Where to Start with Don Pendleton
For anyone wanting to experience the birth of the modern action-adventure genre, there is only one logical starting point: War Against the Mafia (1969). This novel introduces Mack Bolan, a highly decorated Vietnam War sniper who returns home to wage a personal war against the Mob after they drive his family to tragedy. Reading the early books in publication order is highly recommended, as it allows you to watch the evolution of Bolan's character and the establishment of his personal code.
The Executioner: Original Era vs. Gold Eagle Era
When tracking Mack Bolan's history, it is crucial to understand that the series is split into two distinct eras with very different levels of author involvement:
The Original Don Pendleton Era (Books 1–38)
Between 1969 and 1980, Don Pendleton personally wrote 37 of the first 38 novels in the series. The only exception is book #16, Sicilian Slaughter, which was ghostwritten by Jim Peterson. This sequence is known to fans as the "Mafia Wars" era, where Bolan acts as a rogue vigilante operating entirely outside the law. These books are highly serialized, dark, gritty, and should be read in chronological publication order, concluding with Satan's Sabbath (1980).
The Gold Eagle Franchise Era (Books 39+)
In 1980, Pendleton sold the rights to the character and franchise to Gold Eagle (an imprint of Harlequin). Starting with book #39, The New War (1981), Mack Bolan was deputized by the U.S. government, shifting his fight from the American Mafia to international terrorism. From this point onward, Pendleton did not write the books himself; instead, they were penned by a rotating team of ghostwriters. Because these franchise books are largely episodic, you do not need to read them in strict order, and they can easily be enjoyed as standalone action thrillers.
The Stony Man Universe and Spin-Offs
With the Gold Eagle acquisition came the expansion of the "Stony Man" universe, spawning several long-running spin-off series based on Bolan's support teams. While these were published under Don Pendleton's name, they were entirely ghostwritten:
- Able Team: Focusing on Carl Lyons, Pol Blancanales, and Hermann Schwarz. This team handles domestic operations and street-level threats.
- Phoenix Force: An elite squad of international operatives tasked with global counter-terrorism missions.
- Stony Man: A series that unites both Able Team and Phoenix Force under the coordination of Stony Man Farm, acting as a command center.
The Detective and Psychic Series
In the late 1980s, Pendleton stepped away from Bolan to write two original series, which he penned entirely himself. Both series are short, consisting of exactly six books each:
Joe Copp, Private Eye
A classic first-person hardboiled detective series featuring Joe Copp, a giant ex-cop who relies on force and his .41 Magnum. These books are best read in order of release:
- Copp for Hire (1987)
- Copp on Fire (1988)
- Copp in Deep (1989)
- Copp in the Dark (1990)
- Copp on Ice (1991)
- Copp in Shock (1992)
Ashton Ford, Psychic Detective
A unique blend of espionage and paranormal mystery following a former intelligence officer who uses psychic visions to solve cases. These should also be read in publication order:
- Ashes to Ashes (1986)
- Eye to Eye (1987)
- Mind to Mind (1987)
- Life to Life (1987)
- Heart to Heart (1987)
- Time to Time (1988)
Standalone Works and Non-Fiction
In addition to his series, Pendleton wrote several standalone science fiction novels under his own name and various pseudonyms (such as Dan Britain). Key standalones include Revolt! (1968) and The Guns of Terra 10 (1970). Later in life, he collaborated with his wife, Linda Pendleton, on several non-fiction metaphysical and spiritual books, most notably To Dance With Angels (1990).