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The Shadow Pulp #57
Charg, Monster
A story of a hideous monster, an unbelievable killer -- and a fight for super power.
158 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 1977
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41 people want to read
About the author
Maxwell Grant
651 books32 followersMaxwell Grant was a pseudonym often used by Walter B. Gibson to write stories of "The Shadow".
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 12, 2018
A good Shadow novel that doesn't meet up with modern expectations.
When someone from today hears that the Shadow is facing a mastermind who uses robots to kill people, we think of something a little different than they thought in the 1930's.
The novel is pretty good, maybe not in the very top tier of Shadow novels, but every Shadow novel is very readable.
Good pulp, but not great pulp.
When someone from today hears that the Shadow is facing a mastermind who uses robots to kill people, we think of something a little different than they thought in the 1930's.
The novel is pretty good, maybe not in the very top tier of Shadow novels, but every Shadow novel is very readable.
Good pulp, but not great pulp.
June 28, 2020
It can be tough getting into The Shadow from a modern perspective, but pitting him against a man-mashing robot helps. This is a great introduction for the curious and a solid adventure for the faithful. Gibson's famously fast writing - two novels a month at the time - does result in a few too many rewound detours to explain how The Shadow ended up in the right room at the right time to hear the crucial confession, but it's all part of the pulpy charm.
August 13, 2020
When a well-meaning inventor creates a new type of engine fuel, to be used for the advancement of society, he turns up horribly murdered -- and others also connected with the project turn up horribly murdered. This is a very good Shadow novel, with science fiction elements. I can imagine it as a 1930s movie serial.
July 21, 2018
Killer robots enliven this better than usual outing= I only wish the bad guy had met his ending against them.
February 20, 2016
This story has a major science-fiction type element in it. It starts out introducing various people. Frederick Thorne, for example, is ultra-rich. Meldron Fallow, who is not rich, is an inventor. He has an invention that will make Thorne rich but could put lots of people out of work. So, he doesn't want to sell it to Thorne.
A guy named Shelborne works with Thorne. Fellow had sold invention to a committee, and the secretary of the committee is Shelburne, who really is a spy for Thorne.
The Shadows suction cup devices are described.
There is a description of a strange room and a guy named Jerry Laffan, who calls himself a “servant of Charg”.
A meeting of different men wjp talk about the invention, something to take the place of gasoline, takes place, with Shelborne there taking notes.
Lamont Cranston meets with them; he's given a demonstration of the motor and the new fuel.
The Shadow goes to San Francisco to fight crime; while he's away, Fallow is murdered, and the murderer had to be incredibly strong; the body is savagely beaten.
The Shadow tries to find a furniture clue, but the piece has been bought and taken away. Another meeting of the committee is being held with the spy Shelborne in attendance as usual. Cranston shows up at the meeting; the Shadow later goes to a house and finds another committee member brutally murdered.
Charg murders one of the crooks working for him. Whilton, another man involved with the invention, is visited by Cranston.
The Shadow later confronts another traitorous servant. Three crooks attack the shadow; the first is shot. The servant is killed by the crooks, the Shadow using his body as a shield.
Whilton is going to leave the area for a few months to get out of the way of danger. Townson, another committee member, will stay, however. Cranston will take over Whilton's affairs for the time being.
A reference made to the shadow's radio broadcasts.
Charg sets a trap for the Shadow. When the Shadow gets to Charg's room where he meets his minions, the Shadow is attacked by a type of stationary robot. He defeats it, and finds out “Charg” is really a mechanical device.
The Shadow then has to face an 8-foot high robot. Soon a second huge robot appears. The Shadow tricks the robots into fighting each other; one is destroyed, he finishes the other one.
Later, Shelborne is killed by a robot. There's a showdown with the actual criminal mastermind, another fight, a gunfight, a major battle with Cardona, the Shadow, the thugs, the main criminal, etc. In the end a violent justice is dealt the criminals.
A guy named Shelborne works with Thorne. Fellow had sold invention to a committee, and the secretary of the committee is Shelburne, who really is a spy for Thorne.
The Shadows suction cup devices are described.
There is a description of a strange room and a guy named Jerry Laffan, who calls himself a “servant of Charg”.
A meeting of different men wjp talk about the invention, something to take the place of gasoline, takes place, with Shelborne there taking notes.
Lamont Cranston meets with them; he's given a demonstration of the motor and the new fuel.
The Shadow goes to San Francisco to fight crime; while he's away, Fallow is murdered, and the murderer had to be incredibly strong; the body is savagely beaten.
The Shadow tries to find a furniture clue, but the piece has been bought and taken away. Another meeting of the committee is being held with the spy Shelborne in attendance as usual. Cranston shows up at the meeting; the Shadow later goes to a house and finds another committee member brutally murdered.
Charg murders one of the crooks working for him. Whilton, another man involved with the invention, is visited by Cranston.
The Shadow later confronts another traitorous servant. Three crooks attack the shadow; the first is shot. The servant is killed by the crooks, the Shadow using his body as a shield.
Whilton is going to leave the area for a few months to get out of the way of danger. Townson, another committee member, will stay, however. Cranston will take over Whilton's affairs for the time being.
A reference made to the shadow's radio broadcasts.
Charg sets a trap for the Shadow. When the Shadow gets to Charg's room where he meets his minions, the Shadow is attacked by a type of stationary robot. He defeats it, and finds out “Charg” is really a mechanical device.
The Shadow then has to face an 8-foot high robot. Soon a second huge robot appears. The Shadow tricks the robots into fighting each other; one is destroyed, he finishes the other one.
Later, Shelborne is killed by a robot. There's a showdown with the actual criminal mastermind, another fight, a gunfight, a major battle with Cardona, the Shadow, the thugs, the main criminal, etc. In the end a violent justice is dealt the criminals.
February 2, 2016
When it comes to pulp heroes there are 2 or 3 great standouts and the Shadow is one of those. The stories are fast paced and action filled. The mystery just adds to the excitement. With his army of agents to help the Shadow never lets you down for a great read. Highly recommended
March 12, 2012
Another one I remember really liking. Hideous death, mad genius, and blazing .45's.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews