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Title:
Tigers of Justice
Series: Phoenix Force
#4
Author: Gar Wilson
Rating: 3 of 5
Stars
Genre: Action/Adventure
Pages:
170
Words: 37K
Publish: 1983
Ninjas
(the titular Tigers of Justice) attack nuclear power plants in the US
with the goal of creating a nuclear meltdown and total catastrophe.
Oh. My. Goodness.
Only in 80’s mens adventure novels would the KGB finance a group of Japanese ninjas to take out nuclear power plants in the US. I was all agog. And then I just laughed and laughed and read on as the brains splattered and bones broke and entrails went flying all over the place. I’ve gotten pretty jaded in recent years to violence in books, but this book made me remember that I have an “ultra-violence” tag for a reason and this book deserved it.
I still had a good time reading this and it was fun, but it was truly bordering on the ludicrous. So much so that I couldn’t ignore it like I have in the previous Phoenix Force books.
One thing that really stuck out to me though, was that it was Phoenix Force dealing with this threat. Phoenix Force is a five man team made up of non-Americans. Their goal is to fight terrorism around the world, hence their international make up. So why are they the ones dealing with terrorists on American soil? There is another special Forces Team (Able Team) made up of three Americans and it seems more reasonable to me that they would be the ones to deal with this. Getting/giving permissions for personal rpgs to be onsite at a nuclear facility is already tough enough, but then giving them to non-Americans? But as we’ve seen in previous Phoenix Force books, the guys just go where the terrorists are, no matter the country. I just wish they’d stay more international as it would give a slightly more exotic feel to the stories.
★★★☆☆
From the Internet
1. The Opening Gambit
The crisis begins at the fictional Marston nuclear power plant. What initial media reports deem a minor technical glitch rapidly spirals out of control, threatening an atomic disaster reminiscent of the Three Mile Island accident. In reality, the malfunction is the work of highly coordinated, stealthy saboteurs who smoothly infiltrate the facility's control rooms.
2. The Unholy Alliance
The investigation quickly reveals a terrifying collaboration behind the breach:
The Tigers of Justice: A fanatical cell of 37 elite, rogue ninja warriors. They are motivated by an unyielding desire to exact delayed vengeance upon the United States for the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The KGB Connection: Operating from the shadows, the Soviet Union's state security apparatus (assisted by elements of SMERSH/KGB) finances, equips, and coordinates the cell. The Soviets intend to use the fanatical ninjas to trigger a series of catastrophic meltdowns, effectively crippling the American infrastructure from within.
3. The Targets Emerge
Following the initial strike, the White House issues an immediate red alert as intelligence reveals the scope of the campaign. The Tigers of Justice have mapped out a devastating schedule targeting dozens of peaceful nuclear installations tucked away across the American heartland—specifically calling out facilities in Iowa and Kansas.
4. Phoenix Force Deploys
Because the threat relies on ancient ninjutsu stealth tactics merged with modern sabotage, traditional law enforcement is ill-equipped to respond. The U.S. government activates Phoenix Force, its elite, five-man international counter-terrorism unit. The narrative splits to follow the team as they employ counter-espionage to hunt down the cells:
The Infiltration: The team tracks the conspirators through front organizations like Anzen Sekai.
The Specialists in Action: British electronics and weapons expert David McCarter and Japanese martial arts master Keio Ohara spearhead the operational response. Ohara's deep understanding of traditional martial arts allows the force to counter the modern ninja tactics used by the terrorists.
The Climax: The story culminates in high-intensity, close-quarters combat at the Quinton nuclear installation. Phoenix Force faces off against the remaining inner circle of the Tigers (including leaders like Osato Goro) in a race against the clock to disarm a rigged reactor and prevent a doomsday-level radiation leak
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