04 the Lost Oasis and the Sargasso Ogre [Print on Demand (Paperback)]

The Lost Oasis begins with Doc, who had been away at his Fortress of Solitude, investigating a $1 million reward promised to anyone who can find him. Someone else is after the people hunting for Doc, however, murdering two men with a strange flying creature that very nearly does Doc in, and kidnapping the lovely young woman seeking his aid. Doc follows the perpetrators and he and his gang stow away on a mysterious ghost zeppelin that takes them to a remote part of Africa where they must outwit evil criminal masterminds, dodge gigantic, poisonous vampire bats, and stay out of the clutches of huge, carnivorous plants while they free the slaves the villains have working the diamond mines of the oasis.

As far as Doc Savage adventures go, this one fell a little flat, as if the author was on Valium when he wrote it. All the elements are there, but the spark of excitement was missing. This is just proof of how important location is in an adventure yarn, as too much time was spent with Doc and the gang hiding in the zeppelin, which just wasn't very exciting.

Things pick up in The Sargasso Ogre, which begins in Alexandria, Egypt, where Doc and his five pals are about to board an ocean liner to return home from Africa. Their departure is nearly hampered by an attempt on Long Tom's life, but Doc saves the day and he and his five friends board the "Cameronic" in plenty of time. Things on board aren't as they should be, though. The captain and crew behave as strangely as the foggy weather the ship encounters for a week straight, and when the sky clears, they find the ship has drifted several thousand miles off course-to the heart of the Sargasso Sea. There, Doc and company find a huge graveyard of derelict ships trapped in thick masses of seaweed, but most oddly of all, this strange "island" is inhabited not only by the bad guys who brought them there, but by other unfortunates whose ships drifted there from all over the world. It's up to Doc and his gang to keep the villain known as the Sargasso Ogre from retaking the "Cameronic" and finding a way back to civilization.

This book bore all the trademark excitement and humor I have come to expect from Doc Savage, from the many combat and chase scenes to interesting villains and side characters. Though the tide of public opinion seems to be turning Doc into a bit much of a goody two-shoes, it was still exciting stuff.

› Go to Amazon U.S. to see the review  3.0 out of 5 stars