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Doc Savage (Bantam) #64
The Motion Menace
The Man of Bronze and his cousin, Pat, face an inordinate challenge: a machine that makes all modern weapons worthless. A gang of international thieves in control of the invention are shooting high: World Control.
123 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 1938
103 people want to read
About the author
Kenneth Robeson
923 books135 followersKenneth 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 29, 2019
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.
August 22, 2011
Bantam reprint from the May, 1938 issue of doc Savage Magazine. This one was written by Ryerson Johnson instead of Lester Dent.
A group known as the Elders have a machine that can stop anything instantly: cars, bullets, thrown things. If a living being gets caught in the field, it stops all organ functions.
Doc, Monk, Ham, Long Tom, and Pat have to find out the identity of the leader, known only as His Highness, and stop his plan. Whatever it might be. He seems to have no compunction about killing anyone who gets in his way.
A group known as the Elders have a machine that can stop anything instantly: cars, bullets, thrown things. If a living being gets caught in the field, it stops all organ functions.
Doc, Monk, Ham, Long Tom, and Pat have to find out the identity of the leader, known only as His Highness, and stop his plan. Whatever it might be. He seems to have no compunction about killing anyone who gets in his way.
May 18, 2021
What I love about the Doc Savage books are how they combine so many special skills and superpowers that we will see in later characters. From Spock's Vulcan grip to MacGyver ability to build anything he needs, when he needs it. You have super human strength like a Superhero, gadgets galore like Batman, and Ironman's mind. The writing is fun, the story moves very fast and the bad guys are easily spotted. If you have not read any Doc Savage, I recommend giving one a try. They may not be for everyone, but it does give you a look back into the 1930s and stereotypes then.
December 20, 2022
A fairly thrilling story. A machine has been developed that stops the motion of things, from planes to people and bees. No one knows what it is. No one knows who is behind this device.
Once again this is a who is the mystery king pin Gillian that populate many a Doc Savage caper. It is getting old. The same with the pets being brought along on the adventure.
Pat is captured in Shanghai at the beginning of the story, then disappears until near the last few chapters. Doc is accompanied by Monk, Ham and Long Tom. Renny and Johnny are out of the country on work related duties.
This was published May 1938 and authored by W. Ryder’s on Johnson and Lester Dent.
Once again this is a who is the mystery king pin Gillian that populate many a Doc Savage caper. It is getting old. The same with the pets being brought along on the adventure.
Pat is captured in Shanghai at the beginning of the story, then disappears until near the last few chapters. Doc is accompanied by Monk, Ham and Long Tom. Renny and Johnny are out of the country on work related duties.
This was published May 1938 and authored by W. Ryder’s on Johnson and Lester Dent.
November 27, 2020
Fun and breezy.
The bad guys are odd and eccentric, the Motion Menace is suitably sci-fi, the dialogue is snappy and well written and Pat Savage shows up and is cool and undamsally, even when she is treated like a damsel.
The reveal of the mystery bad guy was blah and unnnesicary, but otherwise a fun read.
The bad guys are odd and eccentric, the Motion Menace is suitably sci-fi, the dialogue is snappy and well written and Pat Savage shows up and is cool and undamsally, even when she is treated like a damsel.
The reveal of the mystery bad guy was blah and unnnesicary, but otherwise a fun read.
May 28, 2018
5 for nostalgia! An uneven story with a rather annoying character with a poorly scripted Swedish accent. Confusing at times. Still fun though.
August 13, 2025
A Doc Savage adventure with enough twists and turns to keep you constantly guessing, this book was another fun installment in the series! Lots of interesting characters and lots of fun!
October 3, 2015
A strong concept wins out in "The Motion Menace," a Doc Savage novel from May 1938.
This "Kenneth Robeson" tale, written by Ryerson Johnson with help from Lester Dent, has a great premise: Some device (or some thing) causes motion to cease, stopping cars as if they have hit an invisible wall, halting bullets in midair, the projectiles falling very slowly to the ground. This weapon, if it be, also stops sound. Great idea, OK execution.
The incidents in which Doc Savage and his aides (Johnny and Renny are absent from this one) encounter the force are pretty great. One would hope for a sensational conclusion from this buildup, but truthfully, the climax is pretty weak. Likewise, the potentially intriguing Elders — white-bearded gents who seem to be at the core of this mystery — don't really come to much.
Two factors help rescue the tale from mediocrity. Doc's lovely cousin Pat Savage is in this one; in fact, the kidnapping of Pat in Shanghai gets "The Motion Menace" off and running. Also, a dirigible appears, always a fun mode of transportation in a Doc Savage adventure. The gasbags wouldn't appear much later than this tale, which was published a year after the Hindenburg disaster ... in fact, this dirigible takes off from Lakehurst, N.J.
In addition, we get a look at Monk's penthouse abode and Long Tom's tucked-away laboratory, rare peeks into the private lives of the aides.
The plot gallops along decently. There are a few unlikely turns, but nothing like some of the howlers auxiliary Kenneth Robesons such as Harold Davis or Laurence Donovan would concoct.
Not as much use is made of the Manchurian locale, site of this one's wind-up, as should be. And overall it's a decent Doc Savage tale and not an exceptional one, despite the great central idea.
This "Kenneth Robeson" tale, written by Ryerson Johnson with help from Lester Dent, has a great premise: Some device (or some thing) causes motion to cease, stopping cars as if they have hit an invisible wall, halting bullets in midair, the projectiles falling very slowly to the ground. This weapon, if it be, also stops sound. Great idea, OK execution.
The incidents in which Doc Savage and his aides (Johnny and Renny are absent from this one) encounter the force are pretty great. One would hope for a sensational conclusion from this buildup, but truthfully, the climax is pretty weak. Likewise, the potentially intriguing Elders — white-bearded gents who seem to be at the core of this mystery — don't really come to much.
Two factors help rescue the tale from mediocrity. Doc's lovely cousin Pat Savage is in this one; in fact, the kidnapping of Pat in Shanghai gets "The Motion Menace" off and running. Also, a dirigible appears, always a fun mode of transportation in a Doc Savage adventure. The gasbags wouldn't appear much later than this tale, which was published a year after the Hindenburg disaster ... in fact, this dirigible takes off from Lakehurst, N.J.
In addition, we get a look at Monk's penthouse abode and Long Tom's tucked-away laboratory, rare peeks into the private lives of the aides.
The plot gallops along decently. There are a few unlikely turns, but nothing like some of the howlers auxiliary Kenneth Robesons such as Harold Davis or Laurence Donovan would concoct.
Not as much use is made of the Manchurian locale, site of this one's wind-up, as should be. And overall it's a decent Doc Savage tale and not an exceptional one, despite the great central idea.
October 15, 2016
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!
November 9, 2008
As a guilty pleasure, I am on a very occasional basis reading (in some cases re-reading some 30+ years later) the DOC SAVAGE series, out of order and fairly randomly. These were my favorite books when I was a young teenager; there are 182 books in the series, so this project will take me some time. I grabbed THE MOTION MENACE to take along on a business trip to China, since much of the book is set in that country. This one is a solid adventure, though not one of the best. It's marred by some clunkiness (part of the story was farmed out by normal writer Lester Dent to W. Ryerson Johnson--a capable crime writer, but this is a case of one too many cooks in the kitchen, working under tight deadline) as well as an annoying gadget-ex-machina at the end. But the premise was nifty and the main characters were in good form.
December 2, 2015
Attempting to kill Pat Savage a mysterious force stops a plane in mid-air. Later it freeze Doc in place for all his strength, almost kills Habeas, stops cars and engines ... it's a simple gimmick as it turns out, but effectively used for a lively, action-packed series entry. Though some details, like the villains' weird disguises, are never effectively explained.
June 21, 2012
This one also goes in my top ten favorite Doc adventures.
August 1, 2016
One of many Doc Savage adventures that I read in the 70s. Always enjoyed these!
September 19, 2016
read between summer 1970 & summer 1974
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews