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Number Of Editions

Re-printed at least twice in the UK but with only one UK cover that we've found. The book was sold to a Russian Publishers so there is indeed a Russian version with a title that roughly translates to "Ole Mallorca!" A second Russian edition then turned up on the web from a different publisher in 2010, with the slightly different title of "Mallorca:The Best Job Ever" The Kindle eBook and new Paperback edition were issued in September 2023.

MARKS OUT OF 10 FOR THE COVER

Russ is looking down-right cocky as he straightens his tie, fag hanging out of his mouth, with a topless blonde coming on to him from behind. These days Russ is taking it ALL in his stride.8/10 The first Russian cover is a bit odd and quite tasteful in the circumstances, whereas the second one sticks to the bikini girl theme.

COVER NOTES

PAPERBACK EDITION

"You're good, English," she murmured huskily, "How did you ever get so good?" Only Russ the randyman knows for sure! This magnificent ex-Sewing Machine Man, ex-Debt Collector and established Courier (all stories available in Mayflower!) has now risen to the playgrounds - and playmeates - of the upper Yacht Set. Never has he extended himself so far! "She was a goddess, a sun-tanned Aphrodite, slender and loose-limbed, firm-breasted and strong; a true child of nature. When she moved she flew, trailing a wake of shimmering chestnut hair, seizing the heart with feline grace, stirring the senses with her smouldering beauty...Caroline Courtney was 22 and incredibly rich. She was spoiled, bored and extremely rude. She was unbelievably sexy." There you go again Courier!!

RUSSIAN EDITIONS

The back cover of the Russian edition translates as "Burning sun, golden sand and azure sea. This idyll! Every morning I wake up in his cozy apartment overlooking the bay of Palma Nova, breakfast on the balcony and relaxed in the morning sun, fresh face to the breeze. Admiring the soothing expanse of the Mediterranean Sea, I watch as slowly revives the beach, and then all day long enjoying the company of almost naked beauties who stroll on the beach, splashing in the clear water, or scorch their bodies under the sun. Any normal man can only think about this dream. But I still pay extra for it!" The back cover of the second Russian edition translates as "Burning sun, golden sand and azure sea. A real idyll! Every morning I wake up in my cozy apartment overlooking Palma Nova Bay, have breakfast on the balcony and bask in the morning sun, exposing my face to the fresh breeze. Admiring the soothing expanse of the Mediterranean Sea, I watch the beach slowly come to life, and then all day long I enjoy the company of almost naked beauties who walk along the beach, splash in the clear water or scorch their charms under the sun. Any normal man can only dream about this. But they also pay me extra for the pleasure!"

2023 KINDLE EDITION

Russ Tobin is an ex-Sewing Machine Man, ex-Debt Collector, and now an established Courier for Ardmont Holidays in Majorca with the tourist season is in full-swing! Unlimited sun, sea and sand - what more could a man ask for?  Capturing the unrelenting lifestyle of a 1970s Package Tour Courier in the Balearics, it's a rotating door of characters with the new arrivals landing as strangers but leaving as friends (and sometimes more!) Life in Palma Nova and Magaluf is never boring, but will Russ survive the season and where will his next adventure take him? 

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PLOT

It's now the start of June and Russ is still 24 years old. Not so much of a plot as a number of unrelated set pieces - the fiesta, the pretty awful Caroline Courtney encounter (who of course Russ gets intimate with despite finding her deeply rude and unattractive), the nightclub riot with the US Navy boys, the arrival of Tony Dane, the German girls Claudia and Kris, the irritating American kid Adlard, and then finally Harry Onions big party where by chance he meets Frank Chappell of CENTAF Tours - a travel agent running African Safari tours and another seed is planted in Russ's mind. The structure really does capture the experience of being a Courier, where every couple of weeks brings a new cast of holidaymakers and different adventures, plus unlike the previous book (The Courier) all of the action is actually set in Majorca this time. Also note that the book title is not just a pun, it's actually mentioned in the text (Page 101 - Honey Chile regrets not having time to sample Tobin's charms and suggests that he "come again, Courier..") The crucial part of the story is where Russ discovers that he's been offered another 9 grand to extend the run of his White Marvel commercials until the following March. This means another 18 months of no work in acting. Russ would be a fool not to take the money (this was the early Seventies and 9 grand was A LOT!) - and so he begins to consider his options (and will continue to do so in the next book) As with The Courier, most of the locations mentioned are fictitiously named, although Stan does mention the "beautiful Plaza Gomila Terrano" which was once the centre of Palma night life but now appears to be run down and about as far from beautiful as you can get. I think it's fair to say that the unspoilt Majorca of the two Courier books is long gone.

PAGE AT WHICH RUSS TOBIN FIRST TELLS US ABOUT A LADY HE ADMIRES

Page 12. Actualy it's a lecherous description of TWO ladies!

PAGE AT WHICH RUSS TOBIN FIRST BECOMES INTIMATE WITH A LADY

Page 18 and Russ is saying goodbye (in the only way he knows how) to the Swedish beauty Donna who is on the last night of her holiday. Then on Page 19 Russ makes his first reference to "Herc", short for Hercules - his pet name for Little Russ aka the Tobin crown jewels..

PAGE AT WHICH RUSS TOBIN FIRST DRINKS A VODKA TONIC

No vodkas for Russ until Page 82!

PAGE AT WHICH RUSS TOBIN FIRST REMINISCES ABOUT A PREVIOUS ADVENTURE

Of course, by this stage in the Tobin novels, it's an almost instant Page 9.

SERIOUS POINTS RAISED

If you want to meet lots of exotic and gorgeous women from all over Europe then holiday resorts on the Med are the place to be, but not only that - on Page 177 when Claudia tentatively broaches the subject of quite how promiscuous Russ is - he lays his ethos bare "with me the quality has always counted far more - and each one to me has always been respected and in her own way precious. One thing I have never felt is regret the morning after...and I honestly believe the girl would have said the same.

RATING ON THE MORGANOMETER

Initially I thought this volume was treading water a little, but actually, upon re-reading, it's a lot of fun, and a full book of Courier-based action was definitely called-for after the previous book didn't even reach Majorca until the final few chapters. The public obviously agreed, as this seems to be the point at which the Tobin adventures really took off and started to sell in great numbers. A Modest 7.5/10