The Human Time Bomb by William L Rhodes

The Human Time Bomb

by William L Rhodes

Nick Carter faces the most bizarre enemy of his career. 

A powerful army of men and women who are neither dead nor alive.

Something strange was going on at the Reed-Farben chemical plant. Something that threatened the United States' entire defense system, something evil. No one outside knew what it was. And if they, did they would not talk. And if they talked, they did not live long. If AXE did not have answers soon, it would be too late. That is when Nick Carter moved in: on a mountain girl with the right connections, on a beautiful Germany scientist with highly classified secrets, on an impossible mission where violence and murder were standard operating procedure and the horrible resemblance between persons living and dead was everything buy coincidental. Nick is to match wits with his arch enemy, Mr Judas.

Bonus Covers

Printing History

Written by William L Rhodes

Universal Publishing and Distributing Corp

Award Edition

1st Printing (A456X) July 1969

2nd Printing (A456X) August 1970

3rd Printing (AQ1474) July 1975

Charter Communications Inc

Charter Books

 (441-34909) August 1981

Tandem Edition

1st (4167) 1969

Reprint (5426) 1970

Reprint (7405) 1971

Reprint (7405) Dec 1972

Reprint (426-17320) 1976

Blast From The Past #1

Blast From The Past #1

The Human Time Bomb (1969)

Written by William L Rhodes

Mr Judas Returns

Something strange was going on at the Reed-Farben chemical plant. Something that threatened the United States' entire defense system, something evil. No one outside knew what it was. And if they did, they would not talk. And if they talked, they did not live long. If AXE did not have answers soon, it would be too late. That is when Nick Carter moved in. On a mountain girl with the right connections, on a beautiful Germany scientist with highly classified secrets, on an impossible mission where violence and murder were standard operating procedure and the horrible resemblance between persons living and dead was everything buy coincidental. Nick is to match wits with his arch enemy, 

George Gross Cover

Printing History

Written by William L Rhodes

Award Edition

1st (A456X) July 1969

2nd (A456X) August 1970

3rd (AQ1474) July 1975

Charter (441-34909) August 1981

Tandem Edition

1st (4167) 1969

Reprint (5426) 1970

Reprint (7405) 1971, December 1972

Reprint (426-17320)
Star Reprint (352-30485) 1979

Notes

This title was originally posted on January 25th 2011

The Human Time Bomb by William L Rhodes

Amsterdam (Tandem)

Here is a 1973 Tandem Reprint

Amsterdam 

Written by William L Rhodes.

Universal-Tandem Publishing Co Ltd.

ISBN 426 7050 (1973)

Produced by Brodard et Taupin Paris France

The Human Time Bomb by William L Rhodes

Nick Carter faces the most bizarre enemy of his career. A powerful army of men and women who are neither dead nor alive.

Award Editions

A Nightmare Assignment

Something strange was going on at the Reed-Farben chemical plant. Something that threatened the United States' entire defense system, something evil. No one outside knew what it was. And if they, did they would not talk. And if they talked, they did not live long. If AXE did not have answers soon, it would be too late. That is when Nick Carter moved in: on a mountain girl with the right connections, on a beautiful Germany scientist with highly classified secrets, on an impossible mission where violence and murder were standard operating procedure and the horrible resemblance between persons living and dead was everything buy coincidental. Nick is to match wits with his arch enemy, Mr Judas. The Human Time Bomb is William Rhodes final Nick Carter adventure.

Tandem Editions

Charter Edition

Printing History

Written by William L Rhodes

Award Edition

1st (A456X) July 1969

2nd (A456X) August 1970

3rd (AQ1474) July 1975

Charter (441-34909) August 1981

Tandem Edition

1st (4167) 1969

Reprint (5426) 1970

Reprint (7405) 1971

Reprint (unkn) Dec 1972

Reprint (426-17320) unkn

Notes

Mr Judas returns yet again

Late Tandem Edition

Rhodesia by William L Rhodes

Nick Carter arch enemy Mr Judas returns in Rhodesia. It began with a black man, a white women, and enough gold to ransom the world. The man was consumed with race hatred, driven to senseless slaughter by a single minded plan for retribution. The women was possessed by the need for every variety of sensual delight. The gold was mined secretly in Rhodesia, owned by a die-hard Nazi who had long ago sacrificed his soul and sanity to insatiable dream of glory. This was the trio that awaited Nick in Rhodesia. He was on a brutal seek and destroy mission against an organization of assassins that had infiltrated every country in Africa.

The killer dogs attacked on a lonely mountain road: Only an accident saved Nick's life.
The hired killer waited patiently, knife poised, for Nick to come into view: But the AXE agent emerged alive from the savage duel.
The girl, driven by hate and lust, set the trap with infinite care: Nick Carter heeded an instinctive warning and once again the wrong man died.

1970 Award Edition

Printing History

Written by William L Rhodes

Award Editions

1st Printing (A409X) 1968

2nd Printing (A630X) 1970

3rd Printing (AN1097) ?

Tandem Editions

1st Printing (3551) 1968

Reprint (5936) 1971

Star (30467) 1979

Notes

There are more than 3 printings as other titles were reprinted in the same time frame as this title in 1972 through 1974.

Tandem/Star Editions

Amsterdam by William L Rhodes

Nick was briefed on the incredible private espionage network that used the blond Amlie de Boer as a special courier. He was also briefed on the theft of nuclear secrets of the United States that was masterminded by Amlie's boss. Also briefed on the sleek international diamond cartel that ran a strange school for double and triple agents with Amlie's help. Only Amlie could help Nick Carter find and destroy the menace to America, if he can keep her alive. For she held the key.

1970 Award Reprint

Printing History

Written by William L Rhodes

1st Award (A366X) 1968

1st Tandem (T240) 1968

2nd Award (A628X) 1970

Notes

This the only cover used and reused. I am sure there is a later Tandem reprint but have not found it yet.

Hood of Death by William L Rhodes

1969 2nd Award Printing

 Hood Of Death

Written by William L Rhodes

It was just another expensive call girl operation that catered to Washington's elite. Until AXE realized that too many of the high ranking customers were beginning to die. A senator. A cabinet officer. A congressman. Suddenly dead and all from natural causes.

It was one of Nick Carter's hottest assignments. It called for a false identity and lots of field work with the willing women in the dead men's lives. But each encounter ended with an attempt on Nick's life. The accident on the deserted highway, the bullet whizzing past his ear, the sharp-honed knife in the hands of a butchering assailant. The assignment was heating up.

Nick knew what he had to find. The Chinese agent behind the whole set up. The man who trained beautiful women into sex machines. The man who blackmailed top American officials into treason after the women finished with them. The man who killed those who refused to cooperate. Like Nick Carter.

1973 Award Edition

Printing History

USA

1st Award (A326X) 1968

2nd Award (A326X) 1969

3rd Award (A326X) 1970

4th Award (AN1228) 1973

UK

Tandem (426 4175 5) 1969

Tandem (unkn) 1971

Tandem (426 12175 9) Jan 1973

Tandem (426 17451 8) unknown

Notes

Not sure if this title was printed in 1968 with Tandem.

Later Tandem Editions

The Judas Spy by William L Rhodes

The Judas Spy is the first Nick Carter Killmaster adventure written by author William L Rhodes. Rhodes was a paperback writer from the fifties and  went on to write a total of five Nick Carter adventures. He enjoyed writing for the series by and employing a lot of continuity and delved into Nick's background. As the title suggests, Mr Judas returns.

1st Award Printing                                3rd Award Printing

Mr Judas: Master spy for hire to anyone. This time the Red Chinese. A man of incredible cruelty and savagery. Torturing people at whim and killing them for sport.

Nick Carter: America's top operative, the dreaded N3. Tougher, faster, deadlier than any man, except perhaps Mr Judas. His dreaded and oldest enemy.

The Prize they fought was for the free world and the fate of hundreds of millions of lives. Their arena was Indonesia, torn apart by civil war and rebellions. Judas depended on his usual ugly crew. Nife, the man child who killed on command. Geitsch, He cared only for the huge bounty the job would bring. Muller, the ex-Nazi whose preference ran to young boys. Nick Carter had Tala. She was too beautiful to resist and too dangerous to trust.

1975 Award Edition                                 1978 Charter Reprint

1969 Tandem Edition                            1971 Tandem Reprint

Printing History

Written By William L Rhodes

US Printings

1st Award (A325X) April 1968

2nd Award (A325X) June 1969

3rd Award (A325X) March 1970

4th Award (AQ1501) December 1975

UK Printings

Tandem Edition (426 4183) 1969

1st Tandem Edition 1970

Tandem Reprint (426 5397) 1971

Notes

The first instance of this title being printed by Tandem was in 1969. Stated Second Award Printing in 1969 with the cover being printed in the United States. The copyright page on the 1970 Edition states a 1970 copyright for Tandem Publishing Ltd.