Doc Savage Org Logo
 

features   Featuring   features Pulp   Pulps   Pulp Bantam   Bantam   Bantam Authors   Authors   Authors Editors   Editors   Editors Illustrators   Illus.   Illustrators Links   The Fans   Links Comments   144   Comments search
 
« 143g 05/47 No Light to Die By - | - 145g 09/47 Let's Kill Ames »

column 144g 07/47 The Monkey Suit column
 

4707.jpg


Why are people being murdered for a rented, moth-eaten ape costume? Doc and his crew battle to unmask the deadly mystery -- and to keep a billion-dollar scientific breakthrough out of the hands of gangland gorillas.




Categories:

1947 - 1947
b133 - b133
larkin - larkin
novel - novel
pulp - pulp
rosmond - rosmond
swenson - swenson
   
   
column Comments  column
 

omni05.jpg


Note: Comments may contain spoilers.

Bryan Bullock

Kind of a silly one. The whole point of the mcguffin, the monkey suit of the title, is amusing, since its all a big... well, I won't give it away. Suffice to say, I'm a little surprised Doc didn't bust some heads after this one. Another one told in first person, and the narrator is REALLY annoying.

- | - July 22, 2003 06:47 PM

Thomas Fortenberry

This book is another of the "first-person" experiments that were gathered together in Omnibus #5. However, unlike the common-man-and-physical narrator of _No Light to Die By_ the prtotagonist here, Sammy Wales, is a remarkably unlikeable character. He is a repellant, whiny, anti-action, snob of a human. One must suppose that he is a direct opposite of the No Light narrator on purpose, and the fact that he is so fully aggravating shows that Dent was once again exploring his literary gifts seeing how far and how differently he could report a Doc Savage tale.

The story is not interesting but there are a few moments of interest when the narrator dismisses or fails to grasp what Doc is doing. In fact at times he thinks Doc is a failure accomplishing nothing, only to be proven wrong when it comes to light Doc has been active behind the scenes. Also some of the descriptions of Monk and Doc, their methods, and their devices -- told from this outside and disdainful view -- are kind of cool. Especially since we are the insiders on this story and can have a laugh at Sammy's expense.

At best we can say this is an alternate-styled Doc, an experiment in fiction. But _No Light_ was a better version of this experiment. It is not, by any means, of much value as a Doc adventure.

- | - December 9, 2005 04:31 AM

Thomas Fortenberry

A note of correction. I mistakenly switched the names of the two narrators as I was writing this review. The narrator of this book, who is so completely annoying, is Henry A. E. Jones. The narrator of _No Light to Die By_ is Sammy Wales. You might notice that after I mentioned _No Light_ in this review I kept saying Sammy when I meant Henry.

That is what happens when you do a double review and don't pay attention. Sorry about that.

- | - December 17, 2005 10:10 AM


   
   

editors Post a Comment editors
 
Name:


Email Address:


URL:


Comments:


Note: Your email and URL will not be published.





Keep Info?



Please note: DocSavage.Org will never republish any comments for profit. We retain the right to edit or delete any comments. We also retain the right to reformat this site and any comments. By submitting your comment you agree to these conditions.

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
   
   

Design adapted by: Chuck Welch and powered by Moveable Type
Send comments to: ds AT this domain

Patience and beauty by Catherine Lavallée-Welch

Thanks to Duane Spurlock at the Pulp Rack and Steve Sherman for their Bronzetoe help and inspiration.

Thanks to Chris Kalb and the 86th Floor for help and inspiration.

Doc Savage Org is a member of the Doc Savage Webring
<< Prev | Next >> | [ Random | Ring Hub | Join Us! ]


This page last updated at December 17, 2005 06:50 PM.

All copyrighted characters, names, and art depicted on this site are copyrighted by their various respective owners.

Doc Savage is (c) by Conde Nast
Bantam Scans donated by David Schneider.

DocSavage.Org is (c) 2004 by Chuck Welch Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.