Sunday, November 13, 2011

Violent Night

In case you aren't aware, Will Murray and co. are working tirelessly at reprinting pulp stories including the original cover and interior art. While I regret they hadn't done it decades earlier, it's a welcomed relief nonetheless. It was these reprints that got me properly introduced to Doc Savage. (I had been a fan of the Shadow since eighth grade.)

Having read a few of them, I instantly fell for Patricia Savage and vowed to read as many stories that contained her as possible. But there was one story I was sure they wouldn't reprint mainly because it concerns a living person. The story is called "Violent Night," and it's about the night Doc Savage, Pat, and gang capture Adolf Hitler.

Not only is Hitler in the story, though probably not named outright, his horrified mug is on the cover. I was sure that, for any amount of reasons, Will Murray would be reluctant to re-release a story that features the Worst Man in History. But my fears were short lived, and Volume 22, out just last month, featured Violent Night along with two other stories.

I have just started reading the first few chapters, and immediately I'm sucked into the story. The reader is informed of what Doc's feeling and thinking, a big change from the earlier stories. I can't wait until the end where supposedly Pat Savage gives ol' Adolf something he wouldn't soon forget. (I'd rather not ruin it for others.)

Thanks, Will Murray.