Mack Tanner grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, worked his way through college on a road construction gang, then joined the U.S. Diplomatic Service in 1962. He spent the next twenty-five years working in embassies and consulates in Peru, Panama, Mexico City, and Thailand, as well as the Department of State in Washington, D.C. While serving abroad, his responsibilities included reporting on economic, political and counterinsurgency developments in the country of assignment, and finally as a specialist in international narcotic's control. In Washington, he worked as an intelligence analyst and than as senior operations watch officer.

While Mack joined the Diplomatic Service in the expectation that he would be furthering the cause of freedom and world prosperity, his direct participation in the implementation of American Foreign Policy eventually led him to the conclusion that government was not solving the problems of humanity, and that government action, despite the best intentions of politicians and bureaucrats, instead inevitably produced such tragedies as the Viet Nam War, the war on drugs, the erosion of individual freedom, welfare dependency, and run-a-way budget deficits. He discovered through observation that government not only doesn't work, but why it can't work, and that it is the entrepreneur, the businessman, and every free individual engaged in any creative activity who increase the wealth of nations, provide opportunity to the poor, and encourage freedom and liberty.

Mack and his wife, Chamnian, who was born and raised on the rice plains of Ayuthaya, Thailand, gave up the diplomatic life in 1987 and moved to Moscow, Idaho, a great place to raise two children to appreciate personal freedom and individual responsibility. He has written nine novels published as original paperbacks. He has also published articles in several magazines including Reason, and The Freeman.

An advocate of Second Amendment rights, Mack's most recent book is The Armed Citizen Solution to Crime in the Streets .

Mack enjoys good food from any country, hunting, fishing, loafing on tropical beaches, 4-wheel drive rides on back country roads, both classical and country and western music, Web surfing, and feisty discussions with intelligent people.

Novels by Mack Tanner

Roger Victor, Missing by Choice, Tor Books, 1987

Roger Victor, Jaded by Choice, Tor Books, 1988

Mack Tanner, Target: Intruder, Zebra Books, 1990

Mack Tanner, Target: Subic Bay, Zebra Books, 1992

Mack Tanner, Target: Panama, Zebra Books, 1993

Mack Tanner, The Stalker, Harper Paperbacks, 1991

Mack Tanner, The Stalker: Killing Star, Harper Paperbacks, 1991

Mack Tanner, The Stalker: Death Run, Harper Paperbacks, 1992

Mack Tanner, The Stalker: Final Shoot, Harper Paperbacks, 1993

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[NOTE: We have obtained permission from the author to republish this article on BuildFreedom.com.]

Copyright 1996--Mack Tanner. This original work is protected by copyright law. The work can not be copied and distributed in any format without the specific consent of the author.