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Doc Savage (Bantam) #53
The Mental Wizard
The massive creature — a mile from head to toe! — sleeps in the steaming jungle. Is the behemoth real, or has the golden enchantress “Z” conquered the magnificent Man of Bronze with the hypnotic power of her superhuman mind? Doc Savage meets his mental match when he uncovers the strange lost kingdom of the deadly Amazon.
137 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1937
99 people want to read
About the author
Kenneth Robeson
917 books134 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 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 29, 2023
Oh great, another stupidly spelt sentences character. Yeah! (sarcasm)
Wow, racism against almost everyone abounds in this one.
OK, so the men are a mile high. Were they members of the mile high club? What? It's a serious question!!
We were given some good lines, like:-------------------
"Line up and wave your arms!" (it's time for the big dance number, just like we rehearsed....A 1 and a 2 and a....)
Amber O'Neel (what you get when you order the Ninja Turtles April O'Neil on Wish)
a kiwi being a bird with wings that can't fly. (Is anyone going to tell that to the produce section at the supermarket?)
The patriots were a scurvy-looking bunch. (And their scurvy was patriot-looking)
They would hold their breath when she went by. (Because she was a mermaid and they were under water)
"And I hope you find what I found, and what a lot of others have found!" (So U2 Did finally find what they were looking for! Good on them!)
"Rush her!" O'Neel yelled. (Make her listen to Moving Pictures or 2112, those are their best)
which he could handle dexterously with either hand. (We get it, he can use either hand! You spent 2 pages earlier explaining it, move on man!)
His eyes were mad and his words madder (Plus he was pissed off so that didn't help his situation any)
They looked efficient. And they were efficient. (Well good, glad we got that settled)
"What was in the book?" (Another thrilling Doc Savage adventure no doubt)
"Did she make a move?" (Do I wish!)
"You mean to tell me this girl is some kind of--of mental wizard?" (That would be a great name for a book!)
"A name," she said. "In our language, it is a sign. In yours, it could be spelled out. Zuee. Uhsee. Zee. Make it simple. Z." (Wow, she starts finally starts talking and decides to give a vocabulary lesson)
A JUNGLE AND FOUR Planes (*announcer voice* Can all be yours if the price is right!)
chimpanzee, orangutan, ape, stunted gorilla, nobody knew which. (because nobody cared)
THE golden-haired girl could not read a map. (But she did see the movie so it was kind of the same thing)
"You're the doggonedest combination of absolute genius and abysmal ignorance that I ever saw!" (Thanks?)
It had a fantastic ringing quality. (You mean like a bell? Duh!)
"Then we will not waste time here!" (Even though we've been standing here for God knows how long explaining the plot to each other out loud when we both know what's going on)
The guard was sleepy, and he had perfected, it appeared, a method of half dozing while still on his feet. (I hear you man, I'm like that at work too)
And we also given a few (insert your own joke here) lines:-------------------
he sprang erect and cursed.
THERE was obviously a great deal of skill in the bronze man's muscular fingers.
Hutton drew himself stiffly erect.
He had darkened his face with a nut dye.
"What kind of ideas?" Long Tom asked. "Queer ones," Doc told him.
"Every time I move, something sticks me!"
"The big pussy got in and swam either up or down the stream,"
And for those who care, our Superamalgamated count was 10, right behind Holy cow which came in at 15.
Oh well, on to the next one.....
Wow, racism against almost everyone abounds in this one.
OK, so the men are a mile high. Were they members of the mile high club? What? It's a serious question!!
We were given some good lines, like:-------------------
"Line up and wave your arms!" (it's time for the big dance number, just like we rehearsed....A 1 and a 2 and a....)
Amber O'Neel (what you get when you order the Ninja Turtles April O'Neil on Wish)
a kiwi being a bird with wings that can't fly. (Is anyone going to tell that to the produce section at the supermarket?)
The patriots were a scurvy-looking bunch. (And their scurvy was patriot-looking)
They would hold their breath when she went by. (Because she was a mermaid and they were under water)
"And I hope you find what I found, and what a lot of others have found!" (So U2 Did finally find what they were looking for! Good on them!)
"Rush her!" O'Neel yelled. (Make her listen to Moving Pictures or 2112, those are their best)
which he could handle dexterously with either hand. (We get it, he can use either hand! You spent 2 pages earlier explaining it, move on man!)
His eyes were mad and his words madder (Plus he was pissed off so that didn't help his situation any)
They looked efficient. And they were efficient. (Well good, glad we got that settled)
"What was in the book?" (Another thrilling Doc Savage adventure no doubt)
"Did she make a move?" (Do I wish!)
"You mean to tell me this girl is some kind of--of mental wizard?" (That would be a great name for a book!)
"A name," she said. "In our language, it is a sign. In yours, it could be spelled out. Zuee. Uhsee. Zee. Make it simple. Z." (Wow, she starts finally starts talking and decides to give a vocabulary lesson)
A JUNGLE AND FOUR Planes (*announcer voice* Can all be yours if the price is right!)
chimpanzee, orangutan, ape, stunted gorilla, nobody knew which. (because nobody cared)
THE golden-haired girl could not read a map. (But she did see the movie so it was kind of the same thing)
"You're the doggonedest combination of absolute genius and abysmal ignorance that I ever saw!" (Thanks?)
It had a fantastic ringing quality. (You mean like a bell? Duh!)
"Then we will not waste time here!" (Even though we've been standing here for God knows how long explaining the plot to each other out loud when we both know what's going on)
The guard was sleepy, and he had perfected, it appeared, a method of half dozing while still on his feet. (I hear you man, I'm like that at work too)
And we also given a few (insert your own joke here) lines:-------------------
he sprang erect and cursed.
THERE was obviously a great deal of skill in the bronze man's muscular fingers.
Hutton drew himself stiffly erect.
He had darkened his face with a nut dye.
"What kind of ideas?" Long Tom asked. "Queer ones," Doc told him.
"Every time I move, something sticks me!"
"The big pussy got in and swam either up or down the stream,"
And for those who care, our Superamalgamated count was 10, right behind Holy cow which came in at 15.
Oh well, on to the next one.....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2024
This story was previewed in The Derrick Devil, and as usual, Lester gets right into the action … but without Doc, as he doesn’t make his entrance into The Mental Wizard until Chapter III.
The story begins in the jungle of Columbia with the introduction of the story’s villain, Amber O'Neil, aka El Liberator. He is wanted by the Columbian authorities for leading a revolt against that country’s government; he is also a criminal in every sense of the word. He is on the run when he and his followers see a plane overhead. The pilot makes an emergency landing in a small clearing, thus destroying his plane. He has a most unusual female passenger, who is wearing a costume made of pure gold and possesses strange hypnotic powers. O’Neil pursues the pilot and orders his men to capture the girl; after a few minutes, he discovers the pilot's diary of which he kept for ten years. After reading the diary, O’Neil learns the pilot is a famous aviator who was lost in the jungle about ten years ago; as a result, his plans have now changed, but he and his rebel followers continue to pursue the pilot who is desperately trying to make it to civilization and initiate a request for Doc’s help. Doc is already in close proximity as he is in the disguise of an American tourist; he and his crew were on vacation. The pilot learns Doc is close at hand and delivered his message. Another murder was soon committed; with this revolting development, Doc’s and his crew's vacation has just ended.
The now former vacationers were soon on their way in a Columbian military airplane to where the girl, who is the mental wizard, and was rescued by Doc and his crew, is leading them to the place deep in the Columbian jungle where she lives. She forced the plane into a crash as Doc was attempting to land; obviously, she wanted the location of her home to remain a secret … and there is another secret that she desperately wanted to protect. They eventually make it to her home where Doc and the guys discover the mystery behind the mental wizard’s powers. With the mystery of the mental wizard eventually solved, Amber O'Neil and his men, with his new cohort, Aug, and his rebel force, are soon destroyed as they try to obtain the secret of the mental wizard … and with it the immense power they would possess with its acquisition. After Doc solves a final “problem,” he and his crew repair their plane and bid farewell to these strange inhabitants of the Columbian jungle.
The Mental Wizard is an example of a “lost civilization” story that was prevalent in the early part of the twentieth century, which were quite popular as part of the science fiction genre. Obviously, Doc and his crew were not allowed to escape from being participants in their version of yet another “lost civilization” story as these stories were “money makers.” Doc’s remarkable individualism is on display in The Mental Wizard as the man of bronze not only thwarts a political uprising in a South American country, he and his guys solve the mystery of the mental wizard and the lost civilization, which they inadvertently discovered, deep within the Columbian jungle. *****
The story begins in the jungle of Columbia with the introduction of the story’s villain, Amber O'Neil, aka El Liberator. He is wanted by the Columbian authorities for leading a revolt against that country’s government; he is also a criminal in every sense of the word. He is on the run when he and his followers see a plane overhead. The pilot makes an emergency landing in a small clearing, thus destroying his plane. He has a most unusual female passenger, who is wearing a costume made of pure gold and possesses strange hypnotic powers. O’Neil pursues the pilot and orders his men to capture the girl; after a few minutes, he discovers the pilot's diary of which he kept for ten years. After reading the diary, O’Neil learns the pilot is a famous aviator who was lost in the jungle about ten years ago; as a result, his plans have now changed, but he and his rebel followers continue to pursue the pilot who is desperately trying to make it to civilization and initiate a request for Doc’s help. Doc is already in close proximity as he is in the disguise of an American tourist; he and his crew were on vacation. The pilot learns Doc is close at hand and delivered his message. Another murder was soon committed; with this revolting development, Doc’s and his crew's vacation has just ended.
The now former vacationers were soon on their way in a Columbian military airplane to where the girl, who is the mental wizard, and was rescued by Doc and his crew, is leading them to the place deep in the Columbian jungle where she lives. She forced the plane into a crash as Doc was attempting to land; obviously, she wanted the location of her home to remain a secret … and there is another secret that she desperately wanted to protect. They eventually make it to her home where Doc and the guys discover the mystery behind the mental wizard’s powers. With the mystery of the mental wizard eventually solved, Amber O'Neil and his men, with his new cohort, Aug, and his rebel force, are soon destroyed as they try to obtain the secret of the mental wizard … and with it the immense power they would possess with its acquisition. After Doc solves a final “problem,” he and his crew repair their plane and bid farewell to these strange inhabitants of the Columbian jungle.
The Mental Wizard is an example of a “lost civilization” story that was prevalent in the early part of the twentieth century, which were quite popular as part of the science fiction genre. Obviously, Doc and his crew were not allowed to escape from being participants in their version of yet another “lost civilization” story as these stories were “money makers.” Doc’s remarkable individualism is on display in The Mental Wizard as the man of bronze not only thwarts a political uprising in a South American country, he and his guys solve the mystery of the mental wizard and the lost civilization, which they inadvertently discovered, deep within the Columbian jungle. *****
February 2, 2019
Really strong start kind of runs out of steam at the 3/4 mark and then stumbles to the end.
Great action scenes, lots of good characterization of the famous 5, an intriguing premise and a solid supporting cast.
There are no bad Doc Savage stories, but this one is only good, when it has the potential to be great.
Great action scenes, lots of good characterization of the famous 5, an intriguing premise and a solid supporting cast.
There are no bad Doc Savage stories, but this one is only good, when it has the potential to be great.
July 12, 2020
Had not read this book in years, and there were a few scenes I'd forgotten.
Beyond the McGuffin embodied by the femme fatale Z, there aren't enough things happening in the climax to merit more than three stars. The story primarily stands out for how much Z breaks through Doc's "no women allowed" attitude.
Beyond the McGuffin embodied by the femme fatale Z, there aren't enough things happening in the climax to merit more than three stars. The story primarily stands out for how much Z breaks through Doc's "no women allowed" attitude.
October 11, 2017
Good Doc adventure.
November 3, 2022
This adventure starts and concludes in the jungles of Columbia. The action drives Doc and his men from the landing at Cartegena through the hot and steamy Colombian jungles.
All of Doc’s men are with Doc for this mystery. Pat gets a passing mention. Twice in fact. Uniquely, this book begins with a prologue.
The author of this one is Lester Dent and published March 1937.
All of Doc’s men are with Doc for this mystery. Pat gets a passing mention. Twice in fact. Uniquely, this book begins with a prologue.
The author of this one is Lester Dent and published March 1937.
June 30, 2025
A pulp novel featuring Doc Savage. Discovery of a lost civilization.
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!
February 26, 2016
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.
April 23, 2015
3.5 stars. The last third feels like it's going through the motions, but Z is one of the most memorable women to appear in this series, a super-genius with mind control and illusion powers. Coupled with the lively action in the first two-thirds, that makes this a fun read.
May 24, 2016
read some time in 1988
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews