Don Pendleton Books in Order

Picture an American storyteller who turned pulp fiction into a global phenomenon with a lone vigilante named Mack Bolan—meet Don Pendleton! Born in 1927, this Navy veteran and aerospace engineer tr...

Book links on this page are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we earn a commission.

Publication Order of The Executioner Books

OrdBook
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon

Publication Order of Mack Bolan Books

OrdBook
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon

Publication Order of Stony Man Books

OrdBook
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon

Publication Order of Able Team Books

OrdBook
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon

Picture an American storyteller who turned pulp fiction into a global phenomenon with a lone vigilante named Mack Bolan—meet Don Pendleton! Born in 1927, this Navy veteran and aerospace engineer traded missile programs for manuscripts, creating the action-adventure genre. His Executioner series, launched in 1969, thrilled millions with its gritty, fast-paced tales, selling over 200 million copies worldwide.

Pendleton’s knack for crafting relentless heroes and high-stakes plots made him a titan of popular fiction. From mafia showdowns to psychic mysteries, his stories pulse with energy, leaving a lasting mark on books, comics, and even Marvel’s Punisher. Let’s dive into the life and legacy of this genre-defining author!

The Making of Don Pendleton

Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, on December 12, 1927, Donald Eugene Pendleton lived a life as bold as his characters. At 14, he lied about his age to join the Navy during World War II, serving as a radioman across all theaters. After returning to civilian life, he worked as a telegrapher, air traffic controller, and engineer on NASA’s Apollo missions and Martin Marietta’s Titan program. By 40, Pendleton ditched a creative writing course to sell his first manuscript, kicking off a prolific career that blended his technical precision with storytelling flair.

Don Pendleton’s Unforgettable Stories

Pendleton’s breakthrough came with The Executioner: War Against the Mafia (1969), introducing Mack Bolan, a Vietnam vet waging a one-man war on the mob. This debut novel, packed with intense action and moral complexity, launched a 38-book series that defined the men’s action-adventure genre. Bolan’s relentless crusade—fueled by personal tragedy—resonated with readers, blending gritty violence with a hero’s disdain for chaos.

Beyond Bolan, Pendleton explored hardboiled detective fiction with the Joe Copp, Private Eye series, starting with Copp for Hire (1987). These six novels feature a 6’3”, 260-pound ex-cop navigating seedy underworlds with a .41 Magnum. He also ventured into the paranormal with the Ashton Ford, Psychic Detective series, beginning with Ashes to Ashes (1986), where a former spy uses psychic powers to solve mysteries. Pendleton’s style—tight prose, vivid action, and larger-than-life heroes—kept readers hooked across genres.

With his wife, Linda, Pendleton co-wrote nonfiction like To Dance With Angels (1990), exploring life after death. His early sci-fi works, such as The Guns of Terra 10 (1970), written under pseudonyms like Dan Britain, showcased his versatility, though none matched the Executioner’s cultural juggernaut.

Why Don Pendleton Matters

Pendleton didn’t just write books; he birthed a genre. The Executioner series, with its 200 million copies sold, inspired countless imitators and spin-offs like Able Team and Phoenix Force. His creation of Mack Bolan directly influenced Marvel’s Punisher, as admitted by writer Gerry Conway, cementing Pendleton’s pop culture footprint. His work transcended literature, sparking comics, audiobooks, and ongoing film franchise talks, with producer Shane Salerno optioning the series in 2014.

Known as “the father of action-adventure,” a term he coined, Pendleton’s legacy endures through his storytelling ethos: heroes who fight for justice, even in hellish circumstances. His books remain in print, captivating new generations with their timeless thrills.

  • Born: December 12, 1927, Little Rock, Arkansas
  • Key Works: The Executioner series, Joe Copp series, Ashton Ford series
  • Awards: Lifetime Achievement Award from Diamond Comic Distributors (1992)
  • Died: October 23, 1995, Sedona, Arizona

Snag War Against the Mafia and dive into Don Pendleton’s pulse-pounding action-adventure world!

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Don Pendleton?

Don Pendleton (1927–1995) was an American author who created the action-adventure genre with his Executioner series, featuring Mack Bolan. A Navy vet and NASA engineer, he sold over 200 million books, influencing pop culture, including Marvel’s Punisher.

What is Don Pendleton’s Executioner series about?

The Executioner series, launched in 1969, follows Mack Bolan, a Vietnam vet battling the mafia after his family’s murder. Packed with gritty action, the 38-book series sold 200 million copies and defined men’s action-adventure fiction.

What inspired Don Pendleton to write?

Don Pendleton’s Navy service, aerospace career, and love for storytelling fueled his writing. At 40, he skipped a writing course, sold his first manuscript, and created Mack Bolan during the turbulent 1960s, reflecting a need for justice.

What are Don Pendleton’s best books?

Don Pendleton’s top books include War Against the Mafia (1969), the first Executioner novel, Copp for Hire (1987) from the Joe Copp series, and Ashes to Ashes (1986), launching the Ashton Ford psychic mysteries.

How did Don Pendleton impact pop culture?

Don Pendleton pioneered the action-adventure genre, inspiring Marvel’s Punisher and countless imitators. His Executioner series, with 200 million copies sold, sparked comics, audiobooks, and film talks, shaping modern vigilante storytelling.

What other genres did Don Pendleton write?

Beyond action-adventure, Don Pendleton wrote hardboiled detective fiction with the Joe Copp series, paranormal mysteries in the Ashton Ford series, sci-fi like The Guns of Terra 10, and nonfiction with his wife, Linda.