Doctor Death: The Complete Doctor Death in All-Detective
by Edward P. Norris
introduction by Tom Johnson
For the first time in one collection, all four original Doctor Death stories from All-Detective in 1934-35: "Doctor Death," "Cargo of Death," "Death's I.O.U." and "Thirteen Pearls." Written by Edward P. Norris, this series leads into the classic Doctor Death pulp series of 1935. Contains an all-new introduction written by Tom Johnson.
215 pages, approx. 6"9"
11 Comments
MBrown
January 28, 2009I recently received this reprint. Haven’t had the chance to read it. Good intro by Tom Johnson.
I thought it strange that the idea that Edward P Norris was just another pseudonym of Harold Ward (author of the later Dr Death novels) wasn’t mentioned. This was stated by Robert Weinberg back in Pulp Classics #19 in 79, which reprinted the first Dr Death novel.
Would love to see Altus reprint the 5 Dr Death novels, in a consistant format to this one, either in a single volume, or multiple.
Matt
January 28, 2009Thanks for purchasing this book! The reason the “Norris/Ward being one and the same” nugget wasn’t mentioned is because it isn’t true. None of those early Dr. Death stories were amongst Ward’s papers (and he saved everything). And once you read the Norris stories and compare them to the Ward entries, you’ll see they were written by different authors.
MBrown
January 28, 2009Ok. If that was the case I’d say it would have been a good opportunity to refute that idea in the forward. I know there have been problems in the past (and am sure into the future) with figuring out who wrote what in the pulps. As more info comes up that proves or disproves such ideas, I think its a good idea to mention it.
MBrown
April 29, 2009I hope to see the Harold Ward Doctor Death volumes soon. These are the the top of my list of upcoming Altus Press books (along with the Secret Six).
Any chance of reprinting the other 2 Nibs Holloway stories that Norris did? Be nice to be able to read them along with the ones in this volume. Prehaps including them in future issues of Triple Detective.
Matt
May 8, 2009I wanted to include the two Nibs stories in that Norris Dr. Death book, but I couldn’t locate copies.
Tom Johnson
September 7, 2009M. Brown brings up a good point. Though we’ve known that Ward and Norris weren’t the same people for years now, I just figured this was old news, and didn’t see any reason to rehash it in the Intro. Ward was a good writer, but I thought Norris was the better story teller. I really liked his Nibs stories with Dr. Death.
James John Norris
April 12, 2013I was facinated to see the family stories are true. Edward P. Norris is my grandfather. His primary trade was a printer who worked in New York and eventually retired in Florida. I remember going into his library which was no bigger than a 15 by 20 room with books as high as my 6 year old memory recalls now that I am 50. I want to buy them and read them to perhaps inspire my own creativity. All I know is with many folks in that time frame times were tough and grandpa sold the rights. So I do not know when he stopped being the author and the next creative mind took over. Perhaps once I read them I will find out. I can still see his boxes of papers as he called them. Maybe if they were still around I could get a buck or two. I can say the memories of playing grandpa scrabble are still very fond and fresh. I could never seem to beat him!
Tom Johnson
April 14, 2013James, I am in contact with Catherine and Sheila, and we are working up information on your grandfather now. Contact me at fadingshadows40@gmail.com Glad you are in touch.
Ron Shiflet
March 21, 2010I just ordered this book based on my satisfaction with the first volume of Secret Agent X. I’m looking forward to reading this character though I confess to being pretty ignorant of the series. Still, it sounds like something up my alley!
Ron Shiflet
April 3, 2010Well, I finished and enjoyed this wonderful book. I’ll soon be ordering the two other volumes. Great book!
MBrown
May 23, 2010See my review on Amazon.