Satan Black / Cargo Unknown by Kenneth Robeson




For a long time I've been reluctant to read some of the later Doc Savage books and this double novel which includes a story from late 1944 and early 1945 bears me out (not that I won't give others a shot, as a Doc fan I can't help myself). Both stories in this volume involved the war effort in some small way.

In Satan Black, Doc is sent to investigate what's holding up a line of oil pipe in Arkansas. The oil is needed to fuel the upcoming European invasion, but a Hatfield and McCoy style feud has started and one faction is sabotaging the pipeline which is owned by the other.

At first, I thought this would be a solo Doc adventure as he's alone for the first 40 pages or so (in a 107 page book). But then Doc completely disappears and Monk, Ham, and Renny take over till he reappears at the end. It wasn't hard to guess the mastermind behind the plan.

Sadly, it wasn't very interesting and it felt like a filler adventure. However, Unknown Cargo was far worse. So much of this story felt like someone rushing through their homework assignment on a Sunday night.

In this adventure, Renny, Monk and Ham have all finished working on projects in London and are looking forward to coming home. A member of the Admiralty talks them into taking a submarine back because of some unnamed reason that will be revealed later. They board the sub which makes its transatlantic journey without mishap until they're near the east coast. Then, members of the gang masquerading as crew, sabotage the sub. Renny barely makes it out, but Monk, Ham and the rest of the crew are trapped. Renny finds Doc and the rest of the book is about if they can rescue them before they run out of oxygen.

What's interesting about both of these books is that while the characters of Doc and his crew are more human, they're also more sadistic. At one point, Doc threatens Renny with his fist if he doesn't get over his grief of leaving Monk and Ham in the sub. Later, Renny physically tortures a member of the gang for information as Doc watches. Doc used to hypnotize people for info all the time, but I guess he forgot he could do that. But what really struck me is when Doc comes across a man stabbed by the gang and he tells someone to call for a doctor! Doc Savage is a world renowned surgeon! His nickname is "Doc"! He invested a brain surgery to cure criminals and performed a delicate eye surgery on Littlejohn. But he can't deal with a simple stab wound?!? A few moments later, Doc becomes angry with the summoned doctor for taking so long.

Without a doubt, these books are only for hardcore fans of Doc.



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