would have made a great television show. I'd have watched every week.

GRADE

My Grade: B+

Your Average Grade: A+

YOUR OPINIONS

tomjohnson	A+	2/19/2014 7:09:22 AM	I enjoyed the series too. The first two novels especially were quite good. Ivorson was something of a modern day Doc Savage, big, muscular, highly intelligent, and loved adventure. Yet, he was more human than Doc.

Tell us what you think of the series. Give your grade and comments.

Your Grade:
Your Comments:

To give your opinion, you must be logged in.