The Mystic Mullah

Doc Savage (Bantam) #9

by Kenneth Robeson (House Name), Lester Dent

It was an ageless thing that had existed since the beginning of time-a monstrous green face that spoke sudden death. With its legions of ghostly, nebulous soul slaves, it had begun to terrorize the world. Even Doc Savage and his fantastic five were helpless against its awesome power, until...

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

137 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1935

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]

First published in 1935, the 23rd Doc Savage novel (as originally published – number 9 in the Bantam paperback order) opens with two mysterious strangers from the fabled Asian Kingdom of Tanan arriving in New York City, seeking Doc Savage's aid. They are being hunted by some sort of supernatural “soul slaves” on behalf of an entity known as the Mystic Mullah. They need Doc’s help to save their country.

The Mystic Mullah itself seems to be a mysterious and monstrous floating face which can speak and warn of dire threats. It uses strange ghostly “soul slaves” that look like floating snakes to attack, causing horrible burns or snapping necks. It’s a creepy foe to be sure but we readers know Doc will get to the bottom of it and discover who is behind the mysterious moniker of the Mystic Mullah. Lots of action permeates the novel. We have Doc’s machine pistols, Russian spies, Doc’s skin-bleaching trick, Doc in disguise, and plenty of fisticuffs. All five of Doc’s aides are present for this one, and all of them get captured at one point or another. We also get to see the team travel to Asia and the Kingdom of Tanan. It's always a treat to see them in action in an exotic locale.

Interestingly, pulp writer Richard Sale started ghost writing this novel based on an outline by Lester Dent but removed himself from the project after receiving criticism from Dent. So Lester Dent wrote it himself. Many fans believe, consequently, that Dent worked extra hard on it to make sure it was a good one. Could be. I certainly enjoyed it and would rank it among the top 20 Doc Savage novels.

[Kenneth McKinley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the best in the Doc Savage series. Robeson (Dent) mailed this one in. Less Doc in this one and it suffered because of it. The muddled plot and info dump at the end to explain this mess didn’t help. I finished it anyways, because I’m a completist. Hopefully #10 in the series is better.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Khan Nadir Shar, the ruler of a remote Asian city called Tanan, and a rich American woman named Joan Lyndell, who lives and operates a business in the same city, come to New York seeking the aid of Doc Savage against the Mystic Mullah, who appears as a floating green head and uses soul slaves (vaporous, deadly serpent type things) as weapons. It's not as silly as it sounds, and if you like pulp adventure, you'll find this very enjoyable.

[Tobin Elliott · Rating 2 out of 5]

Zoinks. Not one of the better ones by a long shot. Retitle this one, "Mystic Muddle"

Muddled plot. Less Doc Savage screen time. Tenuous info dump at the end that kinda sorta not really explains all the weirdness.

Another one that, I think, shows Lester Dent fatigue (co-written by Richard Sale, so I'm not sure which one to blame). There's far better ones out there.

[Sean Belt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love old pulp heroes. I've only in the last couple of years started reading the Doc Savage adventures. This is a good one. The action moves swiftly, the mystery of the Mullah's identity keeps one guessing and the book is just overall good fun.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bit darker than the first eight novels. Lots of archaic terms I had to look up. Doc Savages friends got captured (again) and he had to save them. The story was resolved on the last page.

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this Doc adventure in the 70s

[Mark Bates · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Doc does it again. Saves the world from the mystic orient.

[Devin Coryell · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 / 5

[Antony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this story

[Duane Olds · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was just OK, I finished it so I could say I did, but it was a chore. Not the most gripping installment I've read so far.
It might be because 'Mystic Mullah' kept making me think of a 90s rapper. "Yo! Here he is with his slammin' new single 'Man of Bronze' - its Mystic Mullah!" -

But this book did give us such literary gems as: "Coast guardsmen will go out in anything." (especially a tutu) and "He was a remarkable specimen of the porker race, this Habeas Corpus." (Now if that's not a cachphrase for a BBQ joint, I don't know what is) If that isn't an example of literary perfection then I don't know what is.

Oh well, on to the next one.

[Dennis · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mystery of green, poisonous phantom serpents and the eerie phantom Genghis Khan attempt to prevent Doc and his crew from opposing the corruption of far away Tanan. From death on the streets of New York City to the central Asian country of Tanan, Doc and his five men try to unravel the mysterious death that lurks in the dark.

[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!

[Jerry Kimbro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two mysterious strangers from the fabled Asian Kingdom of Tanan arrive in New York City, hunted by an army of assassins and their unearthly leader: the Mystic Mullah! Seeking Doc Savage's aid from this supernatural menace plunges all of Doc Savage's assistants into the fight of their lives on a fog bound Manhattan night from hell.

Can even the protean genius and uncanny abilities of Doc Savage deliver them all from evil and fight a spectral foe who claims to have never died and who can command an unbeatable army of green soul slaves?

It's action packed adventure in the finest tradition of the 1930s pulp magazines. Time has not dimmed this magnificent adventure of the man of bronze: Doc Savage.

[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.

[Jeff Chase · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read; mystic mullahs, green tendrils of death, and a stop for fuel in the Stalin-era pre-war Soviet Union. I don't know if "Kenneth Robeson" had ever been to the former Soviet Union, but he seemed to be friendly to the modernizing effect of the 5 Year Plan.

[Ed Wyrd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mysterious floating green "souls" that kill led by a disembodied green head called the Mystic Mullah. Two strangers, fearing for their lives, from the Asian city of Tanan seeking Doc Savage. If you can get past some of the time period's racist overtones, its another fine page turner.

[Rick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the first half, but thought the second half was just OK. Doc seemed slow to catch on to what was going on until near the end.

[Fraser Sherman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another of Doc's ghost-busting adventures as he battles a disembodied mystic with an army of deadly green ghost snakes that kill with a touch. Not one of the best of the series, but a solid entry.

[Dale Rosso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoy all Doc Savage books, especially the ones written by Lester Dent.

[Ronald · Rating 5 out of 5]

read in summer of 1966