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Doc Savage (Bantam) #69
The Mystery on the Snow
In one of his most important adventures, the Man of Bronze journeys north to Canada, and in her magnificent wilderness solves a billion-dollar riddle: Who or What has committed murder — and worse! — to possess the secret of the miracle called Benlanium?
149 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 1934
6 people are currently reading
118 people want to read
About the author
Kenneth Robeson
915 books134 followersKenneth Robeson was the house name used by Street and Smith Publications as the author of their popular character Doc Savage and later The Avenger. Though most Doc Savage stories were written by the author Lester Dent, there were many others who contributed to the series, including:
William G. Bogart
Evelyn Coulson
Harold A. Davis
Lawrence Donovan
Alan Hathway
W. Ryerson Johnson
Lester Dent is usually considered to be the creator of Doc Savage. In the 1990s Philip José Farmer wrote a new Doc Savage adventure, but it was published under his own name and not by Robeson. Will Murray has since taken up the pseudonym and continued writing Doc Savage books as Robeson.
All 24 of the original stories featuring The Avenger were written by Paul Ernst, using the Robeson house name. In order to encourage sales Kenneth Robeson was credited on the cover of The Avenger magazine as "the creator of Doc Savage" even though Lester Dent had nothing to do with The Avenger series. In the 1970s, when the series was extended with 12 additional novels, Ron Goulart was hired to become Robeson.
William G. Bogart
Evelyn Coulson
Harold A. Davis
Lawrence Donovan
Alan Hathway
W. Ryerson Johnson
Lester Dent is usually considered to be the creator of Doc Savage. In the 1990s Philip José Farmer wrote a new Doc Savage adventure, but it was published under his own name and not by Robeson. Will Murray has since taken up the pseudonym and continued writing Doc Savage books as Robeson.
All 24 of the original stories featuring The Avenger were written by Paul Ernst, using the Robeson house name. In order to encourage sales Kenneth Robeson was credited on the cover of The Avenger magazine as "the creator of Doc Savage" even though Lester Dent had nothing to do with The Avenger series. In the 1970s, when the series was extended with 12 additional novels, Ron Goulart was hired to become Robeson.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 16, 2021
Let me explain:
When I read a pulp, I don't expect literature. I hold the writing to a different standard. Everyone approaches reading differently. I try and have different lenses for different genres. I do the same with film.
That's why I'm giving this four stars. It is a good example of what makes pulp wonderful. We have well defined heroes and villains, some impossible situations, and an invisible monster that kept me guessing until the reveal. What more could you want.
If you wrote a book about Indiana Jones, this is the template for how to handle the action and plot. Silly? Sure. Serve me up a big dollop.
I'm waiting for Hollywood to take Doc Savage and find a way to turn his books into film. It will take someone who can find a way to keep the tension while giving us the tropes and stereotypes that are part of this genre. I'm talking to you, Marvel. Doc Savage is a comic book hero and needs film producer who understands comics.
When I read a pulp, I don't expect literature. I hold the writing to a different standard. Everyone approaches reading differently. I try and have different lenses for different genres. I do the same with film.
That's why I'm giving this four stars. It is a good example of what makes pulp wonderful. We have well defined heroes and villains, some impossible situations, and an invisible monster that kept me guessing until the reveal. What more could you want.
If you wrote a book about Indiana Jones, this is the template for how to handle the action and plot. Silly? Sure. Serve me up a big dollop.
I'm waiting for Hollywood to take Doc Savage and find a way to turn his books into film. It will take someone who can find a way to keep the tension while giving us the tropes and stereotypes that are part of this genre. I'm talking to you, Marvel. Doc Savage is a comic book hero and needs film producer who understands comics.
May 30, 2024
Before I started reading, the first thing that came to mind was, "Man I hope some characters in this have terrible accents that will make it hard to read much less understand" and BOOM! The DOC Savage gods delivered!
I have never seen Ben Lane a person referred to Ben Lane by his full name so many Ben Lane times in a row Ben Lane
IT supplied us with literary gems such as:---------------
Chapter I. THE Beginning (No, that's a terrible place to start)
He was handed an envelope, stuffed full with paper. (The Columbia record club wasn't playing around)
DOC SAVAGE ON MYSTERY MISSION GOES TO ARABIA BY SUBMARINE (Doesn't seem like much of a mystery if they know how he's going and where)
"I like worthy foes!" (And I like pork chops but you don't see me yelling about it)
"Get zem up!" (My zem is going to stay right where it is thank you very much.)
"All right," he said into the microphone. (Ladies and gentlemen, Mambo #5)
"The fellows who just attacked us here at the hangar, seem to be natives of northern Canada," (They're covered in maple syrup, smell like bacon and keep apologizing for trying to kill us)
Like black cotton, darkness crammed these. (Yeah... Wait, what?)
"Back!" Stroam ordered hurriedly. "No one sees my face." (until I've had my morning coffee)
"Long Island is a big place--more'n a hundred miles long," Monk muttered. (Almost like an island!)
He had his overcoat turned up, his hat yanked down, and a muffler up around his nose. (And a carbarator up his butt)
"I found a mystery on the snow," Doc told him. "A profound mystery." (And a hell of a great name for a book)
And there was no sign of Doc's body. (That beautiful burly bronze body of his)
"Brothers, this is the original icebox," he chattered. (Accept no substitutes, ask for the Original Icebox by name!)
This metal I have called benlanium. (Because Lady Gaga was already taken)
"How'd you get up here?" "By plane, of course." (Like duh)
She hit him in the eye, on the nose. (so where did she hit him, in the eye or on the nose?)
"Argon, krypton, oxide of hydrogen, xenon, carbon dioxide," (Aren't those the names of the Spice Girls or the dudes from Lord of the Rings?)
"The gas bag!" Doc replied. (Hey! Leave my Mother-in-law out of this!)
The rifle in the other cabin was rapping steadily. (It was having a rap-off against Eminem)
IT also gave us our usual "insert your own joke here" lines, like:---------------
"Because, if you keep on riding me, you're going to come to a sudden end,"
"You'd look all dressed up with nothing on at all,"
Ham bounded erect.
"Boy, does my conk ache!"
"Oh!" the girl ejaculated.
"I'll peel your clothes off and run you down this river in your underwear, you shyster."
"Want to peg this at him?"
For those who were wondering, here's our word count this time around:
Holy Cow 8
Supermalgamated 7
Benlanium 17
Ben Lane 160
Oh well, on to the next one....
I have never seen Ben Lane a person referred to Ben Lane by his full name so many Ben Lane times in a row Ben Lane
IT supplied us with literary gems such as:---------------
Chapter I. THE Beginning (No, that's a terrible place to start)
He was handed an envelope, stuffed full with paper. (The Columbia record club wasn't playing around)
DOC SAVAGE ON MYSTERY MISSION GOES TO ARABIA BY SUBMARINE (Doesn't seem like much of a mystery if they know how he's going and where)
"I like worthy foes!" (And I like pork chops but you don't see me yelling about it)
"Get zem up!" (My zem is going to stay right where it is thank you very much.)
"All right," he said into the microphone. (Ladies and gentlemen, Mambo #5)
"The fellows who just attacked us here at the hangar, seem to be natives of northern Canada," (They're covered in maple syrup, smell like bacon and keep apologizing for trying to kill us)
Like black cotton, darkness crammed these. (Yeah... Wait, what?)
"Back!" Stroam ordered hurriedly. "No one sees my face." (until I've had my morning coffee)
"Long Island is a big place--more'n a hundred miles long," Monk muttered. (Almost like an island!)
He had his overcoat turned up, his hat yanked down, and a muffler up around his nose. (And a carbarator up his butt)
"I found a mystery on the snow," Doc told him. "A profound mystery." (And a hell of a great name for a book)
And there was no sign of Doc's body. (That beautiful burly bronze body of his)
"Brothers, this is the original icebox," he chattered. (Accept no substitutes, ask for the Original Icebox by name!)
This metal I have called benlanium. (Because Lady Gaga was already taken)
"How'd you get up here?" "By plane, of course." (Like duh)
She hit him in the eye, on the nose. (so where did she hit him, in the eye or on the nose?)
"Argon, krypton, oxide of hydrogen, xenon, carbon dioxide," (Aren't those the names of the Spice Girls or the dudes from Lord of the Rings?)
"The gas bag!" Doc replied. (Hey! Leave my Mother-in-law out of this!)
The rifle in the other cabin was rapping steadily. (It was having a rap-off against Eminem)
IT also gave us our usual "insert your own joke here" lines, like:---------------
"Because, if you keep on riding me, you're going to come to a sudden end,"
"You'd look all dressed up with nothing on at all,"
Ham bounded erect.
"Boy, does my conk ache!"
"Oh!" the girl ejaculated.
"I'll peel your clothes off and run you down this river in your underwear, you shyster."
"Want to peg this at him?"
For those who were wondering, here's our word count this time around:
Holy Cow 8
Supermalgamated 7
Benlanium 17
Ben Lane 160
Oh well, on to the next one....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2020
"Scientists are practically always underpaid," Doc remarked.
------------------
As a science communicator by trade, that line stood out to me in this, the 15th Savage novel published (in 1934). As I write this, the American public has been showing a stunning lack of respect for science -- and are dying as a result. In 1934, the public held science in extremely high regard, while this passage indicates that big business didn't.
That shouldn't be surprising, as the evil villain in this novel is acting on behalf of a consortium of manganese mining/refining corporations, out to quell competition via a new mineral that will create a stronger, lighter steel alloy that would benefit humanity, but reduce the consortium's profits.
In the end, of course, Doc foils their foul plans.
This novel doesn't hide the standard pulp adventure formula very well, so doesn't deserve a full on perfect rating. Still, it took me longer than usual to determine the identity of the master villain, despite the author providing a very hefty clue early on in the book...and keeping me guessing in a mystery is always worth an extra point or two.
There are a couple of worthwhile firsts here for avid Doc fans, as well. First, it's made clear that Doc rents the entire 86th floor of a gleaming NYC skyscraper for his headquarters office (past novels often gave the impression he shared the floor with one or two other businesses) -- and he FINALLY has installed a suite of security measures there; unseemly ruffians gained access to Doc's office far too readily in prior novels. Second, Johnny -- Doc's geologist/archaeologist pal -- develops into the full character he'll be for the next 170+ stories, particularly in his consistent use of multi-syllabic words, including his signature cry of "I'll be superamalgamated!"
It's a fast read and a fun adventure, but the glaring plot formula and constant use of the term "breed" for any bad guy of mixed ethnic heritage strip the rating down. Check it out for the notable developments in the canon, but don't fret too much if you skip it.
------------------
As a science communicator by trade, that line stood out to me in this, the 15th Savage novel published (in 1934). As I write this, the American public has been showing a stunning lack of respect for science -- and are dying as a result. In 1934, the public held science in extremely high regard, while this passage indicates that big business didn't.
That shouldn't be surprising, as the evil villain in this novel is acting on behalf of a consortium of manganese mining/refining corporations, out to quell competition via a new mineral that will create a stronger, lighter steel alloy that would benefit humanity, but reduce the consortium's profits.
In the end, of course, Doc foils their foul plans.
This novel doesn't hide the standard pulp adventure formula very well, so doesn't deserve a full on perfect rating. Still, it took me longer than usual to determine the identity of the master villain, despite the author providing a very hefty clue early on in the book...and keeping me guessing in a mystery is always worth an extra point or two.
There are a couple of worthwhile firsts here for avid Doc fans, as well. First, it's made clear that Doc rents the entire 86th floor of a gleaming NYC skyscraper for his headquarters office (past novels often gave the impression he shared the floor with one or two other businesses) -- and he FINALLY has installed a suite of security measures there; unseemly ruffians gained access to Doc's office far too readily in prior novels. Second, Johnny -- Doc's geologist/archaeologist pal -- develops into the full character he'll be for the next 170+ stories, particularly in his consistent use of multi-syllabic words, including his signature cry of "I'll be superamalgamated!"
It's a fast read and a fun adventure, but the glaring plot formula and constant use of the term "breed" for any bad guy of mixed ethnic heritage strip the rating down. Check it out for the notable developments in the canon, but don't fret too much if you skip it.
February 27, 2021
Fun adventure that takes place half in New York and half in the frozen wilderness of Northern Canada.
Good supporting cast, decent mystery, setting, the Five all get something to do and the villains are interesting and have a plan that makes sense.
Loses a star for a very abrupt, almost rushed ending, and that it spends too much time in New York.
Would have preferred if more of the book had been in Canada.
Good supporting cast, decent mystery, setting, the Five all get something to do and the villains are interesting and have a plan that makes sense.
Loses a star for a very abrupt, almost rushed ending, and that it spends too much time in New York.
Would have preferred if more of the book had been in Canada.
March 5, 2025
Not one of the real standout Savage adventures, beyond the expansion of Johnny's vocabulary for the first time, and giving Doc more real estate in his NYC building. The Canadian aspects are...as to be expected. Snow. Ice. Oh, and snow. Though Toronto gets a mention, despite everyone seeming to be French Canadian. Sacre bleu, m'sieu!
Other than that, it's pretty much standard big dumb manly man fun. No stinky girls allowed, unless you can shoot...
Other than that, it's pretty much standard big dumb manly man fun. No stinky girls allowed, unless you can shoot...
January 12, 2022
A fun and entertaining book. Doc and his crew trail an evil mastermind and his gang from the streets of New York City to the frozen Canadian tundra in the Arctic circle. The full crew is aboard for this adventure.
May 14, 2025
This is perhaps the best written novel in the early Doc Savage series. It focuses much more on the mystery, than Doc’s superior talents, they still are used plenty, but it aids the narrative flow.
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this one.
Doc Savage #15
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this one.
Doc Savage #15
October 4, 2017
Another good Doc adventure that I read back in the 70s.
July 23, 2018
5 for nostalgia.
I remember reading this one as a youngster and being thrilled that it took place in Canada. Not too bad a story. Features the whole crew. Fun!
I remember reading this one as a youngster and being thrilled that it took place in Canada. Not too bad a story. Features the whole crew. Fun!
October 15, 2016
The first Doc Savage story appeared in 1933 and the series ran in pulp and later digest format into 1949. Bantam reprinted the entire series in paperback with wonderful, iconic covers starting in the 1960's. Doc was arguably the first great modern superhero with a rich background, continuity, and mythos. The characterizations were far richer than was common for the pulps; his five associates and their sometimes-auxiliary, Doc's cousin Pat, and the pets Chemistry and Habeas Corpus, all had very distinctive characteristics and their byplay was frequently more entertaining that the current adventure-of-the-month. The settings were also fascinating: Doc's Fortress of Solitude, the Hidalgo Trading Company (which served as a front for his armada of vehicles), and especially the mysterious 86th floor headquarters all became familiar haunts to the reader, and the far-flung adventures took the intrepid band to exotic and richly-described locations all over the world. The adventures were always fast-paced and exciting, from the early apocalyptic world-saving extravaganzas of the early days to the latter scientific-detective style shorter works of the post-World War Two years. There were always a few points that it was difficult to believe along the way, but there were always more ups than downs, and there was never, ever a dull moment. The Doc Savage books have always been my favorite entertainments... I was always, as Johnny would say, superamalgamated!
January 17, 2023
One of the nice things about reading these pulp novels again so many years after my first run as an early teen is I'm able to appreciate the writing more now. I'm sure I understood the quality of some of the scene-setting passages, as Doc and his crew head into northern Canada to battle the villain Stroam in The Mystery on the Snow, but it's only today that I can really see how good Lester Dent was at both drawing a picture with words and writing action sequences. Which explains why a pulp novel took three days to finish with my knocking out the last handful of pages first thing the morning of the 17th; I was savoring the prose.
The story isn't as fantastic as the last Doc I read, The Phantom City, but there are unearthly moments as Doc tries to puzzle out what type of "monster" is spirting away his friends and associates without leaving evidence in the snow, which is where the story gets its title. So, some good action sequences, and really really good writing, recommend this book
The story isn't as fantastic as the last Doc I read, The Phantom City, but there are unearthly moments as Doc tries to puzzle out what type of "monster" is spirting away his friends and associates without leaving evidence in the snow, which is where the story gets its title. So, some good action sequences, and really really good writing, recommend this book
May 12, 2023
This was unique (among the Doc Savage books I've read) in that it's a straightforward mystery without any trappings of supernatural. There is no pretense of a werwolf or goblin or any of the other strange things that always turn out to have a natural explanation. Here, it's just a bad guy trying to steal a man's valuable mineral discovery.
It's otherwise pretty typical: somewhat entertaining; decent action; a bit of insensitivity and outdated language; an almost complete lack of female characters; everyday banter; a little gee-whiz science.
I liked that this one had all five of Doc's team, which makes it more fun, though I STILL cannot remember the difference between a couple of them. (In my head, Long Tom and Johnny are just Long Johnny.) :)
Recommended? Kinda. If you read Doc Savage, sure, read this one. If you don't read Doc Savage, there's no reason to start here.
It's otherwise pretty typical: somewhat entertaining; decent action; a bit of insensitivity and outdated language; an almost complete lack of female characters; everyday banter; a little gee-whiz science.
I liked that this one had all five of Doc's team, which makes it more fun, though I STILL cannot remember the difference between a couple of them. (In my head, Long Tom and Johnny are just Long Johnny.) :)
Recommended? Kinda. If you read Doc Savage, sure, read this one. If you don't read Doc Savage, there's no reason to start here.
September 3, 2016
May, 1934, brought Doc and his friends to the far north of Canada to come to the aid of Ben Lane, a man with a secret that others want. The villain this time is Stroam, a man no one has seen but who terrifies his henchmen with threats and death. The characters are constantly being gassed, knocked out, tied up and dragged away, and even mighty Doc is captured a time or two. Stroam is an excellent villain, and the story's setting in the snow country of Northern Canada makes for an exciting story.
August 11, 2013
Really more like 2.5 stars. This Canadian adventure (adventures in the Great Northwest were a popular pulp and movie subgenre back in the thirties) has Doc battling a shadowy syndicate trying to get control of a rare metal. Readable, but the mystery element is weak (though the McGuffin is remarkable plausible). Noteworthy as the one where Doc's aide Johnny first starts to use big words in every conversation (this would become his defining trait the rest of the series).
February 26, 2016
Of all the pulp era heroes few stand out above the crowd, Doc Savage is one of these. With his 5 aides and cousin he adventures across the world. Fighting weird menaces, master criminals and evil scientists Doc and the Fab 5 never let you down for a great read. These stories have all you need; fast paced action, weird mystery, and some humor as the aides spat with each other. My highest recommendation.
December 16, 2013
Nice addition to the Doc Savage series, I always enjoy reading them.
January 23, 2016
read SOMETIME in 2011
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews