MEN'S ADVENTURE
THE AQUANAUTS
Of all the
paperback original men’s adventure series to hit the spinner racks in the
1970s, The Aquanauts is possibly the best example of a brilliant series concept
sabotaged by moribund writing. In my opinion, the depths of the writing
mediocrity of the series is as deep as the Marianna Trench, and it’s incredibly
frustrating. I really want to like this series. I’ve tried several times to
like this series. I’ve tried starting with different books in the series, but
each time I simply can’t get past the first few chapters.
The series
was written by journeyman scribbler Manning Lee Stokes under the pseudonym Ken
Stanton. Prior to The Aquanauts, Stokes made his bones in the men’s adventure
genre writing the initial novels (and many other entries) for The Expeditor
series and the classic superspy Nick Carter series. Among numerous other
pulp-based mysteries, sci-fi, and sleaze novels, he also wrote the eight books
in the cult favorite Richard Blade series—which combined a heady mix of science
fiction and adventure. Prolific: Check…Competent: Check…Entertaining:
Check…Above Average: Rarely if ever...This is my checklist—other reader’s
mileage may vary.
The Aquanauts
are a team of highly trained operatives (is there any other kind?) who make up
the elite Secret Underwater Service. Led by William Martin, codename Tiger
Shark, the SUS is tasked with neutralizing terrorists planning to strike at
America from the sea, or who plan to attacking U.S. Naval underwater facilities
across the globe. This mission involves preparing the personnel who can handle
the extreme difficulties of underwater battle, and carrying out those battles
when ordered by the president.
The men
chosen for the SUS begin their training designated as Minnows. Once they prove
their suitability, they are promoted to the coveted designation of Shark. The
top fish is the deadly Tiger Shark and is empowered to complete the missions of
the SUS at any cost, including assassination.
When the
series starts, the first Tiger Shark had been killed in action. To replace him,
the President has promoted Navy lieutenant William Martin. Referred to
informally as Bill, Martin is an Annapolis graduate and a decorated war hero,
having been awarded a Navy Cross with oak leaf cluster. An imposing figure
standing 6'2, the 30 years old Martin is (of course) in perfect physical
condition—a rugged, fearless man who always puts the demands of the mission
before any personal considerations.
The SUS has
provided Martin with a top-secret one-man sub known as a KRAB, which he uses to
take on Russian submarines, various criminally controlled ‘sea monsters’, and
the plots of underwater megalomaniacs. Tiger Shark’s mission take him under the
Iron Curtain, under the Bamboo Curtain, Under the noses of Chinese villains,
and into the depths of everywhere from the North Pole to Australia and Cuba.
Sounds
freaking fabulous doesn’t it? It should be freaking fabulous—but it’s as
lumbering as a leaky lifeboat. The squandered potential of brine, barnacles,
bombs and bimbos just kills me. The series was original published by
McFadden/Bartell. Manor Books took over the series in 1971 dropping The
Aquanauts series titles in favor of rebranding the series Tiger Shark...an
anchor by any other name.
As long as
you don’t dip into the prose, the cool cover art makes the series worth
collecting. The covers all feature Tiger Shark—sporting the rugged profile of
Steven Holland, aka: The Man Who Launched A Thousand Paperbacks—in diving gear
being chased by sharks, subs, battleships, and sea monsters while brandishing
his deadly diver’s knife.
THE AQUANAUTS
COLD BLUE
DEATH
Devilfish was
the code name for a vital operation in the waters of the Bermuda Triangle.
Someone was out to destroy the mission but Tiger was there to save it.
TEN SECONDS
TO ZERO
American
submarines were becoming sitting ducks to the Soviet's new anti-sub missile
called the Sea Serpent. Tiger must steal the secrets behind this dangerous
weapon.
SEEK, STRIKE
AND DESTROY
When a
Chinese captain with a strange underwater craft lobs a missile at the U.S., the
danger from the Bamboo Curtain becomes clearer but what of Madame Hee?
SARGASSO
SECRET
A marine
biologist has come up with a way to feed starving millions but someone is not
pleased with his success. Tiger must keep alive him and his daughter, Poppy.
STALKERS OF
THE SEA
The man
behind savage attacks on U.S. interests is a Soviet spy of American origins.
Tiger must track him down from icy northern waters to hot foreign bordellos.
WHIRLWIND
BENEATH THE SEA
Secret agent
Tiger Shark and the underwater service are off to Australia to solve the
mystery of an undersea eruption, a rising land mass and beautiful babes.
OPERATION
DEEP SIX
On her maiden
voyage, the Navy's newest supersub, the J1, just disappeared. Now its sister
ship, the J2, is ready for launch and Tiger is on site to keep an eye on her.
OPERATION
STEELFISH
The Soviet
villain from Stalkers Of The Sea is back, trying to get his hands on the newest
weapon the Navy is testing in the Caribbean. Tiger must find a way to stop the
theft.
EVIL CARGO
The Mob has
stolen a Russian submarine in Cuba to smuggle drugs into the U.S. Tiger is sent
to stop them but he is told for diplomatic reasons not to damage the sub.
OPERATION SEA
MONSTER
Some creature
of monstrous proportions is randomly striking the underwater American sea lab
and Tiger is ordered to find and eliminate the creature.
OPERATION
MERMAID
The report
was that a Chinese sailor was attacked by a mermaid. As crazy as that sounded,
Tiger is sent to find the truth. So too were several Soviet agents.
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