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Doc Savage (Original) #35
Murder Mirage
Adventure
153 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1936
2 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
Kenneth Robeson
914 books134 followersKenneth Robeson was the house name used by Street and Smith Publications as the author of their popular character Doc Savage and later The Avenger. Though most Doc Savage stories were written by the author Lester Dent, there were many others who contributed to the series, including:
William G. Bogart
Evelyn Coulson
Harold A. Davis
Lawrence Donovan
Alan Hathway
W. Ryerson Johnson
Lester Dent is usually considered to be the creator of Doc Savage. In the 1990s Philip José Farmer wrote a new Doc Savage adventure, but it was published under his own name and not by Robeson. Will Murray has since taken up the pseudonym and continued writing Doc Savage books as Robeson.
All 24 of the original stories featuring The Avenger were written by Paul Ernst, using the Robeson house name. In order to encourage sales Kenneth Robeson was credited on the cover of The Avenger magazine as "the creator of Doc Savage" even though Lester Dent had nothing to do with The Avenger series. In the 1970s, when the series was extended with 12 additional novels, Ron Goulart was hired to become Robeson.
William G. Bogart
Evelyn Coulson
Harold A. Davis
Lawrence Donovan
Alan Hathway
W. Ryerson Johnson
Lester Dent is usually considered to be the creator of Doc Savage. In the 1990s Philip José Farmer wrote a new Doc Savage adventure, but it was published under his own name and not by Robeson. Will Murray has since taken up the pseudonym and continued writing Doc Savage books as Robeson.
All 24 of the original stories featuring The Avenger were written by Paul Ernst, using the Robeson house name. In order to encourage sales Kenneth Robeson was credited on the cover of The Avenger magazine as "the creator of Doc Savage" even though Lester Dent had nothing to do with The Avenger series. In the 1970s, when the series was extended with 12 additional novels, Ron Goulart was hired to become Robeson.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 22, 2017
It's been awhile since I read a Doc Savage adventure. Back in the 60s and 70s, I read these as they came out in the Bantam reprint editions. Then at some point, I decided to read them in the order they were published. Murder Mirage was originally published in January 1936 and is the 35th in the original order. Not sure why Bantam published these out of the original order but this one was the 71st to be published by Bantam. Anyway, I had kept a list of the ones I was reading in order and this was the next in line (after Fantastic Island).
This was a typical Doc adventure that was actually written by Lawrence Donovan...not by Lester Dent who wrote the majority of the stories. The book actually started out well with a freak snow storm in New York in July and with a woman being "frozen" into a plate glass window. The original cover was an attempt to show the woman frozen in the window.
So what caused these two freakish events? Doc and his crew wind up traveling to Syria to get to the bottom of the mystery. A gang of New York hoods is working with a group of Arab Bedouins to try to claim some kind of fortune in Syria. There were some definite racial stereotypical portrayals of the Arab characters...swarthy, hooked-nosed, etc...usual for writing of this time period. And its kind of ironic that even back in 1936 there were apparent conflicts with Middle Eastern "terrorists." The talk of the gangsters also could have been something straight out of a James Cagney movie...in one instance a gangster calls the coppers "dirty rats!" Overall, a mild recommendation; however, I probably won't be reading or rereading a lot of these. They're okay in small doses but not quite the thrillers I remembered from my high school days.
This was a typical Doc adventure that was actually written by Lawrence Donovan...not by Lester Dent who wrote the majority of the stories. The book actually started out well with a freak snow storm in New York in July and with a woman being "frozen" into a plate glass window. The original cover was an attempt to show the woman frozen in the window.
So what caused these two freakish events? Doc and his crew wind up traveling to Syria to get to the bottom of the mystery. A gang of New York hoods is working with a group of Arab Bedouins to try to claim some kind of fortune in Syria. There were some definite racial stereotypical portrayals of the Arab characters...swarthy, hooked-nosed, etc...usual for writing of this time period. And its kind of ironic that even back in 1936 there were apparent conflicts with Middle Eastern "terrorists." The talk of the gangsters also could have been something straight out of a James Cagney movie...in one instance a gangster calls the coppers "dirty rats!" Overall, a mild recommendation; however, I probably won't be reading or rereading a lot of these. They're okay in small doses but not quite the thrillers I remembered from my high school days.
November 26, 2024
Murder Mirage begins with a “bang;” we are introduced in the first chapter to a freak mid summer snowstorm, a policeman killed in the line of duty, two women who are being followed by two black sedans, and two criminals who are killed by the fatally wounded policeman. Lester Dent’s pinch-hitting substitute has once again begun a Doc Savage adventure in the middle of the action; it appears that Murder Mirage will be another fast-paced story. After surviving The Fantastic Island, this latest adventure should be a “cakewalk” for Doc and his crew, but such was not the case. Doc and the crew, including Pat, apparently jumped from the "frying pan into the fire" with Murder Mirage. Habeas sat this one out.
The story is somewhat unique as Lester’s part time author, Laurence Donovan, was successful in combining the various elements of two literary genera’s into one Doc Savage adventure; the result is a plot that is almost too complex for the reader to comprehend, but nevertheless keeps the reader interested. Murder Mirage would have benefited from the expertise of a heavy-handed editor, or perhaps the guidance of Lester Dent, himself. The crime aspect is unique in that it deals with the primary murder weapon that the reader would expect in a science fiction story. The story also contains the basic elements of a crime novel and the exotic settings of the standard Doc Savage adventure.
Murder Mirage takes place in New York City and the Middle East nation of Syria. The blending of the New York City gangster underworld coupled with the intriguing Middle Eastern culture, and the typical “scrapes” and close calls Doc and his crew get into made for an interesting and entertaining read and kept me on the edge of my easy chair. Murder Mirage has somewhat of a complex plot that seems jumbled at times, but Doc, with the help of Johnny, explain things in the end, as the mystery of the murder mirage and the identity of the All-Great-One is revealed. *****
The story is somewhat unique as Lester’s part time author, Laurence Donovan, was successful in combining the various elements of two literary genera’s into one Doc Savage adventure; the result is a plot that is almost too complex for the reader to comprehend, but nevertheless keeps the reader interested. Murder Mirage would have benefited from the expertise of a heavy-handed editor, or perhaps the guidance of Lester Dent, himself. The crime aspect is unique in that it deals with the primary murder weapon that the reader would expect in a science fiction story. The story also contains the basic elements of a crime novel and the exotic settings of the standard Doc Savage adventure.
Murder Mirage takes place in New York City and the Middle East nation of Syria. The blending of the New York City gangster underworld coupled with the intriguing Middle Eastern culture, and the typical “scrapes” and close calls Doc and his crew get into made for an interesting and entertaining read and kept me on the edge of my easy chair. Murder Mirage has somewhat of a complex plot that seems jumbled at times, but Doc, with the help of Johnny, explain things in the end, as the mystery of the murder mirage and the identity of the All-Great-One is revealed. *****
March 19, 2022
A mysterious glowing globe is the cause of death for people which results in their leaving their shadow on the wall of a plate of store front glass. Monk and Ham are kidnapped early on in the adventure. There is a clash between a gang of NYC mobsters and Arabian Bedouins. From the streets of NYC to the deserts of Syria, Doc and his men, including Pat his cousin, must work to solve the mystery of the deadly glowing globe. Doc and his men chase after the gang that has Monk and Ham, no Habeus this time. Doc and his men travel across the Atlantic and the sands of Arabia, in Doc’s new dirigible where, you guessed it, the dirigible is destroyed. Geese! Doc must have very good insurance coverage for his flying machines. This is the first Doc Savage adventure where a beautiful woman ends up as the evil genius and subsequently dies at the end.
June 6, 2021
Another book that is split between two locations. This time it's New York and Syria.
The stuff in New York is good and creepy. The stuff in Syria is high adventure.
The explanation of the bad guys weapon and plans is vague and rushed.
Great action scenes and Doc and company are well written, but the reveal of the mystery foe is a mess.
Fun to see Pat in action and some very clever dialogue.
Good, but not great story.
The stuff in New York is good and creepy. The stuff in Syria is high adventure.
The explanation of the bad guys weapon and plans is vague and rushed.
Great action scenes and Doc and company are well written, but the reveal of the mystery foe is a mess.
Fun to see Pat in action and some very clever dialogue.
Good, but not great story.
May 10, 2017
Slowly collecting these matchless James Bama covers from the 70s... with some classic 1940s pulp heroism to go with them.
June 30, 2017
What could be better than underground tombs and Doc Savage, once again Doc and his aids spring into action entertaining us all the way.
June 14, 2022
5 for nostalgia
October 15, 2016
The first Doc Savage story appeared in 1933 and the series ran in pulp and later digest format into 1949. Bantam reprinted the entire series in paperback with wonderful, iconic covers starting in the 1960's. Doc was arguably the first great modern superhero with a rich background, continuity, and mythos. The characterizations were far richer than was common for the pulps; his five associates and their sometimes-auxiliary, Doc's cousin Pat, and the pets Chemistry and Habeas Corpus, all had very distinctive characteristics and their byplay was frequently more entertaining that the current adventure-of-the-month. The settings were also fascinating: Doc's Fortress of Solitude, the Hidalgo Trading Company (which served as a front for his armada of vehicles), and especially the mysterious 86th floor headquarters all became familiar haunts to the reader, and the far-flung adventures took the intrepid band to exotic and richly-described locations all over the world. The adventures were always fast-paced and exciting, from the early apocalyptic world-saving extravaganzas of the early days to the latter scientific-detective style shorter works of the post-World War Two years. There were always a few points that it was difficult to believe along the way, but there were always more ups than downs, and there was never, ever a dull moment. The Doc Savage books have always been my favorite entertainments... I was always, as Johnny would say, superamalgamated!
February 26, 2016
Of all the pulp era heroes few stand out above the crowd, Doc Savage is one of these. With his 5 aides and cousin he adventures across the world. Fighting weird menaces, master criminals and evil scientists Doc and the Fab 5 never let you down for a great read. These stories have all you need; fast paced action, weird mystery, and some humor as the aides spat with each other. My highest recommendation.
June 5, 2014
Much as I like 30's pulp adventures, this Doc Savage novel--even with a dirigible, a lost city, a kind of super-science weapon, and the always welcome presence of Patricia "Pat" Savage--just doesn't hold together. Even by the forgiving standard I bring to these books, the plot has several glaring holes.
July 14, 2014
One of my favorite Doc Savage tales
June 4, 2015
Well written adventure novel
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews