The Space Eagle - Operation Doomsday!

As I mentioned in an earlier posting, this Whitman novel The Space Eagle - Operation Doomsday was a big influence on my young self. The novel was written by Jack Pearl with illustrations by Arnie Kohn. The idea that "superhero" adventures expanded beyond the comics was enlightening and gave me a broader perspective about the nature of genres. Also it plugged into neatly the very real excitement of the times, an era when the Moon landing was imminent and the exploration of space a real and thriving possibility. We live in less exciting, more mundane times now having given up the thrill of exploration for more prosaic pursuits. The Space Eagle remains a neat tie for me to all that excitement.

Let reprise the plot briefly. Paul Girard and his sister Julie are twins in command of a large R&D conglomerate that has ties to space travel and cosmetics of all things. Paul is a famous handsome adventurer well liked by almost everyone. His sister is a genius researcher who prefers the lab to the broader world. After using an experimental faster-than-light spacecraft to rescue some scientists stranded in orbit, Paul is called upon by the President of the United States to be a defacto Marshall of space. This is a world still ruled by the Cold War which has spread into the very cold reaches of space and the colonies established there. Paul takes the challenge and adopting the identity of Space Eagle he uses the SWIFT (his FTL ship) and other scientific breakthoughs from his sister to fight dark menaces. The first he is called upon to battle is a mad doctor named Luchesi who plots to use nuclear missles to draw the Superpowers into a conflict leaving him and his ilk to sort out the aftermath. Using special chemicals Paul adopts the role of Luchesi's son to infiltrate the hidden Himalayan lair and after much activity overcomes Doctor Luchesi and his robot agent. The Space Eagle then uses the SWIFT's ftl capabilities to effectively stop time enabling him to end the threat of the nuclear weapons stalling the threat to the world. As the story ends he and his sister wait the next challenge.

It's good rousing stuff. Paul is a blend of Doc Savage, The Avenger, and Flash Gordon with a healthy dose of James Bond dashed in too. The story is brisk and involving, offering up some neat suspense. The dilemma is worthy of a superhero and demands both physical skills and dexterity of mind. That's probably what I like most, the Space Eagle must solve most problems with his mind, or the mind of his sister through her special weapons and potions. It's a heady brand of adventure. Good stuff.

There's a second novel in the series, one I've never ever owned nor read. I'm anxious to tear into it.

Rip Off