The Metal Master

Doc Savage (Bantam) #72

by Kenneth Robeson (House Name), Lester Dent

The Metal Master exists and will destroy the world! To stop him, the Man of Bronze and his daring friends launch a search for the source of his amazing power--and find themselves trapped on a sandy deserted island with the Metal Master himself!

Genres: Adventure, Pulp, Science Fiction, Fiction, Mystery, Action, Fantasy

137 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published January 1, 1973

About the author

Kenneth 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.

Reviews

[Benjamin Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 37th Doc Savage novel (72 by way of Bantam published order) was written by the originator of the character, Lester Dent. The plot this time finds Doc and his aides facing a weapon that can liquefy metal. It can turn cars into puddles, dissolve planes and ships, etc. They must travel to Alligator Island off the coast of the Carolinas to find the mastermind before he can unleash his weapon on the world.

This one has a lot of the elements of a Lester Dent yarn but a few more bad guys than I could keep track of. Plenty of action of course but the first third of the book really only has Doc himself involved with the mystery, with a slight cameo by Renny. Monk and Ham show up later, of course, but their roles are not as prevalent as they often are. There is also a surprise reveal at the end of the story, providing one final twist to the plot. Lots of Doc’s gadgets are on display as is his penchant for always knowing what is happening long before his aides (or the reader) does.

An enjoyable read and many Doc fans really like this one. For the most part, I did too but I had the bad guy mastermind picked out fairly early and I turned out to be right. Didn't quite crack my top 10% list.

[George Jankovic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Doc Savage comic books were created in the 1930s. He's one of the first great superheroes. He's ultra smart, the Man of Bronze, has a great team of accomplished people (scientists, archeologists, ex military etc.) and some cool transportation devices, especially for those times (autogyros, a submarine etc). The dynamic between some of his partners also adds fun.

I loved these comics as a kid and have decided to re-read some of them.

This is one of the better Doc Savage comics.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Metal Master is a "Doc Savage" novel by Kenneth Robeson. Kenneth Robeson was the house name used by Street and Smith Publications as the author of their popular Doc Savage novels. 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
I love reading these old pulp novels from time to time. I recently came across several of them in a used book store and snapped them up. I read about 80%+ of the Doc Savage novels when I was a teenager but that was a very long time ago.
In this one, Doc Savage and his men are in the thick of it again. The action is classic Doc Savage, filled with good old fashion adventure and with gadgets that always seem to be there when the hero needs them. You can relax and escape for a little while. A good read in the Doc Savage series.

[Tobin Elliott · Rating 2 out of 5]

This would have been at least a three-star, but the introduction of Punning Parker...a character who makes puns with virtually every single line of dialogue...suck the hell out of this story. I know that the pulps paid by the word, and I think Punning Parker was there to increase the payout.

Weirdly, though this one was purportedly written by main series writer, Lester Dent, it really felt off-brand for the series. I would have bet money it was a different author for this one.

As per usual, mostly ridiculous story, new ways to thwart the bad guys invented by Doc to serve the plot, then likely never mentioned again, and Ham and Monk squabbling. Typical yarn.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

An average adventure by Lester Dent, but what I found interesting in the tale is how the action comes across as more bloodthirsty and violent than my initial reads as a teenager. When characters are shot and killed, the descriptions are brief. But that succinctness is as brutal as it is simple. I'm either softer than I was as a kid or more aware of the finality delivered by a bullet.

If you want gritty adventure, this is a good story. It would reach classic stature if the Metal Master and his mysterious device had more presence, such as what you get with a story like The Murder Mirage, which I recently re-read in an earlier Sanctum volume.

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun romp that moves from New York to 30's Cuba to a desolate island for the finale.
Doc and his aides are all well written, the menace is cool and sci-fi.

Only grumbles are the girl is well written, but does almost nothing after the halfway point of the book.
Also, the villain has a cool gadget, but a plan so vague, it's hard to say if he's actually evil. It seems he only goes evil when the infighting in his gang spills out.

The finale starts strong, but ends in a rush and answers very few questions about the evil plan.

[James Hold · Rating 5 out of 5]

This adventure has a lot of Doc solo action, which is good. He often spends too much time rescuing his five aides so this was a nice break, altho the others do show up eventually. Features a clever weapon, something that dissolves or melts metal w/o heat. The cast is quite large and hard to keep track of at times. Only downside: Early in the tale the character of "Punning Parker" is introduced. Unfortunately anyone the least familiar with Doc's stories will recognize him immediately. Still it's a fun outing.

[J.R. Santos · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the premise and mystery about who the metal master was, but this one might be the worst written of the bunch

Made me feel I might not really want to read doc savage stories anymore. 😂

It is not that different I'm quality from others I read, I guess I'm the one who's changed.

[Dennis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Doc Savage, Renny, Monk, Ham and Long Tom take on two gangs each fighting for the secret to making metal metal without the use of heat. The action starts on the streets of NYC and goes to Havana, Cuba before finally landing on Alligator Island, SC. Habeas Corpus is along, as well as Chemistry, for this adventure.

Lester Dent wrote this one.

[Stormcrow Hayes · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure why I didn't like this book more and I'll be the first to admit that it may have been my mood when I started it. This book certainly had a lot going for it: a cool gadget that melts metal without the use of heat, a few twists and turns (more than some other Doc books), and a nice surprise at the end, but for some reason I had trouble getting through the first half of this book. The introduction of Punning Parker, a character who enjoys making puns, didn't help. Perhaps I'm being too hard on this book (giving it three stars instead of two), but that's how I felt upon finishing it.

[Little Timmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Fraser Sherman · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good gimmick (mysterious force that liquefies metal) can't make up for a so-so story, largely because so much time is spent on the underworld types. Not a bad entry but forgettable.

[Ronald · Rating 3 out of 5]

read some time in 1986

[Normand Kosztko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good adventure novel