The Spider: City of Doom (Spider (Baen Books)) [Paperback]

Norvell Page (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 3, 2008 | Series: Spider (Baen Books) (Book 2)

Three complete novels in one volume of the adventures of the mysterious masked crime fighter known as "The Spider," hunted by the underworld and the police alike.

* First, in "The Spider and the Faceless One," a reign of terror grips New York, a city stalked by a killer with no face of his own, disguised with the tortured faces of his victims. Can even The spider defeat such an incredible foe?

* Then, in "The Council of Evil," one of The Spider's deadliest enemies, long thought to be dead, has returned, and is using an inexplicable power to control the minds of others, beginning by turning The Spider's most trustworthy allies against their leader.

* Finally, the Master of Men faces his most ruthless and deadly opponent in "The City Destroyer" as an unknown criminal mastermind uses an incredible device to melt the steel in the city's towering skyscrapers, bringing them crashing down in an orgy of destruction. Can The Spider unmask the madman before all of Manhattan is reduced to blood-spattered rubble?

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Norvell W. Page is regarded as one of the leading writers in pulp fiction. He was a newspaper reporter after college, then successfully entered the world of pulp fiction, becoming a regular contributor to the legendary Black Mask, where Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett first achieved recognition. Popular Publications lured Norvell Page to write for Dime Mystery magazine. Soon, Popular Publications, noting the popularity of the best-selling hero pulps Doc Savage and The Shadow, launched The Spider magazine in 1933, with a new novel of the exploits of the masked crime fighter appearing every month, written by Norvell Page under the pseudonym of “Grant Stockbridge.” The magazine was published between October 1933 and December 1943 and ran for 118 issues, ceasing only when the services of Norvell Page were needed for the war effort. During his run, the Spider starred in two Columbia Pictures action serials and his image was successfully merchandised. (Today, a Spider ring in fine condition has a $10,000 value to collectors.) And the pulp is fondly remembered by many of its readers. The late Charles M. Schulz, creator of the “Peanuts” comic strip, once wrote, “I still remember how he used to leap into a room doing a somersault while his two heavy 45’s jumped into his hands. They were great stories.” He added, “I could hardly stand to live from one month to another when the new Spider novel would come out.”

--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Baen (June 3, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416555552
• ISBN-13: 978-1416555551
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,655,452 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spideriffic!, May 26, 2008

By 

Tim Lasiuta "Comic Fan 42" (Red Deer, Alberta) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Spider: City of Doom (Spider (Baen Books)) (Paperback)

The Spider: City of Death

"A man and woman stood rigidly against the wall. The man wore rumpled pajamas; the woman's nightgown was green silk and an inset point of lace dipped between her breasts."

Only Norvell Page could start a novel like that. Right into the action. Break and enter. Death threats. The promise of a far greater evil. The Spider was a perfect character for the 1930's. With the depression full blown, and a tense political situation on both sides of the ocean, only a character with split second decisiveness and total regard for justice, no matter what the circumstance could deal with globe spanning maniacal leaders.

Boy, could Richard Wentworth/The Spider deal with the criminally obsessed. His blazing pistols and total disregard for his personal safety could take out villains with thoughts only of global domination. Consider the first story in this collection, "The City Destroyer". Gotham is struck by a madman who destroys a five square block area with steel eating chemicals just to sell his steel at monopoly prices! "The Faceless One" pits the Spider against master disguise artist, Munro, who masquerades as the Spider, Ram Singh, and the Police Chief in his flight from justice. Six criminals, a girl, and a living dead man band together to destroy the Spider in "the Council of Evil".

Joel Frieman contributes a marvelous foreword to the book that captures the spirit of the Spider and Page.

It's amazing that a character who saw print in the 1930's and 40's, has regained such a following today. Perhaps it's a testament to the concept of quick justice for those who terrify the innocent, or those who want to do something, but held back due to societal expectations. Richard Wentworth would probably be a war criminal today for just wearing his pistols in public and defending himself from a raging mob of the undead! The FBI would love him!

Other than the spectacular Page stories, Jim Steranko contributes a pulp inspired cover and frontpiece. If the Spider were to appear today on a monthly basis, Steranko would be a natural choice for cover and spot art pieces.

Look for this at your favorite bookstore or online at www.baen.com

Tim Lasiuta

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MASTER OF MEN, October 14, 2009

By 

Phillip Logan (New Castle, DE, U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Spider: City of Doom (Spider (Baen Books)) (Mass Market Paperback)

The Spider, Master of Men was one of the GREAT pulp magazine heroes and this paperback gives a good sample of his adventures at a good price. I got a lot of reading pleasure for a little money.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Spider: City of Doom, August 8, 2008

By 

Shavager "Shavager" (Florida) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Spider: City of Doom (Spider (Baen Books)) (Paperback)

Excellent book for all the Spider/Richard Wentworth fans with a very sharp Steranko cover on the book. Contains three Spider adventures in an economical format. Nice reading, better than the small paperbacks. Love to have a Poster of this cover.