Tibet, 1927. Intrepid explorer Doctor Ardan is taken prisoner by the diabolical Natas, who has discovered the secret of making gold through nuclear fusion, and rules over a city of slaves whom he controls with an unholy brand of leprosy. Can Doc Ardan, with the aid of beautiful Louise Ducharme, thwart the Oriental Mastermind's evil schemes and escape from the City of Gold and Lepers? Scientist and world-saving explorer Doctor Ardan was created in 1928, five years before Doc Savage. This ground-breaking SF adventure that predicted the use of nuclear energy16 years before the Manhattan Project has been translated by award-winning authors Jean-Marc & Randy Lofficier and includes original black & white illustrations and a historical foreword about the Ardan family, from Michel Ardan (From the Earth to the Moon) to Dale Arden (Flash Gordon).
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Scientist and world-saving explorer Doctor Ardan was created in 1928, five years before Doc Savage. This ground-breaking SF adventure that predicted the use of nuclear energy16 years before the Manhattan Project has been translated by award-winning authors Jean-Marc & Randy Lofficier and includes original black & white illustrations and a historical foreword about the Ardan family, from Michel Ardan (From the Earth to the Moon) to Dale Arden (Flash Gordon).
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Adventure Has Another Name--Doc Ardan,
By
This review is from: Doc Ardan: City of Gold and Lepers (Paperback)
While many readers are familiar with the exploits of Doc Savage, not so many are familiar with his French predecessor, Doc Arden. In this novel, which may have inspired the literary legend of Doc Savage, grand adventure is the key concept. And while some may dismiss the novel as mere pulp fiction, for which it is a fine example of some of the best France has to offer, it is very interesting to read a novel that so vividly describes the use of weapons of mass destruction and the possibilities as well as consequences of nuclear energy. For its time, this was a visionary book and for this time, it still is visionary as well as being a very good read.
It is 1927 and the explorer Doctor Francis Ardan is leading a small group across the wasteland of the Koko Nor desert of Tibet. The group is small, the land is harsh and then they are attacked. Ambushed, shot, and left for deal while the rest of his group is slaughtered, Doc Ardan barely survives. Unable to do much more than crawl after he regains consciousness, he begins to do so and as night falls and the freezing cold begins to ravage his body, another traveler happens to find him. Days pass and a series of small adventures results in his being captured by the evil villain Doctor Natas. Doctor Natas (Satan spelled backwards) is the unmerciful ruler of the magnificent underground city, the "City Of Gold And Lepers." Stunned, by the appearance of everyday objects created out of gold, seemingly an inexhaustible supply of gold, Doctor Ardan soon learns that Doctor Natas has no limits. Doc Ardan is condemned to be a prisoner forever, infected with a particularly virulent form of leprosy that requires the presence of Z- Rays, another Doctor Natas discovery, found in the city to hold it in check. If he were to leave, the lack of Z-Rays would cause a most painful death within less than 24 hours. He is to be a slave and personally assist Doctor Natas and while his accommodations and working environment may be better, he is no different than the thousands of slaves that toil under the evil Doctor Natas. Forced to comply, Doc Ardan is revolted by the evil Doctor Natas, his brutal treatment of everyone, and his insane scheme for total world domination. Alone, he is virtually powerless, but soon he is joined by the lovely and talented Louise Ducharme. They hatch a plan to save themselves, the slave, and the world and in so doing, defeat Doctor Natas. This is a fast, fun read and a highlight of French pulp fiction. Much like the recent release of "Doctor Omega," also by this same publisher, this novel features some illustrations from the original novel, some social commentary, and a great storyline with interesting characters on a grand adventure. They simply don't write books like this anymore, which is a great pity. It succeeds on all levels very well and is very worthy of a place on your bookshelf. Book Facts: Doc Ardan: City Of Gold And Lepers By Guy d'Armen Adapted and Retold by Jean-Marc and Randy Lofficier Black Coat Press www.blackcoatpress.com 2004 ISBN # 1-932983-03-1 Large Trade Paperback $20.95 US Kevin R. Tipple© 2004
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Clash of the Pulp Titans,
This review is from: Doc Ardan: City of Gold and Lepers (Paperback)
What if young Doc Savage battled Fu Manchu?
DOC ARDAN: CITY OF GOLD AND LEPERS doesn't really feature Doc Savage, but it's close. Dr. Francis Ardan is a medical man, scientist, explorer created by French writer Guy D'Armen and is very much in the Doc Savage tradition -- except that this book was written before the Doc Savage pulps. Doc Ardan battles the evil Doctor Natas (Satan spelled backwards), an archetypal villain inspired by the insidious Dr. Fu Manchu. This 1928 novel has now been translated into English and adapted by Jean-Marc and Randy L'Officier. Great for followers of Doc Savage, Fu Manchu, Philip Jose Farmer's Wold Newton Universe, etc., and the battle between Ardan and Natas continues in a story in TALES OF THE SHADOWMEN 1: THE MODERN BABYLON, also from Jean-Marc and Randy L'Officier's Black Coat Press.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lost Horizon Meets Doc Savage,
By David L. Vineyard (Oklahoma City, OK USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Doc Ardan: City of Gold and Lepers (Paperback)
Award winning authors Jean Marc and Randy Lofficier have translated and adapted Doc Ardan, City of Gold and Lepers by Guy D'Armen, a French pulp science fiction epic in which bronze adventurer Dr. Francis Ardan uncovers a lost Tibetan city controled by the sinister Fu Manchu like figure of Dr. Natas(a cross between Fu Manchu, Doctor No, and Ming the Merciless) who rules with a biological weapon that infects his slaves with leprosy so they will aid in his use of nuclear fusion to create gold. Natually our hero Doc Ardan can have none of that so he must pit his own wits, nerve, and genius against Natas.
The tale mixes grand adventure with surprizingly sophisticated science fiction concepts in a well written and highly entertaining pulp romp. Bonuses include the original black and white illustrations, and an informative introduction by the Lofficier's on Doc Ardan and his geneaology, including ties to Doc Savage, Michel Ardant (Jules Verne's From the Earth to the Moon), and even Flash Gordon's Dale Arden. Lovers of high concept pulp adventure, Talbot Mundy's classic Tibetan adventure novel Jimgrim, Philip Jose Farmer's Wold Newton universe, early science fiction, Sax Rohmer's Dr. Fu Manchu, and a tale well told will want to read this lost classic that offers enough thrills and adventures for any modern fan of Clive Cussler or James Rollins. Find out where adventure began in this latest entry from Black Coats Press growing catalogue of fine reading.
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