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Doc Savage (publication order; no omnibus) #129
The Secret of the Su
The Nazis have offered three million dollars for the ancient treasure-and the insidious Dr. Light is eager to betray his country to feed his lust for power. Doc Savage and his amazing crew race toward the devastating secret buried in the Everglades. Deep in the jungle, they must battle a race of warriors from the lost continent of Atlantis-with the fate of the civilized world at stake!
150 pages, Paperback
About the author
Kenneth Robeson
929 books139 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 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 4, 2026
A Truly Unexpected Doc Savage Super-Saga!
I've been reading the remaining Doc Savage novels in my TBR pile in publication order. I've been struggling through the WWII years, as each adventure seems rushed and unexciting, making me long for the 1930s stories.
Then along comes the Secret of the Su, and I am pleasantly surprised. While it doesn't compare to previously published lost-civilization stories like The Phantom City, OST, or Land of Always Night, for a 1940s tale, it was great!
The fact that it was published in 1943 meant that we had to have Nazi bad guys in it, but it made sense, and they didn't overdo the whole 'Heil Hitler' thing like the previous story.
The action is good, the pacing excellent, and Doc, while not the superman of bygone years, is effective and hypercompetent. This story also features the entire crew, including Pat. Additionally, Monk and Ham didn't hog every scene, giving room for Renny, Long Tom, Johnny, and even Pat to shine.
Speaking of Renny, the poor guy is tortured by the Nazis, having sharpened wooden matchsticks shoved under his fingernails. He endures it, but once that scene moves on, no mention of it occurs.
All in all, a very good story that I enjoyed.
I've been reading the remaining Doc Savage novels in my TBR pile in publication order. I've been struggling through the WWII years, as each adventure seems rushed and unexciting, making me long for the 1930s stories.
Then along comes the Secret of the Su, and I am pleasantly surprised. While it doesn't compare to previously published lost-civilization stories like The Phantom City, OST, or Land of Always Night, for a 1940s tale, it was great!
The fact that it was published in 1943 meant that we had to have Nazi bad guys in it, but it made sense, and they didn't overdo the whole 'Heil Hitler' thing like the previous story.
The action is good, the pacing excellent, and Doc, while not the superman of bygone years, is effective and hypercompetent. This story also features the entire crew, including Pat. Additionally, Monk and Ham didn't hog every scene, giving room for Renny, Long Tom, Johnny, and even Pat to shine.
Speaking of Renny, the poor guy is tortured by the Nazis, having sharpened wooden matchsticks shoved under his fingernails. He endures it, but once that scene moves on, no mention of it occurs.
All in all, a very good story that I enjoyed.
October 9, 2018
This is a fun one involving Doc and his team racing the Nazis into the Everglades for the eponymous McGuffin. What is it? Why is it worth $3 million? Who are ... the Su? After all the buildup, the McGuffin is pretty tame for something one character compares to the legend of Atlantis. And one man having a faithful Indian companion doesn't age well.
July 3, 2025
A pulp novel featuring Doc Savage. Set in the everglades of Florida.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews