Dust of Death

Doc Savage (Bantam) #32

by Kenneth Robeson (House Name)

The tiny South American republics of Santa Amoza and Delezon were at war when a mysterious, hooded figure — known only as The Inca in Gray — appeared and began slaughtering citizens of both sides with a strange dust that brought instant, writhing death. Doc Savage and his mighty crew rush to the dense Amazonian forest in hopes of saving lives, but all they find when they arrive is a firing squad — ready to execute the Man of Bronze!

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

139 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1935

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

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dust of Death 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 five 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 Long Tom Roberts, one of Doc Savage's five associates is in a small South American country to visit an injured friend in the hospital. While there he learns of a plot to interfere with the country's war with its neighbor country. He is taken captive but not before he sends for Doc Savage. Doc rushes to his aid along with Monk and Ham, two more of his associates. They learn of a mysterious figure known as the "Inca in Grey" who is responsible for the interference. Typical Doc Savage adventures ensue. Note: This book is the first appearance of Ham's pet ape, "Chemistry".

[Tobin Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one, while not necessarily a firecracker storyline, had some fun elements.

Doc Savage got the snot beat out of him, for a change.

Ham finally acquired Chemistry.

And, overall, the story was okay.

[Mark Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical, decent pulp.

[Robert D · Rating 3 out of 5]

While one of Doc Savage's assistants (Long Tom) is visiting a friend in a South American he runs across a strange mystery. Two South American countries have been at war for over 4 years, and a figure known as the Inca in Gray seems to be keeping the war going. Long Tom telegrams Doc Savage and Doc, Monk, and Ham journey south to investigate.

Numerous attempts are made on Doc Savage's life and he is almost constantly under threat. Long Tom has been captured by the rival nation and is rumored to have gone up to the firing squad. Monk and Ham wind up as prisoners of the Inca in Gray, who has a small army of native Mayan's along with some mercenaries.

A pretty typical adventure. One note, this adventure is where Ham picks up his pet simian, Chemistry.

[Tony Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this Doc Savage adventure, the titular character continues to be bronze and great at everything. Two traits that the author reminds us of nearly every other paragraph. And no, that's not an exaggeration.

"Doc Savage, his rippling bronze muscles so bronze that bronze itself looked at them and proclaimed 'My, God! You are even more bronze than I am!'." [Not an exact quote, but close]

Obviously you don't read old pulp adventure novels like these for their great writing, unique plots and character development. They're meant to be a bit of fun escapism, and that's just what Dust of Death is.

[Frank · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good Doc adventure.

[John McDonnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The novels that introduces Chemistry the "ape". A good novel following the formulae of Doc and his crew getting thwarted until the end. Still, entertaining. The audio is excellent if get it.

[Devin Coryell · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 / 5

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Doc and three of his men investigate reports of a killer called the Gray Inca and get caught up in a war between two South American countries.

[David Macpherson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good pulp with unsatisfactory ending

The evil inca in grey has a weord reveal that doez not make sense nut the action was good all the same

[Jeff J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pulp novel featuring Doc Savage. The introduction of Chemistry the ape!

[Dennis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the book where Ham finds and acquires Chemistry, his pet monkey.i bgo

Long Tom is an the S American country to see his friend Ace who is aiding country in their war against. Long Tom is embroiled in trouble which causes Doc, Monk and Ham to fly down from NYC in a deer

[Duane Olds · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good Doc Savage adventure. This time he goes up against a dude in all grey called (suprise) Inca in Grey. I couldn't help but think that the Inca in Gray is sulking around in the hot sun in his fully clothed costume, bet he wished he was the Inca in kakis or the Inca in a bathing suit or Inca in a nice air-conditioned room with plenty of ice water.

This adventure did give us some more literery gems, such as:-----------
'The landing told things.' (like they were on the ground and that they were no longer in the sky)

“Continue, man of many words and little information,” (Ok, i will...HEY! Wait a minute!)

'stripped off the wrapping and revealed a compact metal-cutting torch of a type popular with safe robbers.' (4 out of 5 safe robbers said they would recomend our metal cutting torch to their safe robber friends, the 5th safe robber said he wasn't no stool pigeon and refused to tell us what his favorite metal cutting torch was)

'The invisible rays--invisible to the unaided eye' (and unaided to the invisible eye)

"They are our enemies. Death to such." (Yeah, yeah, death and so forth whatnot)

'looking very much as if he had just eaten a full meal of green apples.'(what in the world does that even mean?)

'leakage from human bodies obviously.' (ewww! That's a weird way to phrase it)

'General Vigo performed a typical American gesture.' (he gave Doc the finger?)

“Scat,” Ham directed. “Shoo. Sooey. Beat it. Vamoose. Go along chop chop.” (Ok, so i'm getting the feeling that you want me to leave?)

It also left us with a few (insert your own joke here) quotes:-------
'Long Tom whispered, "That was nice."

'Not only did he have terrible strength, but he knew how to do fantastic things with his hands.'

There was nothing in way of our Superamalgamated count and Holy cow count. So sorry to waste your time with that.

Oh well, on to the next one....

[Craig · Rating 5 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!

[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 3 out of 5]

This time out, Doc's in South America, where the sinister Inca in Gray is setting two countries at war for his own agenda. A fun entry in the series, though Dent gets Incas and Mayans extremely confused (it's important to the plot).

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Introduces Chemistry Ham's new Pet which appears in many future adventures. Unfortunately it looks like Dent decided who the villain was late in writing the book so there are some inconsistencies that take away from the overall story. Still a good fun Doc adventure.

[Read1000books · Rating 3 out of 5]

An almost superhero from the pulp fiction era. Good enough that I will read another someday.

[Dale Rosso · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good relaxing read. # 32 in the correct numbering of the series.

[Normand Kosztko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written adventure novel 5/5 a love Doc Savage adventure

[Ronald · Rating 4 out of 5]

probably read in winter 1968