The Running Skeletons

Doc Savage (publication order; no omnibus) #124

by Kenneth Robeson

Genres: Science Fiction

Unknown Binding

Published June 1, 1943

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

[Stormcrow Hayes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know these later Doc books are short and rushed and clearly Dent was cranking them out without a lot of thought, but I found this one surprisingly pleasant in the beginning. Unfortunately, it really falls apart at the end.

SPOILERS from here on out...

What I enjoyed: the skeletons! I love the idea of creating translucent skin causing people (and a dog) to look like skeletons. Unfortunately, even though it's obvious from the title, this isn't revealed until too close to the end. I also enjoyed the other team members conspiring to get Monk and Ham to get along. This was so different from the other books, I really enjoyed it as a nice little change. Finally, our female lead, Willie, is sassy and flirty with Doc in a fun way most of the female characters aren't.

What I found annoying: for a short book (only 90 pages), there's a fair amount of padding and redundancy to the writing. I wanted to provide a sample, but I can't find it at the moment. But the worst part of the book is that the plot makes no sense. Tom Lewis, our hapless victim who sets out with the invisible dog to recruit Doc's aid -- turns out to be the mastermind behind the whole thing? Huh? Then why would he hire his own men to chase him? He wouldn't because it makes no sense at all. It's a lazy plot twist that doesn't work. Finally, we see Doc once again hiding in a rug or sack so he's taken to the enemy's lair. I just read this exact same thing in one of the last two Doc books as well and it's a tired gimmick.

This was a pretty typical Doc book with a few fun, minor changes that, unfortunately, is ruined by the rotten ending. Hence, 2.5 stars (but I always round up).

[Dennis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just finished reading The Running Skeletons and found it an interesting concept for a story plot. It was an amusing read as Doc Savage books go. An evil plot to reduce people to living skeletons is afoot. One plot hole occurs near the beginning of the story. A train porter sees the horror in a dog case and runs out of a moving train breaking a leg and sustaining a head injury. Doc Savage never follows up on this lead. He never interviews the porter. The author wanted to build suspense probably. Later in the book, Monk looks into the dog-carrying case and is like-wise horrified. But we don’t get to have an explanation before events interfere.

Over all, this was an interesting tale that kept interest in the book. All of Doc’s men are involved in this caper. Monk & Hams pets are mentioned but are left behind. An interesting point is that Monk and Ham are getting along without quarreling for quite some time. The opening of the book deals with a man attempting to flee the Ozark section of the country and get to New York City to reach Doc Savage about a horrific plot but is being followed by a gang of men.Most of the action centers in and around New York City before being resolved back in the Ozarks.

This book was written by Lester Dent and published June, 1943.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second half of Sanctum's Halloween-themed issue.

I think this is their first Halloween issue, and both stories focus on supernatural or what seem like supernatural mysteries. The Running Skeletons is a WWII story and suffers from the brevity that came with the wartime cutbacks, such as smaller stories that were too quickly resolved. This one is a case in point, as the climax comes too suddenly.

That being said the story is a good one, hence the four stars, because the McGuffin of a mysterious dog that causes people who see it to run away screaming in fear (even Monk) is handled quite well and makes a reader burn through the pages to find out what's behind the mystery.

Hex graces the reprint cover, but the image of skeletons fighting Doc's crew is quite surreal when you let your imagination run with it.

[Henry Lopez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Entertaining for most of the story, and then it fizzles out during the last few chapters to the point that it feels like Dent said, "Ok - and that's all that happens. The End."

For a story that had potential starting, it sure ended with a Meh.

Another WWII story that's hardly worth the time to read.

[Jeff J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A pulp novel featuring Doc Savage. Living skeletons! Much chaos ensues.