The name of the book is actually 12 Must Die, and it’s the first installment of three 1935 pulp novels written by Harold Ward under the pseudonym of “Zorro”. (This cover is from the 1966 Corinth reprint.) Besides having a name that is 1/3 WASP, 1/3 Yale graduate, and 1/3 yellow peril, Dr. Rance Mandarin, (a.k.a. Doctor Death), is a brilliant scientist and master of the occult who has one mission: To drive mankind back to the stone age. He sees this mission as having been given to him by God. His declared enemies are science and industry. His minions in this battle are many: communists, zombies, death rays, mesmerism, demons, and djinn (who in this book are called air elementals). Doctor Death can also spout lightning from his fingers, which is good for killing people.
Not only is Dr. Mandarin good at killing people, he’s also really awesome at turning the dead into automatons. To be honest, if I was that skilled at the black arts, I would probably build an underground empire and live in the lap of luxury. But with great power comes great responsibility, and Doctor Death does have his mission to think about. Unfortunately for Doctor Death, he’s about to make some powerful enemies. Police inspector Jimmy Holm, and Detective Inspector John Ricks are tasked with tracking down Doctor Death after he becomes Public Enemy Number One. Holm also happens to be an expert in the occult, although we never really see him do anything interesting. Strangely, they are aided by Doctor Death’s mysterious and sexy assistant, Nina Fererra, who foolishly falls in love with the wholesome and admittedly boring Jimmy Holm.
The book opens with Doctor Death beginning to work through a hit list of the world’s foremost scientists and men of industry. After killing a few in spectacular fashion, Doctor Death informs Holm and Ricks of his plans and demands that the world give up civilization and go back to living like hunter-gatherers, or something. Besides this whole mission from God thing, Doctor Death also frequently spouts fundamentalist dogma about how mankind has lost its way.
Some Notes:
- The men in this book are Men. You spell that M. A. N. Man.
- The word “Stygian” gets really, frankly, overused in this book.
- The President of the United States cracks, and ever-so-briefly, sobs.
- Of course her name is “Nina”. I can’t believe she’s not a redhead.
- Doctor Death is kind of a type A personality.
- The mob gets involved – on the side of the good guys.
- Commies scream when shot.
Some bad things:
- Like a lot of literature from this time period, melodrama rules the day.
- This is really more of an adventure story than a weird menace story.
- The love between Nina Fererra and Jimmy Holm is not presented in a believable manner.
Some good things:
- A random guy gets knocked out in a basement, and it’s humorous somehow.
- The mobsters talk like mobsters. “Den he pulls out his rod an’ steps inside an’ dey mobs ‘im.” says Muggs Dent.
- This book includes that evil villain mainstay: a table saw built for cutting humans in half, lengthwise.
Original pulp covers from February to April 1935 – the entire run.
Doctor Death February 1935
Doctor Death March 1935
Doctor Death April 1935
Creepy Factor: 2 out of 5
Suspense Factor: 2 out of 5
Weird Erotic Tension Factor: 1 out of 5
Funny and/or Strange Factor: 3 out of 5
Fans of pulp fiction will probably appreciate the series. The good guys are giving orders to The President. The bad guys are commies. The one woman in the story is mystical. The work of a true evil genius is never truly over (boy can I relate to that statement). I do have to say, though, that this book is a product of its time and thus might wear on the patience of today’s reader. SO, if you loved Bela Lugosi in the 1940 movie The Devil Bat, then you will probably get a kick out of 12 Must Die.
12 Must Die! – Zorro – 1935
12 Must Die on Amazon
And as a reprint in 2 volumes:
Doctor Death Vs. The Secret Twelve, Volume 1
Doctor Death Vs. The Secret Twelve, Volume 2
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