Writing Style

Doc Savage adventures are a prime example of the "Pulp" style of writing popular back in the 1930's and 40's. Called "Pulp" because they were printed on cheap pulp-based paper and pumped out as fast as they could, nobody expected great literature. But what people demanded was action and excitement, and Doc delivered. Kenneth Robeson (Lester Dent) was a master at the twisty plot and fast paced writing. Below I have put a couple of examples to show.

Samples showing the writing style

A scene from "The Polar Treasure"

Suddenly Victor Vail, in the outer office, emitted a piercing howl. A shot exploded deafeningly. Men cursed. Blows smashed. Doc's bronze form flashed through the laboratory door. Across the library he sped. From the library door, a Tommy gun spewed lead almost into his face.

Doc had charged forward, expecting to meet danger. So he was alert. Twisting aside, he evaded the first torrent of bullets. But nothing in the library offered shelter. He doubled back. His speed was blinding. His bronze figure snapped into the laboratory before the wielder of the machine gun could correct his aim. The gunman swore loudly. He dashed across the book filled room. Deadly weapon ready, he sprang into the laboratory. Murderous purpose was on his pinched face. His eyes roved the lab. His jaw sagged. There was no bronze man in the lab!

To a window, the gunner leaped. He flung it up, looked out. No one was in sight. The white wall of the skyscraper lacked little of being as smooth as glass. Nobody could pull a human-fly stunt on that expanse. No rope was visible, above or below. The gunman drew back. He panted. His pinched face threatened to rival in color the white shirt he wore. The bronze giant had vanished!

Fearfully, the gunman sidled around on the polished bricks of the laboratory floor. Two half circles of these bricks suddenly whipped upward. They were not unlike a monster beartrap. The gunman was caught. His rapid-firer cackled a brief instant. Then pain made him drop the weapon. Madly, he tore at the awful thing which held him. It defied him. The bricks which had arisen were actually of hard steel, merely painted to resemble masonry.

Before the would-be killer's pain-blurred eyes, a section of the laboratory wall opened soundlessly. The mighty bronze man stepped out of the recess it had concealed. The giant, metallic form apprached, taking up a position before the captive.

"Lemme out of dis t'ing!" whined the gunman. "It's bustin' me ribs!"

A scene from "The Thousand Headed Man"

The bullet, striking bushes to one side of Doc Savage, made a noise not unlike a violent kiss. The bronze man doused his light, swinging it to the left an instant before he did so to give the impression he had jumped in that direction. Instead he sprang to the right.

There was another shot, flame from the girl's gun, spraying pale red through the fog. The bullet went into the ground somewhere; then the girl ran for the house.

Doc Savage, pursuing, had to circle shrubbery. That delayed him slightly. Doc Savage reached the rear door of No. 90, tried the knob, and found the panel unlocked. In opening it, he stood far to one side to be out of the line of lead. Hinges complained, mouselike, as he propelled the door open.

The interior of the house was dark; faint cooking odors permeated the air. Doc detected no trace of the perfume the girl was using. He listened intently, from somewhere in the front of the house came the shuffle of footsteps. The front door opened and closed and feet rattled.

The bronze man put on speed, battered a living-room chair out of his path - and stumbled over something on the floor. The stark nature of the object jerked him to a halt. Light jumped from his flash.

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