175p 01/47 Target for Death

Posted by on Jan 1, 2007 in 1947, Bantam 169-180, bogart, degrouchy, larkin, novel, pulp, swenson | 2 comments

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When a seemingly innocent letter leaves a trail of dead bodies, Doc tracks the mysterious sender halfway round the world to stamp out a killer whose punishment is long overdue.


  • http://docsavage.org Chuck Welch

    This was a throw-off Doc. It’s been a couple of days and I remember many of the details, but little of the emotion of this novel.

    I’m not sure there was much. Sure, Pat had a bit part in Target for Death. She was booted quickly though and didn’t leave a mark. The “bad guy” was pedestrian, and the “mystery” wasn’t much of one.

    It didn’t stink. It just didn’t shine.

  • Thomas Fortenberry

    Agreed, Chuck.

    This book, one of the lesser post-war tales, was just phoned in. It is a weak little cold war tale. Apparently no one cared and it really showed.

    This is how little they cared. Patricia, whom the female lead of the story goes to for aid in the beginning, confides in her not to worry because one of Doc Savage’s associates is on the island with them, and then proceeds to call him HENRY Renwick. The only hope of excuse here is that they are using pseudonyms (this is not proferred) and thought “Henry” would be enough of a cover. Otherwise, this sloppiness is perhaps proof that this was a cleaned up piece of hack filler.

    There are a few things of mild interest to the diehard fans. Renny and Monk are both described in rather grandiose, powerhouse terms, more akin to the old days. Renny bearhugs immobile two hardcase thugs. Monk is described as built like a 500-pounds weight lifter. Later, in a definite sign of the times, Monks famous anger is now described as, “when he was mad he was an explosive atomic bomb. The bomb that was Monk’s right fist landed on the bruiser’s jaw and the big man landed on his back.”

    But, just like the thug, this story falls to the floor and fails to deliver.