An interesting action series I got into is the Jack Reacher series. While some may know of the series thanks to the recent Tom Cruise movie, I was reading it a little before hand.
I find that Jack Reacher has, to me, a lot of pulp-hero characteristics. A former soldier (an ex-MP and major in the Army), he now wanders America. Somewhat stoic, he has no family and few friends, but that doesn’t bother him. He gets involved in issues in different places, and uses his physical abilities, along with his military training and skills, to “take care of things.” A big mistake that many who go up against him make is thinking he will be scared off. Reacher doesn’t get scared off. If you come at him and threaten him, hoping he will leave, he will instead put down the threat fast and hard.
Over time we learn more about Reacher, and a few of the novels are actually set during his time in the Army. His father (now dead) was a Marine, and Jack was raised in a variety of bases around the world. The rest of his family are his mother (now also dead), and his older brother Joe (who died just prior to the first novel, “Killing Floor”). Jack is a West Point graduate, and in the Army was a military policeman, and later headed up the (fictional) 110th Special Investigations Unit, raising to the rank of major.
He mustered out after being in the Army for 13 years. With no family and no interest in settling down, he now sets out to see America, hitchhiking or taking buses. He travels with just the clothes on his back (which he replaces every two to three days), a folding toothbrush, an ATM card, and his passport. He supplements his bank account with odd jobs as need be.
As he has no connections, the author, Lee Child, must come up with reasons for him to get involved with the issue at hand. He usually stumbles upon what is going on, sometimes getting pulled in against his will, though he (and the reader) often doesn’t know what is fully going on and has to figure it out. Usually someone makes a mistake that causes him to take action. (remember what I said about trying to scare him off.)
At present there are 19 novels, with a 20th coming later this year. There have been a few short stories set in his earlier years, and most of these have been included with paperback editions of the novels.
While most of the novels are set with his wanderings, an noted a few (“The Enemy” and “The Affair”) are set during his time as an MP. And while each novel is stand alone, a few make references to secondary characters from the past. Further, the events in “61 Hours” leads Reacher to head to D.C., which finishes with “Never Go Back.” So I would recommend reading them in order, especially the ones from “61 Hours” to “Never Go Back.”
Overall, I’ve enjoyed this series. If there is any issue with is, it’s that since several of the stories has Reacher helping out the FBI and the like, you’d think that in later books they would know who he is and not be suspicious of him. (What, no one did reports on him?) I look forward to reading the next one.
I’ve been hooked on the Jack Reacher novels for some time now. Lee Child has created pretty much of a Pulp Hero in my opinion. Fun reads.
I eagerly devour each Reacher novel, they are great reads.
It did seem weird to have Tom Cruise play Reacher, and I have avoided the movie. The actor Neil Flynn (The Janitor on “Scrubs”) would have been the correct physical type, although I haven’t seen him do anything but comedy. He’s big enough, and I think he could easily look tough and mean.
Yeah, I have a problem seeing Cruise as Reacher. We get physical descriptions of Reacher, and Cruise is not it. Not familiar with Flynn.
I also got hooked on Jack Reacher after reading “61 Hours”. Then I had to get all of them. They grab the reader immediately and don’t let go. Forget all the “new pulp” stuff, and read the Jack Reacher books instead!