Doc Savage: Skull Island (Action/Adventure)
By Will Murray
ISBN #978-1618271136
410 Pages
Price $24.95
Rating 5-Stars
In Skull Island, the new adventure of Doc Savage by Will Murray,
the story opens as Doc returns from his Fortress of Solitude to find King Kong
dead at the base of the Empire State Building. His aides are excited about the
big ape, but Doc says, “I know this creature.” And after his team removes the
huge body at the request of the mayor, Doc begins telling them the story that
took him to Skull Island.
Beginning right after Doc and his friends are released from the
Army following WWI, young Clark Savage is contacted by his father, Clark,
Senior, and they embark on an emergency mission to find the abandoned ship
floating without crew that belonged to Doc’s grandfather, Stormalong Savage.
Whether intentional or not, the story is written in the formula of the 1920’s
action novels, reminding me of the great old H. Rider Haggard African romance
novels of the period, in which the reader is treated to a long journey of
discovery and adventure. The huge tome is actually in three parts: book one The
Orion, tells of their travel by sea, and numerous encounters with danger. Book
two Skull Mountain Island, finds them on the jungle island of a land that time
forgot where they find Doc’s marooned grandfather, Stormalong Savage, with
prehistoric beasts and more danger. Book three Kong, brings in the mighty lord
of the island. Throughout the narrative, Doc, Clark Senior, and even old Stormalong,
have been constantly harassed by Dyak pirates who are seeking heads as
trophies. They are on the island for the greatest of all trophies, the head of
King Kong.
This is the story long awaited by fans of Doc Savage. We meet
Doc’s father, his grandfather, and even read about his uncle, the father of Pat
Savage. A lot of detail goes into Doc’s childhood, revealing much of the
mystery surrounding his mother and adventurous family, and possible reasons for
his early training to become a superman. To be honest, I don’t think anyone but
Will Murray could have told this story; at least I’m glad he’s the one who
penned the huge volume. There will undoubtedly be naysayers, and years of
debate whether or not Skull Island is a masterpiece in pulp fiction, but for me
this novel stands along side the best of the long series of Doc Savage
adventures. And let’s not forget the addition of Kong, lord of Skull Island!
Thanks for the kind words, Tom!
ReplyDeleteAltus Press & Will Murray continue doing an outstanding job with The Wild Adventures of Doc Savage!
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