There are 42 books in the Assignment series, the spy thrillers starring CIA agent, Sam Durell. I own all but two and usually choose which one to read by the locale of the adventure. Then I thought, hey, I’ve got the first one, let’s see how it all began. Assignment to Disaster from 1955.
We start right off just like any other Sam Durell book. No origin story. No background. He gets called into the office and is handed an assignment. It was just like a later entry. The only difference I would say is he’s just a tad less bitter at the beginning but honestly, he’s still pretty morose. So much for an introduction story. Oh well.
A scientist working on a satellite bomb system has stolen vital info and gone into hiding. The satellite launches in a matter of days and Durrell must find this guy before it launches so nothing will go wrong. You know, 1950’s Cold War stuff. The era spies were made of.
Durell finds the man’s sister to try and get information. She instantly hates him and his government bullshit. She knows her brother is no traitor and won’t turn on him. Durell finally gets her to work with them a little. She’s under their watch now but they blow it when evil commies raid the hiding spot and kill Durrell’s CIA buddy.
The race is on to see who can find the missing scientist first. A love interest develops between Durell and the sister, Deidra. Meh. She is strong willed and feisty. Definitely not a damsel in distress even when in distress. They travel across the US on the trail. Durell gets his ass kicked. Ladies captured. Evil scientists. Bureaucracy. Military bureaucracy. Rules. Breaking rules. Going out on a limb. Cajun stuff. Hillbilly Grandpa. Super villains.
To be honest it was just OK. This is about the fifth Assignment Series that I’ve read and I gotta say enjoyed the later ones much more. Plus, in the other installments Durell is across the globe. Really getting into it. I’d much rather have the foreign setting. Spy stuff going on in New Mexico isn’t exactly enthralling to me. The part where they hit the Louisiana swamps was a little more my speed, but would it have killed them to have at least one alligator attack in the book? I mean, you’re already in the swamp. Let’s pulp it up Aarons!
Fawcett Gold Medal 1955
Review by Nick Anderson
Swamps = gators. That's set in stone.
ReplyDelete