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Murphy, Warren

(1933-2015) US author, married to Molly Cochran, known largely for the Destroyer sequence, a long series of spoof thrillers, many with Richard Ben Sapir, featuring the Doc Savage-like adventures of Remo Williams, a White man (and avatar of Shiva the Destroyer) trained in the paranormal combat arts of Sinanju, which allow him (for instance) to interpenetrate his body with other matter (see Matter Penetration). The first titles were written mostly by Murphy and Sapir, who died in 1987, but later titles – sometimes listed as by these two, sometimes by one alone – are by various hands, usually including Murphy, though the most prolific recent author of Destroyer titles is Will Murray, who also wrote The Assassin's Handbook (coll 1982; rev vt Inside Sinanju 1985) as by Murphy and Sapir, an amused (and amusing) companion to the sequence; other authors include Murphy's wife Molly Cochran, Ed Hunsburger, William Joy, Ric Meyers and Robert Randisi. For convenience, see Checklist for all ascertained titles, by all authors involved; individual titles by Molly Cochran, Will Murray (we here ignore ascriptions to other authors for whom Murray ghosted) and Richard Ben Sapir are also listed in their entries.

The sequence began, rather inauspiciously, with Destroyer #1: Created, the Destroyer (1971) with Sapir (who collaborated on all but one through #24) and Destroyer #2: Death Check (1972), ponderous imitations of James Bond; but with Destroyer #3: Chinese Puzzle (1972) it took off with remarkable panache, some instalments coming close to Space Opera, others engaging with Superman themes, and most indulging in raucous Satire of US politics and mores. The sequence then continues with Destroyer #4: Mafia Fix (1972) [for full list of titles see Checklist], the last volume being Destroyer #115: Misfortune Teller (1999) with Sapir (who had died in 1987) still acknowledged as co-author. An out-of-series Destroyer title, Remo: The Adventure Begins (1985) by Sapir, is a film tie to Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985; vt Remo – Unarmed and Dangerous).

Other genre adventures by Murphy include Grandmaster (1984) with Molly Cochran, High Priest (1987) with Cochran, The Hand of Lazarus (1988) with Cochran, Scorpion's Dance (1990), and The Forever King (1992), again with Cochran. [JC]

Warren Burton Murphy

born Jersey City, New Jersey: 13 September 1933

died Virginia Beach, Virginia: 4 September 2015

works

series

Destroyer

• Destroyer #1: Created, the Destroyer (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1971) with Richard Ben Sapir [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #2: Death Check (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1972) with Richard Ben Sapir [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #3: Chinese Puzzle (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1972) with Richard Ben Sapir [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #4: Mafia Fix (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1972) with Richard Ben Sapir [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #5: Dr Quake (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1972) with Richard Ben Sapir [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #6: Death Therapy (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1972) with Richard Ben Sapir [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #7: Union Bust (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1973) with Richard Ben Sapir [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #8: Summit Chase (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1973) [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #9: Murder's Shield (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1973) with Richard Ben Sapir [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #10: Terror Squad (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1973) with Richard Ben Sapir [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #11: Kill or CURE (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1973) with Richard Ben Sapir [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #12: Slave Safari (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1973) with Richard Ben Sapir [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #13: Acid Rock (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1973) with Richard Ben Sapir [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #14: Judgment Day (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1974) with Richard Ben Sapir [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #15: Murder Ward (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1974) with Richard Ben Sapir [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #16: Oil Slick (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1974) with Richard Ben Sapir [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #17: Last War Dance (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1974) with Richard Ben Sapir [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #18: Funny Money (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1975) with Richard Ben Sapir [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #19: Holy Terror (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1975) with Richard Ben Sapir [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #20: Assassin's Play-Off (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1975) with Richard Ben Sapir [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #21: Deadly Seeds (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1975) with Richard Ben Sapir [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #22: Brain Drain (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1976) with Richard Ben Sapir [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #23: Child's Play (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1976) with Richard Ben Sapir [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #24: King's Curse (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1976) with Richard Ben Sapir [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #25: Sweet Dreams (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1976) with Ric Meyers [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #26: In Enemy Hands (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1977) with Ric Meyers [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #27: The Last Temple (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1977) [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #28: Ship of Death (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1977) [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #29: The Final Death (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1977) with Ric Meyers (anonymous) and Richard Ben Sapir [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #30: Mugger Blood (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1977) [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #31: The Head Men (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1977) [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #32: Killer Chromosomes (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1978) [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #33: Voodoo Die (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1978) [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #34: Chained Reaction (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1978) [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #35: Last Call (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1978) [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #36: Power Play (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1979) [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #37: Bottom Line (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1979) [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #38: Bay City Blast (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1979) [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #39: Missing Link (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1980) [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #40: Dangerous Games (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1980) with Robert Randisi [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #41: Firing Line (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1980) [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #42: Timber Line (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1980) with William Joy [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #43: Midnight Man (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1981) with Robert Randisi [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #44: Balance of Power (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1981) by Molly Cochran [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #45: Spoils of War (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1981) by Molly Cochran [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #46: Next of Kin (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1981) by Molly Cochran [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #47: Dying Space (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1981) by Molly Cochran [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #48: Profit Motive (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1982) by Molly Cochran [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #49: Skin Deep (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1982) by Molly Cochran [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #50: Killing Time (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1982) by Molly Cochran [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• The Assassin's Handbook (New York: St Martin's Press, 1982) as by Warren Murphy and Richard Sapir, actually ghosted by Will Murray [coll: Destroyer: pb/]
  • Inside Sinanju (New York: Pinnacle Crossfire, 1985) as by Warren Murphy and Richard Sapir, actually ghosted by Will Murray [coll: rev vt of the above: Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #51: Shock Value (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1983) [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #52: Fool's Gold (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1983) by Molly Cochran [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #53: Time Trial (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1982) by Molly Cochran [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #54: Last Drop (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1982) by Molly Cochran [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #55: Master's Challenge (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1984) with Molly Cochran and Richard Ben Sapir [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #56: Encounter Group (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1984) with Will Murray [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #57: Date with Death (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1984) with Molly Cochran and Ed Hunsburger [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #58: Total Recall (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1984) with Robert Randisi [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #59: The Arms of Kali (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1984) [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #60: The End of the Game (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1985) [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #61: Lords of the Earth (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1985) [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #62: The Seventh Stone (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1986) with Richard Ben Sapir and Ed Hunsburger [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #63: The Sky is Falling (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1986) with Will Murray [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #64: The Last Alchemist (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1986) with Richard Ben Sapir and Will Murray [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #65: Lost Yesterday (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1986) by Richard Ben Sapir and Will Murray [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #66: Sue Me (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1986) by Richard Ben Sapir [Destroyer: pb/Hector Garrido]
• Destroyer #67: Look into my Eyes (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1987) by Richard Ben Sapir [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #68: An Old-Fashioned War (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1987) by Richard Ben Sapir [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #69: Blood Ties (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1987) with Will Murray [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #70: The Eleventh Hour (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1987) with Molly Cochran and Will Murray [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #71: Return Engagement (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1988) with Will Murray [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #72: Sole Survivor (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1988) with Will Murray [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #73: Line of Succession (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1988) with Will Murray [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #74: Walking Wounded (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1988) by Will Murray [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #75: Rain of Terror (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1989) by Will Murray [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #76: The Final Crusade (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1989) by Will Murray [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #77: Coin of the Realm (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1989) by Will Murray [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #78: Blue Smoke and Mirrors (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1989) by Will Murray [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #79: Shooting Schedule (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1990) by Will Murray [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #80: Death Sentence (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1990) by Will Murray [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #81: Hostile Takeover (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1990) by Will Murray [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #82: Survival Course (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1990) by Will Murray [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #83: Skull Duggery (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1991) by Will Murray [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #84: Ground Zero (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1991) by Will Murray [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #85: Blood Lust (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1991) by Will Murray [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #86: Arabian Nightmare (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1991) by Will Murray [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #87: Mob Psychology (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1992) by Will Murray [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #88: The Ultimate Death (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1992) by Will Murray [Destroyer: pb/]
• Destroyer #96: Infernal Revenue (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1994) by Will Murray [Destroyer: pb/]

Grandmaster

• Grandmaster (New York: Pinnacle Books, 1984) with Molly Cochran [Grandmaster: pb/Mark Gerber]
• High Priest (New York: New American Library, 1987) with Molly Cochran [Grandmaster: hb/]

Arthur

• The Forever King (New York: Tor, 1992) with Molly Cochran [Arthur: hb/Joe Curcio]
• Broken Sword (New York: Tor, 1992) with Molly Cochran [Arthur: hb/Joe Curcio]

individual titles

• World Without End (New York: Tor, 2011) with Molly Cochran [hb/Brad Schmehl]

links

• Internet Speculative Fiction Database
• Picture Gallery

Entry from The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction edited by John Clute, David Langford, Peter Nicholls and Graham Sleight.
Accessed 00:21 am on 27 April 2024.
<https://sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/murphy_warren>