2 Kill or Not to Kill. (Books).

William Dallmann. 2 Kill or Not to Kill. Victoria, Canada: Trafford, 2001.

In Lobos, the first of the two novellas that comprise this book, Dr. Christopher Raven, the story's protagonist, founds an organization called Menta (an effort inspired by his disappointment with Mensa -- a group that equates intelligence with IQ). Applicants to Menta can qualify by doing well in a college level course in general semantics, critical thinking, or non-Aristotelian philosophy, or by passing a rather demanding test in those fields. Too bad such a "smart" organization does not exist in "real" life.

But, in the imaginary world of Lobos, Menta does exist, and so does Dr. Christopher Raven -- a unique combination of action hero and profound thinker, a church member but a foe of the "religious right," a retired college professor and a private investigator, and a lover of peace and a martial arts expert.

In Lobos, which is set in the Monterey Peninsula in California, Raven battles a homicidal real-estate developer, lycanthrope Bruno Power and his murderous assistant, the giant Zoltan. He is assisted in his struggle by three smart, brave, and beautiful women -- Charleen Shepherd (a private investigator), Belinda Marlowe (a medical doctor), and Jade Snow (a graduate of a Thai training academy for courtesans).

In the second story, A Dish Best Served' Cold, Raven battles a sadistic criminal named Billy Joe Juke who is bent on a vengeful quest. Raven foils this crazy maniac with the help of two lovely ladies and a pair of attack dogs.

Dallman's novellas offer generous helpings of suspense, general semantics knowledge, and wisdom from eastern and western philosophy. I thoroughly enjoyed reading both stories and was impressed with the author's background, listed at the back of the book -- retired communications professor, private investigator, martial arts instructor, prolific writer of articles on worldviews and faith, and member of the International Society for General Semantics.