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· 34 ratings · 10 reviews
Start your review of The Wheel of Death (The Spider, Master of Men! #2)
Nov 21, 2016 Leothefox rated it really liked it
Good sequel! Although Richard Wentworth still doesn't look any different as THE SPIDER, this entry does come closer to what the series would be. "The Wheel of Death" has more shooting, more Nita, and more Ram Singh. The evil conspiracy at work in this adventure is more plausible than usual this time around, although we do get some minor flourishes like secret-passages and trick elevators. Looking forward to "Wings of the Black Death". Good sequel! Although Richard Wentworth still doesn't look any different as THE SPIDER, this entry does come closer to what the series would be. "The Wheel of Death" has more shooting, more Nita, and more Ram Singh. The evil conspiracy at work in this adventure is more plausible than usual this time around, although we do get some minor flourishes like secret-passages and trick elevators. Looking forward to "Wings of the Black Death". ...more
Richard Wentworth makes his second appearance as The Spider in this 1930s novel brought to audio life by narrator Nick Santa Maria. Wentworth is an adrenalin junkie who only feels alive when he is in great danger—not just mortal danger but the danger that comes from exposing his vigilante crime fighting activities. Because of this need for danger and his love of using his wits to get out of trouble, he is constantly taking rather absurd risks for the simple pleasure of forcing himself to find a Richard Wentworth makes his second appearance as The Spider in this 1930s novel brought to audio life by narrator Nick Santa Maria. Wentworth is an adrenalin junkie who only feels alive when he is in great danger—not just mortal danger but the danger that comes from exposing his vigilante crime fighting activities. Because of this need for danger and his love of using his wits to get out of trouble, he is constantly taking rather absurd risks for the simple pleasure of forcing himself to find a way out of the resulting problems. Strangely, this need on his part succeeds in creating a fast moving and quite enjoyable adventure.In this volume, Wentworth finds himself impulsively agreeing to help free a man on death row and in so doing discovers a blackmail scheme that has put New York City into the hands of a criminal mastermind. To make matters worse, a simple mistake early in the book allows the criminals to identify Wentworth as the Spider forcing him to use his cunning not only to expose their schemes, but to get back the evidence that can unmask him. It's a lot of fun watching him dance his way out of trouble.
In Wheel of Death, author R.T.M. Scott goes to great length to praise the courage, loyalty and intelligence of Wentworth's girlfriend and manservant from India, but they still come off as inferior to Wentworth specifically because they are female and Indian respectively. In this regard, the novel is very much a product of its time when the attitudes toward women and people of color can generate cringe worthy moments for the modern reader.
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May 26, 2019 Steve rated it liked it
A better and faster read than the initial Spider adventure. Possibly because the writer -- the little-known R.T.M. Scott -- was more comfortable with his character, Richard Wentworth, and Wentworth's raison d'etre. More likely because the majority of the action takes place across one night in a mysterious mansion apartment.Since I'm more familiar with the later Spider adventures because of the Sanctum double reprints, I'm looking forward to the next volume, Wings of the Black Death, and the assu
A better and faster read than the initial Spider adventure. Possibly because the writer -- the little-known R.T.M. Scott -- was more comfortable with his character, Richard Wentworth, and Wentworth's raison d'etre. More likely because the majority of the action takes place across one night in a mysterious mansion apartment.Since I'm more familiar with the later Spider adventures because of the Sanctum double reprints, I'm looking forward to the next volume, Wings of the Black Death, and the assumption of the Grant Stockbridge pseudonym by Norvell Page. The stories written by Page take the Spider into true pulp territory, where the villains have identities such as the Black Death, the Tarantula, and the Green Hand (the next three stories). This second volume doesn't really have any "wheel" that is easily identifiable as such -- no automobile, no gears -- so the title is a generic attempt to tease readers with something that isn't really there. Like the preceding story, The Spider Strikes, it isn't so much a pulp action-adventure as much as a quick-on-the-trigger detective.
The Spider ran for 118 issues, starting with these late appearances in 1933 and ending in 1943. Thankfully, I know the stories improve. Just as this one is better than The Spider Strikes. Here's hoping it reaches the level of some of the Shadow and Doc Savage adventures.
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In some ways this was a more enjoyable book than the first-the pulp elements are a little wilder (and racier), there is a race against time element (though it's not fully exploited) and the scheme is less out of a comic book and more akin to the kind of corruption based crimes that characters like the Green Hornet (clearly influenced by The Spider) would battle. Despite all of this, it comes to an abrupt and convenient ending (possibly space limits imposed by the format) that's not quite as sati In some ways this was a more enjoyable book than the first-the pulp elements are a little wilder (and racier), there is a race against time element (though it's not fully exploited) and the scheme is less out of a comic book and more akin to the kind of corruption based crimes that characters like the Green Hornet (clearly influenced by The Spider) would battle. Despite all of this, it comes to an abrupt and convenient ending (possibly space limits imposed by the format) that's not quite as satisfying as the one in the last mystery. I'm very curious to see what the Norvell version of the character is like, too, since he changed a lot of things in his run on the title. ...more
This book was a pretty big "meh". Bits of action here and there and lots of boring exposition. Oh well, it's also early days in the series.
Aug 01, 2009 Adam rated it really liked it
R.T.M Scott's second Spider pulp novel has a less madcap plot than his first, but it's just as good. In The Wheel of Death, Richard Wentworth (the "Spider") goes undercover as a hood and meets a young woman whose father is slated to be executed, but who is--of course--innocent of the crime. Wentworth discovers a nightclub and casino that is only open to New York's wealthy and powerful, and which is run by a criminal mastermind intent on taking over political power in the city through intimidatio R.T.M Scott's second Spider pulp novel has a less madcap plot than his first, but it's just as good. In The Wheel of Death, Richard Wentworth (the "Spider") goes undercover as a hood and meets a young woman whose father is slated to be executed, but who is--of course--innocent of the crime. Wentworth discovers a nightclub and casino that is only open to New York's wealthy and powerful, and which is run by a criminal mastermind intent on taking over political power in the city through intimidation and blackmail. Would it be a spoiler to say that he saves the day? ...more
Second Spider story. A slight adventure, but rattles along at a good pace. There are a few twists and turns, but mostly they involve Richard Wentworth repeatedly being caught in a tricky situation and having to get out of it. Sometimes he does it with quick thinking, sometimes he does it by shooting everyone in his way, but I think this would get old if I read much more of it.Luckily this is the second and last Spider adventure by R.T.M. Scott, and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens when
Second Spider story. A slight adventure, but rattles along at a good pace. There are a few twists and turns, but mostly they involve Richard Wentworth repeatedly being caught in a tricky situation and having to get out of it. Sometimes he does it with quick thinking, sometimes he does it by shooting everyone in his way, but I think this would get old if I read much more of it.Luckily this is the second and last Spider adventure by R.T.M. Scott, and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens when Norvell Page takes over in number 3.
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Jun 18, 2013 Randy rated it it was amazing
The Spider is faced with a mysterious man who wants to control New York City by blackmailing and bribing politicians.He's also looking to clear a young girl's father of murder before his scheduled execution takes place.
A very different Spider in this early incarnation before Norvell Page came aboard and transformed him to the hero all pulp fans love.
The Spider is faced with a mysterious man who wants to control New York City by blackmailing and bribing politicians.He's also looking to clear a young girl's father of murder before his scheduled execution takes place.
A very different Spider in this early incarnation before Norvell Page came aboard and transformed him to the hero all pulp fans love.
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Oct 10, 2014 John Kilgallon rated it really liked it
Finally decided to concentrate on finishing books I started. Richard Wentworth again wins out as the Spider against a mob boss bent on swaying politicians in NYC to his directions. Nita turns in a great performance as an ally and helps keep the Police Commissioner off the Spider's trail. Finally decided to concentrate on finishing books I started. Richard Wentworth again wins out as the Spider against a mob boss bent on swaying politicians in NYC to his directions. Nita turns in a great performance as an ally and helps keep the Police Commissioner off the Spider's trail. ...more
Jun 23, 2016 Jeff J. rated it liked it
Fairly weak entry in the Spider series, due in large part to it being an early novel before the characters were fully fleshed out.
Form of name used independently by two Canadian writers, father and son, both christened Reginald Thomas Maitland Scott, though the son was usually called Robert and sometimes wrote simply as Maitland Scott. Scott Senior (1882-1966) had been a much-travelled marine engineer and subsequent soldier during World War One, with the Canadian Expeditionary Force, before settling in the USA and turning to Form of name used independently by two Canadian writers, father and son, both christened Reginald Thomas Maitland Scott, though the son was usually called Robert and sometimes wrote simply as Maitland Scott. Scott Senior (1882-1966) had been a much-travelled marine engineer and subsequent soldier during World War One, with the Canadian Expeditionary Force, before settling in the USA and turning to writing. His first story, "Such Bluff as Dreams Are Made Of" (April 1920 Adventure) introduced the character of Aurelius Smith, known as Secret Service Smith, who became Scott's best known character, appearing in many stories and novels, and served partly as the basis for the later creation of Richard Wentworth, the man behind the vigilante hero the Spider in a long series of novel-length stories published in The Spider pulp magazine. The first two Spider novels, "The Spider Strikes" (October 1933 Spider; 1969) and "The Wheel of Death" (November 1933 Spider; 1969) were credited to R T M Scott and have usually been assumed to have been written by the father. However there is sufficient difference between the two that it has been suggested by Will Murray and others that Scott Junior (1909-1945) might have written one of them, probably the second. Scott Senior was not a prolific writer and would have found it difficult to sustain the pace of a novel a month so his son, who had become an editor at Popular Publications which published The Spider, may have helped with the second novel before the character was handed over to pulpsmith Norvell W Page who wrote the novels under the House Name Grant Stockbridge. Whilst the first two novels create the character of Richard Wentworth and his ruthless crime-fighting alter-ego the Spider, neither revel in any of the more fantastic and eccentric plots that Page later created. ...more
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