The Destroyer — by Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir

Created, the Destroyer Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 1
1973

Death Check Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 2
Jan-1972

Chinese Puzzle Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 3
Mar-1972

Mafia Fix Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 4
1978

Dr. Quake Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 5
Sep-1972

Death Therapy Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 6
Dec-1983

Union Bust Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 7
1973

Summit Chase Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 8
1974

Murder's Shield Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 9
Apr-1973

Terror Squad Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 10
1973

Kill or Cure Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 11
Nov-1988

Slave Safari Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 12
1973

Acid Rock Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 13
1973

Judgment Day Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 14
1974

Murder Ward Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 15
1974

Oil Slick Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 16
Aug-1974

Last War Dance Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 17
1974

Funny Money Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 18
Feb-1975

Holy Terror Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 19
1975

Assassins Play-Off Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 20
May-1989

Deadly Seeds Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 21
Nov-1975

Brain Drain Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 22
Jan-1976

Child's Play Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 23
Apr-1976

King's Curse Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 24
Jul-1976

Sweet Dreams Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 25
Oct-1976

In Enemy Hands Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 26
Jan-1977

The Last Temple Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 27
1977

Ship of Death Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 28
May-1977

The Final Death Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 29
Jul-1977

Mugger Blood Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 30
1977

Head Men Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 31
Nov-1977

Killer Chromosomes Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 32
Mar-1978

Voodoo Die Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 33
Jun-1978

Chained Reaction Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 34
Jul-1990

Last Call Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 35
Dec-1978

Power Play Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 36
Mar-1979

Bottom Line Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 37
Jul-1979

Bay City Blast Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 38
1979

Missing Link Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 39
1980

Dangerous Games Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 40
1980

Firing Line Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 41
1980

Timber Line Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 42
1980

Midnight Man Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 43
Feb-1981

Balance of Power Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 44
Jun-1981

Spoils of War Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 45
Aug-1981

Next of Kin Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 46
Nov-1981

Dying Space Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 47
Jan-1982

Profit Motive Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 48
May-1982

Skin Deep Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 49
Jul-1982

Killing Time Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 50
Oct-1982

Shock Value Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 51
Jan-1983

Fool's Gold Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 52
May-1983

Time Trial Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 53
Aug-1983

Last Drop Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 54
Nov-1983

Master's Challenge Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 55
Feb-1984

Encounter Group Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 56
Jun-1984

Date With Death Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 57
Oct-1984

Total Recall Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 58
Dec-1984

Arms of Kali Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 59
Nov-1984

End of the Game Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 60
Feb-1985

Lords of the Earth Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 61
May-1985

The Seventh Stone Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 62
Aug-1985

The Sky Is Falling Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 63
Jan-1986

The Last Alchemist Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 64
Apr-1986

Lost Yesterday Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 65
Jul-1986

Sue Me Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 66
Oct-1986

Look into My Eyes Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 67
Jan-1987

An Old-Fashioned War Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 68
Apr-1987

Blood Ties Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 69
Jul-1987

The Eleventh Hour Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 70
Sep-1987

Return Engagement Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 71
Jan-1988

Sole Survivor Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 72
Apr-1988

Line of Succession Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 73
Jul-1988

Walking Wounded Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 74
Oct-1988

Rain of Terror Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 75
Jan-1989

The Final Crusade Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 76
Apr-1989

Coin of the Realm Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 77
Jul-1989

Blue Smoke and Mirrors Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 78
Oct-1989

Shooting Schedule Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 79
Jan-1990

Death Sentence Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 80
Apr-1990

Hostile Takeover Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 81
Jul-1990

Survival Course Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 82
Oct-1990

Skull Duggery Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 83
Jan-1991

Ground Zero Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 84
Apr-1991

Blood Lust Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 85
Jul-1991

Arabian Nightmare Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 86
Oct-1991

Mob Psychology Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 87
Jan-1992

The Ultimate Death Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 88
Apr-1992

Dark Horse Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 89
Jul-1992

Ghost in the Machine Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 90
Oct-1992

Cold Warrior Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 91
Jan-1993

The Last Dragon Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 92
Apr-1993

Terminal Transmission Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 93
Jul-1993

Feeding Frenzy Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 94
Oct-1993

High Priestess Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 95
Apr-1994

Infernal Revenue Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 96
Sep-1994

Identity Crisis Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 97
Nov-1994

Target of Opportunity Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 98
Jan-1995

The Color of Fear Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 99
Mar-1995

Last Rites Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 100
Jul-1995

Bidding War Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 101
Oct-1995

Unite and Conquer Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 102
Feb-1996

Engines of Destruction Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 103
Jun-1996

Angry White Mailman Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 104
Sep-1996

Scorched Earth Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 105
Nov-1996

White Water Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 106
Feb-1997

Feast or Famine Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 107
Mar-1997

Bamboo Dragon Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 108
Jun-1997

American Obsession Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 109
Sep-1997

Never Say Die Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 110
Jan-1998

Prophet of Doom Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 111
Apr-1998

Brain Storm Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 112
Jul-1998

The Empire Dreams Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 113
Nov-1998

Failing Marks Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 114
Feb-1999

Misfortune Teller Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 115
May-1999

The Final Reel Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 116
Jul-1999

Deadly Genes Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 117
Nov-1999

Killer Watts Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 118
Jan-2000

Fade to Black Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 119
May-2000

The Last Monarch Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 120
Jul-2000

A Pound of Prevention Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 121
Oct-2000

Syndication Rites Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 122
Jan-2001

Disloyal Opposition Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 123
Apr-2001

By Eminent Domain Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 124
Jul-2001

The Wrong Stuff Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 125
Oct-2001

Air Raid Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 126
Jan-2002

Market Force Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 127
Apr-2002

The End of the Beginning Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 128
Jul-2002

Father to Son Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 129
Oct-2002

Waste Not, Want Not Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 130
Jan-2003

Unnatural Selection Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 131
Apr-2003

Wolf's Bane Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 132
Jul-2003

Troubled Waters Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 133
Oct-2003

Bloody Tourists Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 134
Jan-2004

Political Pressure Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 135
Apr-2004

Unpopular Science Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 136
Jul-2004

Industrial Evolution Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 137
Oct-2004

No Contest Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 138
Jan-2005

Dream Thing Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 139
Apr-2005

Dark Ages Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 140
Jul-2005

Frightening Strikes Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 141
Oct-2005

Mindblower Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 142
Jan-2006

Bad Dog Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 143
Apr-2006

Holy Mother Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 144
Jul-2006

Dragon Bones Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 145
Oct-2006

Choke Hold Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 146
Oct-2007

Guardian Angel Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 147
May-2007

Dead Reckoning Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 148
Apr-2008

Killer Ratings Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 149
Jul-2008

The End of the World Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 150
Aug-2019

Bully Pulpit Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 151
Feb-2016

Continental Divide Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 152
Jan-2018

Monumental Terror Warren Murphy; Richard Sapir Book - 153
Sep-2019

Series Premise

Remo Williams, a tough, honest Newark, New Jersey cop, is framed for murdering a drug dealer and sentenced to death. His execution is faked by the U.S. government, and he is "recruited" into CURE—a secret, ultra-covert organization created by President John F. Kennedy to fight threats (crime, corruption, terrorism, foreign enemies) that the law cannot touch. CURE operates outside the Constitution, with a mandate to eliminate problems by any means necessary. Remo's identity is erased—he is declared dead—and he is trained to become the ultimate assassin: "The Destroyer." His teacher is Chiun, the ancient, cantankerous Korean Master of Sinanju—the legendary "sun source" of all martial arts (karate, kung fu, ninjutsu, etc., are said to derive from it). Chiun, the last true master from the poor Korean village of Sinanju, is hired by CURE to train Remo (the first non-Korean pupil), turning him into a superhuman killing machine capable of feats like stopping bullets with his fingertips, moving faster than the eye can follow, and killing with a finger flick. Remo and Chiun undertake impossible missions worldwide: assassinating untouchable criminals, foiling terrorist plots, dismantling conspiracies, or neutralizing threats to America—often with absurd humor and over-the-top action. The series satirizes bureaucracy, politics, media, and human folly while delivering pulp thrills.

The Destroyer Series Characters

> Remo Williams ("The Destroyer"): Protagonist—former cop turned super-assassin. Caucasian (Irish-Italian roots), sarcastic, street-smart, physically perfect after Sinanju training. Loyal to America but cynical about government; grows from reluctant killer to confident hero.
> Chiun: Remo's Korean mentor—ancient (appears elderly but timeless), vain, gold-obsessed Master of Sinanju. Deadly with a fingernail, hilariously arrogant, culturally proud (constantly insults Remo as "pale piece of pig fat"). Becomes Remo's father figure; wise, philosophical, and comedic.
> Harold W. Smith ("Emperor Smith"): Head of CURE—brilliant, ascetic, incorruptible former OSS/Yale law professor. Runs operations from a hidden Folcroft Sanitarium office; emotionless but deeply patriotic.
> Supporting/recurring: Various presidents (often unnamed or caricatured), CURE tech staff, villains (mad scientists, terrorists, corrupt officials), and occasional allies (Remo's daughter in later books, other Sinanju trainees).

Setting of the The Destroyer Series

Contemporary United States (primarily New York/New Jersey area, Washington D.C., and various U.S. cities) with global reach: missions take Remo and Chiun to Europe, Asia (including Korea), the Middle East, South America, and beyond. Settings range from urban streets, government buildings, and mob hideouts to exotic locales (jungles, palaces, secret labs). The world is grounded in 1970s–present-day reality but amplified for pulp: high-tech gadgets, shadowy agencies, and over-the-top villains. Sinanju (the Korean village) appears in flashbacks and visits as a poor fishing hamlet that exports assassins to fund itself.

Tone & Themes of the The Destroyer Series

Hilarious, irreverent, satirical, and over-the-top—black comedy mixed with action-adventure. The tone is tongue-in-cheek pulp parody: exaggerated violence (Remo folds people into origami or kills with pressure points), absurd villains (mad scientists, corrupt politicians, cartoonish terrorists), and sharp social/political satire (mocking government inefficiency, celebrity culture, fads, and hypocrisy). Humor dominates—Chiun's deadpan insults, Remo's wisecracks, and ridiculous situations—while action is fast, creative, and cartoonishly lethal. It's not grimdark; the series is fun, guilty-pleasure escapism with a wink at men's adventure tropes (like The Executioner or The Destroyer's own inspiration). Beneath the laughs lies a father-son bond between Remo and Chiun, adding warmth and depth.

The Destroyer series is a wild, hilarious pulp masterpiece—over 150 books of satirical action, absurd violence, and unforgettable characters that poke fun at everything from politics to pop culture. Warren Murphy and Richard Sapir created an enduring guilty pleasure: Remo and Chiun's father-son dynamic, Chiun's biting wit, and Remo's wisecracking heroism make it more than just men's adventure fiction—it's a comedic institution. With its blend of over-the-top kills, sharp satire, and underlying patriotism, the series remains addictive escapism for fans of irreverent thrillers—a timeless guilty pleasure that keeps delivering thrills and laughs decades later.