The Forgotten Realm
Doc Savage fans in the 1930s and '40s had a different experience of Doc than fans reading his exploits have today. And I'm not just talking about the hairstyle. Because Doc's novel-length stories originally ran in a pulp magazine, readers were treated to illustrations, articles, letters, and short stories. In this section of my site I will slowly reproduce what doc-related pulp material I have (not the short stories), to capture the Pulp Experience for the readers of the Bantam paperbacks. (I am starting with the pulps I own in Doc's first three years, 1933-35, and moving on chronolgocially. If you have material for this site that would fill in the gaps in my collection, e-mail me, and I will see about posting it, space permitting.)
Interior Art
You've probably seen the glorious old pulp covers which Jeff Sines
hosts--the best ones by Walter Baumhofer. But the 1930s reader also had a few interior
illustrations by Paul Orban to help him further visualize the bronze man's unbelievable exploits!
Original Endings
The pulp version of Doc Savage's adventures used to end with a teaser for the next story. Many
times it was introduced with all the grace of the transition-crazed hosts of Entertainment Tonight.
Because they were reprinting the stories in a different order, Bantam edited out these passages.
(I also found, in creating this section, that sometimes they didn't! These are noted.)
Doc Savage Club Essays
Sure, some of these editorials read simply as advertising for the Club itself, but then some of them do have good advice.
(I will not be reprinting the science-related articles that also appeared in this "Club News" section.)
From Our Members
It's interesting to read the likes, dislikes, suggestions, and confessions of Doc's first generation of fans. (Fans
for whom Doc was a state-of-the-art hero, not a period one.)
Be warned: Some of these early letters pages I've posted are pretty lame; interesting only for the occasional period
slang, or the letter's surprising country of origin. But amidst all the "I pledge to follow the Code"
missives you'll find some jems. In time I will be adding later, better letters pages.
Doc Savage Method of Self-Development
Fans wishing to be just like Doc Savage, were pretty much DARED to follow these complex exercises -- Let alone
assemble some of the involved paraphernalia needed to complete them. Who wrote this stuff??
Pulp magazine extras listed by issue
If you are reading a particular Doc Savage novel that I've covered here, check this page to fill in the cool pulp
material you can't get in the Bantam paperback.
B A U M H O F E R P R E F E R R E D | S I T E M A P
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