The Deadly Dwarf, a Doc Savage Adventure

Doc Savage (Bantam) #28

by Kenneth Robeson

Originally titled Repel.

THE MENACE OF THE DEADLY DWARF
CADWILLER OLDEN was only three feet tall, but he was the most dangerous man on Earth. With his legion of brutal giants, and control of REPEL-a massive, devasting energy force-the murderous midget began an all-out assault against the defenseless bastions of the free nations. As the entire world huddles in fear, DOC SAVAGE battles against the bizarre doll criminal, and the unleashed fury of his deadly tool of destruction, REPEL!

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

Paperback

First published January 1, 1937

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]

Cadwiller Olden is a three-foot tall dwarf (although that term is used interchangeably with the term ‘midget’ in this novel) and is an eccentric genius. He has discovered a new energy force, called ‘Repel’ which works the opposite of gravity and he plans to use it to assault nations across the world. Plenty of action and intrigue culminate in a satisfying resolution but not until Doc and his aides are thought dead or rendered ineffective.

This Doc Savage adventure was first published in October of 1937 as the 56th in the series. Bantam later changed the name from “Repel” to “The Deadly Dwarf” and numbered it as #28. The creator of Doc Savage, Lester Dent, is the name behind the Kenneth Robeson house name once again.

Olden is one of the best Doc Savage villains in the entire Doc Savage series! I think what I like best about this novel is that the bad guys are known fairly early in the story and they largely succeed, seemingly stumping not only Doc Savage and his aides but also the world’s leading scientists. This is contrary to most Doc books which use what I call a Scooby Doo plot wherein the main bad guy turns out to be the innocent-seeming character that seems to be assisting Doc all along. Of course, Doc thwarts Olden and his crew in the end but it’s not until the last couple of pages where we readers get to see just how he did it. We even get to see how his "college" to reform criminals works and how the results can help fight crime after their "graduation". In addition, I always enjoy a Doc book that includes all five aides, like this one does. Johnny is one of my favorites and he gets a lead role here.

Another good entry in the series. I can only wish there were a sequel featuring the same villain...perhaps Will Murray could generate something...?

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

A volcano erupts on a South Pacific island, releasing a substance that can have disastrous effects on the world, especially if it falls into the wrong hands. Of course, it falls into the wrong hands -- the hands of a three-foot tall evil genius named Cadwiller Olden -- someone who proves to be Doc Savage's most formidable foe so far (in the novels I have read). Like all the Doc Savage books, this one has a movie serial quality and I think it's the best I have read in the series at this point.

[Arlomisty · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always...a fun, simple read... like watching a TV show or a 1950's serial... lot of outdated technology but Doc Savage with his band of men save the day again!

[Edwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

In een nostalgische bui (en die krijg ik de laatste tijd meer en meer) durf ik wel eens in dat hoekje op onze zolder verdwijnen, waar al mijn oude boeken staan. Ja, ik heb ze allemaal bewaard: de boeken die ik als kind en als tiener las. Arendsoog, De Rode Ridder, Jules Verne, Karl May, Tarzan, de westerns van Max Brand en Louis L'Amour ... Doc Savage hoorde daar ook bij. In onze contreien minder bekend, maar in Amerika was hij een echte held uit het pulptijdperk. 's Werelds eerste superheld. De Man van Brons, larger-than-life, bovenmenselijk sterk en onwaarschijnlijk intelligent.
Eerlijk: een driesterrenquotering is erg overdreven. De boekjes zijn slecht geschreven, de gebeurtenissen zijn onwaarschijnlijk en de personages ongeloofwaardig. Maar met de bril van een 10-jarige smaakt alles veel beter, dus ik heb echt wel genoten van deze nostalgische trip.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Deadly Dwarf is a "Doc Savage" novel by Kenneth Robeson. Kenneth Robeson was the house name Street and Smith Publications used 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, and W. Ryerson Johnson.
I love reading these old pulp novels from time to time. I read about 80%+ of the Doc Savage novels when I was a teenager but that was a very long time ago. I have been trying to find them again in the Bantam editions I read in my youth. I have found several of them in used bookstores and have bought several from online aftermarket bookstores.
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-fashioned adventure and 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.

[Stormcrow Hayes · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Most of the other reviews on Goodreads seem to really enjoy this book, but for me it was just okay.

Somewhat unique in that I thought the entire adventure would take place in one location, but in the end it moves back to NYC. Still, it was nice to mix it up. I love the globetrotting, but when it happens in every adventure, it's nice to see an occasional one with only a few locations. Also, we don't have the usual formula of one of his accomplices turning out to be the villain. In fact, our foe is almost a James Bondian style villain (and one could argue Lovelace from The Wild Wild West might have been partially inspired by the character), a mastermind with riches that Doc has been tracking for some time. Again it's a nice break from the regular formula, but not enough to make it stand out.

[Dennis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a far-reaching in the scope of the distance covered in the story. The saga starts in Shanghai before going to the fiction volcanic island of Fan Coral Isle where a lot of the story and mystery take place. Next Doc returns to his office in NYC until traveling to an Ozark lake in Missouri with Johnny. Upon briefly returning to his office, Doc is forced to travel 300 miles into the Atlantic. This is quite a trek for a Doc Savage sci/fi mystery.

Doc and all five of his men are in on this adventure.

Original title was Repel and published October 1937 and was authored by Lester Dent.

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid entry in the series.
Both Doc and Cadwiller Olden, a multi-millionaire dawrf, become aware of the existence of a mysterious new element, repel.
The struggle to see who gets control of it ranges from a tropical volcanic island, to New York to the grand finale in the Ozarks.

Olden is a great bad guy, there's lots of great action set pieces, Doc and company are well written, most of the famous 5 are kidnapped early on, so Johnny gets lots of time in the spotlight.

Only grumbles are the ending is very rushed, and it's a shame Olden never makes a return appearance.

[Kevin Findley · Rating 2 out of 5]

A decent entry in the series, but not a book to start new readers to it. Although Doc is always seen as a bit aloof in order to keep the mystery going, his actions here were (IMHO) almost negligent. His crew of five geniuses were barely there and two were kidnapped so early in the story, they may as well have been in Doc's arctic fortress for the whole adventure.

I have to take a break between the novels, and this book really reminded me why.

Find it. Buy it. Read it.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quintessential Doc Savage...advanced technology, evil villains, a femme fatale and plenty of Rock’em Sock’em Robots action. Shakespeare could have learned a thing or two from Mr. Kenneth Robeson AKA Lester Dent.

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Certainly one of the best Doc Savage adventures. The three-foot tall criminal mastermind, Cadwiller Olden, is a wonderful villain.

[Charles Winters · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best Doc Savage adventures

[Dan Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of interesting fights. This is my new favorite Doc Savage.

[Mark Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A better than average episode, with an unusual Doc-Johnny team-up and a nice twist on the very last page.

[Duane Olds · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one made me think of Doc Savage meets Boss Baby...Doc Savage Verses Mini Me....Doc Savage against the dangerous Danny Devito...you get it...a midgit. And with the way they described him he seemed like one of those over the top villans on the Emma Peel, John Steed Avengers.

It was an alright adventure, a few quite racist bits here and there, but I will admit, even after the explination and all, I still have no clue what Repel is and or was. At first its made into a minster then its a force, then its a ray gun. So you got me on that one.

But this one did give up the goods in terms of literary gems, like:
'Ethel’s Mama was a volcano.' (Hey buddy, TMI!)

“What’s up, Doc?” Ham demanded.' (OOHH! I'm telling Bugs Bunny you stole his line! Someone get Warner Brothers on the phone!)

“It is more than important,” he said. “It may well be the most terrible calamity ever loosened on the human race.” (Justin Beiber?)

“The gentleman of mystery himself." (Thats Mr. Doctor Professor Gentleman of mystery, Jr to you!)

'Tongues of flame, some apparently at least a mile long, went lunging up into the sky.' (Sounds like a KISS concert)

'There was more about the bronze man than bigness.' (like he enjoyed cross stitch, open mike nights and taking long walks on the beach)

“Pale-looking!” Monk exploded. “That’s Long Tom!” (Or Michael Jackson, could you be a little more specific?)

'Chapter 14 - THE MASTER CROOK’S TOUCH' (Worst name for a romance novel ever)

"In you alone hope lies," (So, no pressure or anything)

'and it was about an hour until the time which the nautical almanac gave as the sunset hour.' (Or he could have just looked at a watch)

This adventure also gave us a few (insert your own joke here) lines, for example:
"I'd kinda like to stay in there in the dark with them guys. I was sure enjoying myself."

"They brought me and Ham along in case they might need us for a dicker,"

'Bat, contrary, tried to get it up.'

For those who havent fallen asleep reading this yet, this time our Superamalgamated count was 7
which lost to our Holy cow count which was an 8.

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

[Ronald · Rating 5 out of 5]

probably read in fall 1968

[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!

[Fraser Sherman · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best of the series. Weird events around a volcanic eruption convince Doc that something terrifyingly dangerous has broken loose from underground. The same idea occurs to Cadwiller Olden, an elegant midget master criminal who sees unlimited power in his future if he can get hold of ... Repel! (which was the title of the novel back in the pulps). The combination of SF and crime works very well here.

[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.

[Keith B · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of his most unusual foes... a midget that is perfectly proportioned. A dandy to boot. Even paints his toenails. Weird. 5 for nostalgia.