Dr. Death

Killmaster #100

by Nick Carter

100th Anniversary Edition.
Contents:
Dr. Death
Run, Spy, Run (the first modern Nick Carter novel, originally published in 1964)
The Original Nick Carter: An Introduction by J. Randolph Cox
The Preposterous Theft (a dime-novel story from the turn of the 20th Century)

365 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Nick Carter is a house pseudonym used by Award, Ace, and later Jove, publishing for the series Nick Carter who later graduated to a special agent for the Killmaster novels, a series of 261+ spy adventures published from 1964 until late 1990s.

A great number of writers have written under the pen-name over the years, beginning in September 1886 when Nick Carter first appeared in the 'New York Weekly' in a 13-week serial, entitled 'The Old Detective's Pupil; or, The Mysterious Crime of Madison Square'.

The Nick Carter character was originally conceived by Ormond G. Smith, the son of one of the founders of Street & Smith, and realized by John R. Coryell.

Reviews

[Jeff Tankersley · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is 1975 and Nick Carter is meeting a French agent in a wild Tangier bar, being entertained by a sultry woman wearing almost nothing for a large crowd and having trouble keeping their conversation secret. This Frenchman tells Carter that a subversive group of French fascists called OAS has kidnapped a French scientist who has valuable insight in warfare technology and is forcing him to work for them. OAS had been foiled by Carter in a previous episode in an attempt to assassinate DeGaulle, so he is well-informed as to their evil capabilities. The French agent is telling Carter something about leprosy, an island, and a volcano when he is gunned down by OAS agents in the bar and Carter finds himself running from the building under the cover of darkness and confusion with the scantily-clad female who turns out to be the scientist's own daughter.

The scientist, due to his knowledge of a vast range of WWII technology ranging from sonar and radio to nuclear weapons, is known as "Dr. Death" (1975) and Carter is now assigned by his boss five days to find the doctor, end the threat, keep the daughter safe from kidnapping, and save the western world from an attack on its offshore oil industry that is being threatened now by an OAS blackmail.

This is the 100th installment of the Nick Carter Killmaster series and we really don't know who actually wrote it. Nick Carter - the author - is a pseudonym used by several authors writing for the series for Award Books, with Nick Carter also being the name of the protagonist character, a superhero American James Bond-style agent. These stories have some adult content but this episode is tamer than most of the others I've read.

Verdict: "Dr. Death" (1975) is a really good episode of the Nick Carter series. The focused plot, keeping Carter's plans and actions there in the Caribbean, didn't lose my attention for a second, moving quickly from twist to turn, plot to treachery, a search for information at a leper hospital in Puerto Rico that is just awesome in a dozen ways, a maybe-good maybe-bad female Chinese agent who keeps him on his toes, the daughter of Dr. Death who is a force by herself, another character revealed later who would be spoilery to share but is quite humorous, some explosive action, gunfights, and a final twist and fight I didn't see coming. For this 100th Killmaster episode I get the sense Award Books wanted something special and I enjoyed it.

Jeff's Rating: 4 / 5 (Very Good)
movie rating if made into a movie: R

[Seizure Romero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adolescent me loved these books.

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice rewrite of an old Pulp character. Recast more in the James Bond spy mode. Good quick men's adventure read. If you are looking for some fast paced action and adventure then this is a recommended read.