The Death Strain (Killmaster novel)
The Death Strain is the sixtieth novel in the Nick Carter-Killmaster series of spy novels.[1] Carter is a US secret agent, code-named N-3, with the rank of Killmaster. He works for AXE – a secret arm of the US intelligence services.
Publishing history
The book was first published in 1970 by Award-Tandem Books (Number A703S) by Universal Publishing and Distributing Corporation (New York, USA) and Universal-Tandem Publishing Co. Ltd. (London, England). Copyright was registered on 17 August 1970[2] The novel was written by Jon Messmann.,[3][4]
Tagline
A lethal virus is unleashed on an unsuspecting world! Nick Carter must find the maddened scientist who is using it for the most fantastic blackmail scheme of all time!
Plot summary
The story is set in an unspecified year (probably 1970).
Dr Joseph Carlsbad, director of a secret US Government virus stockpile, steals a vial of lethal X-V77 virus and threatens to release its contents unless every country in the world destroys its biological weapons stockpiles. The theft comes on the eve of a major international symposium at the United Nations, at which the heads of state of most nations will attend.
Carter is sent to interview Carlsbad's niece, Rita Kenmore, at her home in the hope that she will reveal his plans. Instead Carter is attacked and Rita is spirited away by Carlsbad's henchmen.
Carter meets the heads of several foreign security services, including UK, Japan, Russia and China, at a briefing at the White House to prepare for the international summit. Carlsbad is found to have links with a semi-religious cult hiding out in the Kuril Islands. Carter is sent to follow up this lead with logistic support from Japan, China and Russia.
Carter identifies the cult's base in the Kuril Islands. Inside he finds Carlsbad, Rita and many of their supporters who have all suffered badly from the effects of war. Carlsbad leaves by helicopter to initiate the next phase of the operation. Carter and Rita are bound and tortured by some of Carlsbad's followers who intend to undermine his authority in his absence. Carter radios for help from Russian patrol boats and he and Rita are taken to a US aircraft carrier off Japan. AXE identifies Carlsbad's destination as an area near Changkufeng / Lake Khasan where China, Russia and North Korea share a border.
Carter and Rita parachute into Changkufeng. They are met by Chung Li, head of Chinese intelligence. Carlsbad has been mortally wounded in an encounter with Chung Li and his men. The stolen virus is missing. Carter is concerned that Carlsbad's aides have been instructed to deploy the virus. Chung Li is dismissive of Carter's concerns but arranges for an ambulance to escort them to Yenki. On the way they are attacked by Chinese soldiers disguised as bandits. Carter, Rita and Carlsbad evade capture and arrive in Yenki. They steal a plane and fly to a US aircraft carrier in the Sea of Japan.
Carlsbad is taken to Walter Reed Army Medical Center to recover. Chung Li calls AXE and informs them that one of Carlsbad's henchmen has been spotted in New York's Chinatown. Carter goes to investigate and is kidnapped by Chung Li's agents but manages to escape.
At the last minute, the Chinese delegates pull out of the international summit meeting. Carter realizes that Chung Li has co-opted Carlsbad's plan and the Chinese intend to assassinate all the world's leaders at the United Nations (UN) meeting. Knowing that X-V77 is airborne Carter investigates the UN's ventilation system.
Carter intercepts and kills Carlsbad's henchmen before they can contaminate the ventilation system. Carlsbad dies in hospital without regaining consciousness. Carter returns to Washington, D.C to be with Rita.
Main characters
- Nick Carter – agent N-3, AXE (posing)
- David Hawk – AXE Chief, Carter's boss
- Dr Joseph Carlsbad – US Government scientist
- Rita Kenmore – Carlsbad's niece
- Kiyishi – Carlsbad's Japanese henchman
- Chung Li – head of Chinese intelligence
Other information
- On the front cover it claimed that there are “Over 10,000,000 Nick Carter books in print”
- The book is written in First-person narrative style
- There are no dates or seasonal references in the story, although it is possibly set in summer as the river near Yanji is described as warm with crickets chirping (Chapter 5). The average air temperature in Yanji exceeds 22 degrees Celsius only in June – August.[5] Crickets tend to chirp most in late summer - early autumn.
- Carter has a house in Washington, D.C.. Previous novels state that he lives in New York City.
Errors
- Language skills: The story states that Carter speaks 3 languages fluently and 4 passably (Chapter 1); from previous novels in the series it can be calculated that Carter is fluent in over 20 languages
- The author frequently confuses bacteria with viruses; X-V77 is described as a virus that is “a deadly strain derived from a series of botulisms” (Chapter 3)
- Lake Khasan (Changkufeng), Carlsbad's destination after leaving the Kuril Islands, is described as “not too far from the Kuriles” and is reached by helicopter (Chapter 4). Lake Khasan is over 1700 km from the Kuril Islands over open water and would not be reachable in a single trip by helicopter without refuelling.
- The author incorrectly refers to Elizabeth II as “Queen of England”.
- Carter is told to meet a contact at 777 Doyer Street in New York's Chinatown (Chapter 6). The correct spelling is Doyers Street and the street numbers on this short street range from 1-18.
References
- ↑ http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/c/nick-carter/
- ↑ Catalog of Copyright Entries. Third Series: 1970: July–December. By Library of Congress. Copyright Office. P2122
- ↑ Serial Vigilantes of Paperback Fiction: An Encyclopedia from Able Team to Z-Comm. Bradley Mengel. 2009. ISBN 978-0-7864-4165-5
- ↑ http://www.spyguysandgals.com/sgShowAuthor.asp?ScanAuthor=Messmann_Jon
- ↑ Yanji#Geography and climate