The original spy novels from Donald Hamilton are back in print thanks to Titan Books!  (Titan Books, BTW, were nice enough to send along review copies.)

In the first Matt Helm book, Death of a Citizen, Matt is brought back into the business of being a government assassin after 15 years of retirement.  The comparisons to Bond are inevitable but Helm becomes his own beast.  Many say he’s an “American James Bond” but that doesn’t really explain it.  Much of Matt Helm’s thoughts and deeds are America at the original time of print (1960).  Matt has grown since World War II but it is still a fresh memory.  He is only now, many years later, able to understand what happened and how he changed because of the war.  Also, he sees this new era for America and the world coming.  Drastic changes are near and and this man will be forced to change even though he is still not completely evolved from the last grand cultural shift of his life.  If it weren’t for the constant fear of death hanging over head Matt Helm would be a great man to have in your family.  Sit under the learning tree for a bit.

The “American James Bond” tag also means there’s a lack of bullshit going on.  Matt Helm is very straightforward.  He also, while receiving help at times, doesn’t have the gadgets and gimmicks support group that surrounds 007.  He was grim and gritty before the 1980s made that cool and then overdone.

However, he can also be seen as a walking horror.  Matt Helm as the protagonist means the reader should love and support him throughout the book.  But time after time there are reasons to hate him.  Maybe certain scenes seem worse with time.  Or they may have always been horrible.  Within the context of time, treating women as secondary and only there for the male’s benefit is understandable in a story.  Just watch Mad Men.  Other things were always bad.  Marital rape (or at least the acceptance of) and killing wounded partners.  When Matt Helm is compared to a worthy villain he is amazing, but on his own he’s a right bastard.

In the second book, The Wrecking Crew, Matt doesn’t necessarily become more likable but he is more understandable.  This is his job and its a job that sometimes needs to be done.  Others can complain and judge him all they want but fact is eventually when a man like him is needed, they’ll be glad Matt Helm exists.  It reminded me of John Rambo (and I’m sure if I were an older man John Rambo would have reminded me of Matt Helm). Both men are wounded and while there are reasons to cheer, the first appearances are full of uncomfortable moments.   In later appearances the characters aren’t softer but their actions have more reason and purpose behind them, thus also making these actions acceptable.  While doing research on the titles I discovered that the first book was meant to be the one and only Matt Helm story.  Once a series is ordered starring one man, he needs to be a more marketable character.   Keep selling those books.

Neither book will change your life.  However, for anyone who loves action they’re a blast to read.  Leave your moral highgrounds aside.  Debating them is not the point of these books.  The point is to read and be entertained.  I cannot stress enough that these books are entertaining as hell.  Perfect for all of those times we try to sneak in some reading time.  To and from work, waiting in an office, beach, airport and more.  Except for right before bed.  Matt Helm may be a lot of things but he is not a man to get close to then close your eyes.