The Polar Treasure

by Lester Dent

Menaced by “the strange clicking danger,” Doc Savage and his fabulous five-man army take a desperate journey on a polar submarine in search of a missing ocean liner and a dazzling treasure. Their only clue is a map tattooed on the back of a blind violinist. Awaiting them at their destination is the most terrible killer the Arctic has ever known.

193 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 5, 2017

About the author

Lester Dent (1904–1959) was born in La Plata, Missouri. In his mid-twenties, he began publishing pulp fiction stories, and moved to New York City, where he developed the successful Doc Savage Magazine with Henry Ralston, head of Street and Smith, a leading pulp publisher. The magazine ran from 1933 until 1949 and included 181 novel-length stories, of which Dent wrote the vast majority under the house name Kenneth Robeson. He also published mystery novels in a variety of genres, including the Chance Molloy series about a self-made airline owner. Dent’s own life was quite adventurous; he prospected for gold in the Southwest, lived aboard a schooner for a few years, hunted treasure in the Caribbean, launched an aerial photography company, and was a member of the Explorer’s Club.

Reviews

[Mh430 · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Go take an ice bath!"

That Monk, as irreverent as ever. Except it isn't his line. And it didn't from from any of the other aids either. No, the suggestion came from Doc Savage himself which shows that this novel comes early in the series before our boy Clark had become thoroughly Vulcanized. It's still a very enjoyable pulp adventure though with Doc doing impossible things in just about every chapter - and providing Artic survival tips that you won't find in any other book. Maybe not the best introduction to the characters for a new reader but still an excellent entry in the series.

4 stars.

[Frank Carroccino · Rating 3 out of 5]

Doc and his five mates head to the Arctic to find a missing ship with a treasure of gold . Two groups of deadly pirates are also on the hunt for the gold. Add in drugged Eskimos and a polar bear and you have a great adventure.

[Albert Ballard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Times Reading in 1973

I read the Bantam reprints over 40 years ago. This brought back fond memories. If you like OTR, you will like old pulp fiction from the period.