The Red Terrors

Doc Savage (Bantam) #83

by Kenneth Robeson (House Name), Harold A. Davis

To the world at large, Doc Savage is a strange, mysterious figure of glistening bronze skin and golden eyes. To his amazing co-adventurers-the five greatest brains ever assembled in one group-he is a man of superhuman strength and protean genius, whose life is dedicated to the destruction of evil-doers. To his fans he is the greatest adventure hero of all time, whos fantastic exploits are unequaled for hair-raising thrills, breathtaking escaptes and blood-curdling excitement. Menace in The Red Terrors-they came out of the depths to seize an unsuspecting ship and transport its precious human cargo to their watery domain. There, in a lost sunken world under the sea, they lived securely. Until they sank the wrong ship....and the MAN OF BRONZE came to call.

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

136 pages

First published January 1, 1938

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]

The Red Terrors 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.

[Benjamin Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sailor on a ship in the South Atlantic eats an apple contaminated with diphtheria and infects the rest of the merchant vessel’s crew. One passenger, a deep-sea diver, tries to survive by diving into the water with his suit on, only to experience something incredible. We readers aren’t privy to exactly what until much later in the novel, but a clue is provided in the form of a torn piece of red suit material. Meanwhile strange attacks are occurring in New York City involving red humanoids. And then word reaches Doc Savage's headquarters of a criminal doctor getting dragged off his ship by another red creature. But when Long Tom and Renny go missing, and then Johnny is severely injured (two broken legs and a broken arm!) Doc pulls out all the stops to get to the bottom of whatever’s going on. Doc, Monk, and Ham follow the trail that leads them to an extraordinary under-the-sea civilization, a civilization connected to one they’ve discovered before in Mystery Under The Sea, published two years previously in 1936.

This is the 67th Doc Savage novel to be published (number 83 in Bantam edition order). It was co-written by Lester Dent and Harold Davis. The year was 1938 and the yearning for technological adventure was in full swing. The Doc Savage novels have always been on the cutting edge of technology, thanks to creator and primary author, Lester Dent who liked to have Doc using all the latest gear. Frequently, he used items that weren’t even in existence yet, projecting what would be logical advancements in the near future. In this novel, however, the tech speculation goes beyond mere projection and into pure fantasy. While some explanative science is provided for how the humans can live and breathe under water using pills and a specialized gas, today's readers must really suspend their disbelief and just go with it.

Putting that observation aside, this was a fun entry in the Doc Savage series. Lots of action sequences but balanced with a straightforward mystery plot. No Scooby-Doo ending this time; the bad guys and the good guys are identified early on with no double-crossing to be found. The real focus here is on the underwater society and how it developed and operates despite the obvious barriers. Good pulpy fun. And the Boris Vallejo cover art on the Bantam edition doesn't hurt.

[Duane Olds · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was a weird one.
It started off like any other Doc Savage adventure, them about 75% in BAM! It turned into an episode of the twilight zone, I can't really explain it better than that.

But no matter, this adventure still gave us these literary gems:-----------------------------------------

A SAILOR named Steve ate an apple, and killed thirty-eight men. (You know what they say, an apple a day keeps 38 men dead, or something like that)

Life on the Muddy Mary became a hysteria of fear and fatigue. (which ironically was also the name of their first album of sea shantys)

His left arm had been broken in three places. (Cincinnati, St Louis and Charleston)

It was agony that brought Harry Day back to consciousness (He must have been listening to a Justin Bieber record)

"Surgeon or physician?" asked the voice. (What is this, Jeopardy? Do you need a doctor or not?)

The unknown walked directly toward Doctor Collendar and held out a hand (Exactly who's hand it was he couldn't be sure)

a man with a pair of incredibly big fists (and a heart of gold to match, or at least that's what his Tinder bio said)

and thus fight the scourge of echinoderms.
(scourge of echinoderms, that was the name of their second studio album!)

The lobby director said Doctor Collendar's suite was 2117. (2117?! That's amazing! I've got the same combination on my luggage!)

a spittoon bent, (Spittoon bent?! That's the name of their 3rd studio album!)

"I'll bet she's a blonde," Monk said, "and as cute as a pickle seed." (EWWW, gross)

"She's dead!" Monk croaked. (Boy, you sure have a way with women)

"Hell, yes! Guns!" (I'll have what he's having)

"Renny's writin'! (that's the name of their 4th studio.....oh forget it)

Very black--and very quiet. (just like how they took their coffee)

"What--where--what--whew!" (Great, thanks. That explains everything.)

"Doc," he muttered, "are we under the sea?" (Cause baby it's better down where it's wetter take it from me)

stout man with too pretty a face for his ugly body (Well thank you... HEY! Wait a minute..)

Collendar screamed. (then we all screamed for ice cream... It was awkward)

---------------------------------
It also gave us a few 'Insert your own joke here' lines, like----------------

"It's queer, and I figured you'd be interested."

Astonishment took them both with a jerk.

Monk came into Doc's headquarters looking queer.

This craft was a practical "If you see bottom, I do,"

The cable had been whacked off

"I'll run your spook ragged!"

"and you can reach high enough to stick a finger in and see how cold it is."

"Boy, the balls in the middle must be big!" he exclaimed.

-------------------------------------------------------------

As usual, here's the running word count for this adventure:

Doctor Collendar - 38

Holy Cow- 4

Supermalgamated- 3



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

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Red Terrors grew better with age.

I finished this Doc Savage pulp reprint as part of the Sanctum double-volume reprint that brought it together with the earlier story, Mystery Under The Sea. The two tales are loosely tied together, as they touch on lost civilizations under the ocean's surface. I first read The Red Terrors when Bantam reprinted it years and years ago with the striking cover you see here that promised stranger things and delivered.

My first read was fast back then, as it was possible to gobble down a Doc Savage in scant hours. Nowadays it takes me longer, as time is precious and life as an adult means juggling lots of balls (work, family, etc.). However, that let me steep myself longer in the world populated by the red denizens of the deep that Doc meets in this late 1930s story. I think the story benefits from our awareness today of how difficult it is to survive in hostile environments. Andy Weir's The Martian is a good example of this. So the troubles faced by Doc and his crew isn't confined to the duplicitous Doctor Collander and gangster Snig Bogaccio. Well worth the read. A definite 5 stars and a great companion with the earlier tale.

[Dale Rosso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Decent Doc Savage entry.

[Jeff J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pulp novel featuring Doc Savage. An undersea kingdom is discovered. Much chaos ensues.

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Several people, thought lost in ship wrecks, show up in New York, pursed by...something red...!
Doc and company , of course get involved.

Pretty solid story: a weird mystery, decent action set pieces, snappy dialogue, Doc is well-written, the books token girl has a personality and is allowed to participate in the grand finale, the reveal of the 'red terrors' is cool and, even though, Monk and Ham, are the main sidekicks yet again, they are so well written, I don't mind.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've often wondered what percentage of Doc Savage's original readers knew there were multiple writers producing these adventures. But surely the enormous variance in quality and writing styles raised plenty of red flags even among the less mature of its audience. Readers who just finished the August 1938 Harold Davis train wreck "The Munitions Master," a preposterous insult to the canon, a month later were treated to the measured, suspenseful and carefully crafted "The Red Terrors," by the series' main (and by far best) writer, Lester Dent. How many people wondered, "What the hell is going on here?"

"The Red Terrors" (3.5 stars) takes its time in building its mysteries and suspense and the unusually meticulous approach pays off.

Calling this a direct sequel to "Mystery Under the Sea" (February 1936) is overstating it (Doc authority Will Murray does), but "The Red Terrors" does have a similar undersea world theme going for it. Let's call them cousins.

This novel has one of the series' better openings, or at least better late-1930s openings, with a ship ravaged by a diphtheria outbreak cracking up and sinking, its one survivor sighting under the sea a mysterious red thing that horrifies him and seizes him. Then a shady doctor — again seeing red — is kidnapped from another vessel in the same waters.

The revealing of layer by layer of this red menace — the red things make appearances on land in New York as Doc Savage gets involved in the mystery — is beautifully done, and must have seemed most welcome after the ludicrous and chaotic previous issue of Doc Savage Magazine and its bad Harold Davis centerpiece.

Some nice action in New York leads us to a strange, ancient, underwater civilization and, ultimately, the best Doc Savage tale of 1938 not titled "Fortress of Solitude" or "The Devil Genghis" (the two John Sunlight tales). Along the way we also have one of Doc's aides getting hurt about as severely as any of them ever did in any tale: lanky Johnny breaks both legs and an arm when he's thrown from a building, and he has to be left behind for the wind-up.

There's nice action here and unusually good world-building. As Doc, Monk and Ham find themselves in a strange underwater world, we're right there with them as they slowly figure out what's what. It's a very patient approach that works wonders. Ultimately, the climax is merely OK, not quite matching the fine buildup. But as a polar opposite to Davis' novels, "The Red Terrors" is a late-1930s tale to treasure.

[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!

[Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a suspense/mystery, science fantasy adventure. I found the adventure to be fast paced and enjoyably entertaining. They just don’t write books like this any more.

This story has Doc and his crew investigating the curious incident of a deep sea diver and a doctor who had previously were thought to be lost at sea.

Authored by Lester Dent and publisher September 1938.

[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]

One of several Docs where the emphasis is less on the action and more on the exotic lost civilization the good guys encounter. In this case it's under the sea, preserved in a bubble of heavier-than-water gas, and targeted by killers (of course). Not a great one, but certainly entertaining reading.

[colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

read 12.21.83
read 02.22.84

[Ronald · Rating 3 out of 5]

read some time in 1988

[Michael Hill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poorly written by Harold A Davis and a reluctant two stars. Doc and his men find a hidden undersea civilization. Little happens and the villains are finally beaten.