LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE MEN'S ADVENTURE GENRE

LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE MEN'S ADVENTURE GENRE
Recently a thread began on The Men’s Adventure Series Paperbacks of the 70s & 80s Facebook group regarding lessons learned from the men's adventure genre. What follows are some of the entries from group members...

1. I am the master of my fate.

2. If I do not like my present situation, it's on me to change it.

3. There's no guarantee the change will be for the better.

4. But the status quo is guaranteed to get worse if I do nothing.

5. What things do I need to change the world for the better? Courage, purpose, wisdom, and compassion.

6. The truest form of love is to stand into danger for those who can't.

7. In mainstream fiction, when all is said and done, a great deal is said and very little done. In genre fiction, not much is said, a great deal is done. And I know which one speaks to me.

8. Chicks dig scars.

9. Every highly skilled mercenary has had training in wine selection, classical music appreciation, and formal wardrobe selection.  They are also incredibly wealthy, though each one knows they will never live long enough to enjoy their money fully.

10. Gasoline remains viable for 100 years or more, as do rubber tires and car batteries.

11. If your mercenary team is going to be successful, it must be comprised of members from a wide range of military units as well as race/color/nationality.

12. Radiation from a nuclear blast can create giant, mutated monsters within a few weeks.

13. A thrown knife, at any range, is instantly fatal.

14. Curare is commonly available and instantly recognizable...by taste.

15. For being a supposed secret art, ninjas are  everywhere.

16. Unlimited ammunition is always available.  

17. Sexy large breasted victims are always the only kind in need of rescue.

18. The faithful, yet weak and desperate, companion you pick up on your adventures, always saves your ass in a pinch.

19. Cars will magically start when being hotwired.

20. Explosives will always go off in the nick of time.

21. Look beneath the surface.

22. Choose a side.

23. Friendship is good, greed and dominating other people is bad.

24. You might lose a battle, but you can still win the war if you remain cool under fire.

25. In the end, the key to  victory is courage, caring and some smart-ass remarks.

26. Men's Adventure genre art is awesome.

Thx to Ken Prescott, Jim Cobb, Tony Bacon, and Mark Ellis