Review of Doc Savage: The Infernal Buddha

Author:  Kenneth Robeson (Will Murray).
Title:  Doc Savage:  The Infernal Buddha.
Publisher:  Altus Press.
Pages:  300.
Copyright:  2012.
Price:  $24.95 (US).

Overview:
Ghost writing under the the name of Kenneth Robeson, Will Murray has written some new Doc Savage adventures for Altus Press.

The Infernal Buddha involves Doc, Monk, Ham, and the gang in the waters of the South China Sea in 1936.  Someone has discovered a crystalline material that consumes water.  The object is carved in the shape of an infernal Buddha.  People soon use it as a weapon to kill each other.

I liked the pulp feel of the story.  I felt like I was reading an old Robeson story from Doc Savage Magazine.  Murray does a good job keeping the action flowing.  Much of the action is set around Singapore and the South China Sea.  Doc becomes a pirate in order to capture the infernal Buddha.

The whole concept of another otherworldly crystalline matter that consumes water is interesting.  It was the only thing I had to accept for my willing suspension of disbelief.  I would have liked a more scientific explanation of the macgruff.  Plot wise, it works for the story.

But the characters are believable as Doc, Monk, Ham, and Renny.  I read Doc Savage stories when I was an undergraduate in college.  It's been along time since I remember the "Man of Bronze's" exploits.  The new Doc Savage stories are worth reading for a pulp-buff.  The only complaint I have are the price of the books.