Doctor Francis Ardan, intrepid explorer and polymath, was created in the 1920s by French writer Guy d’Armen for the French pulp magazine, L’Intrépide. After publishing three of his novel-length adventures in English, we offer here four original short stories taken from the pages of L’Intrépide, in which see the fearless hero tackle a Yeti, a Witch Doctor, a vampire and a giant bat. In addition, this collection contains twelve other stories, including four written especially for this volume, in which Doc Ardan faces such exotic threats as the Beast of Gevaudan, the Queen of Atlantis, Natas the Devil Doctor, the Morlocks and more. The book also includes a new listing of Ardan stories and “Before the Bronze Age,” an article revealing the connections between Ardan and a world-famous bronze hero.

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 energy 16 years before the Manhattan Project has been translated by award-winning authors Jean-Marc & Randy Lofficier and includes a historical foreword about the Ardan family, from Michel Ardan (From the Earth to the Moon) to Dale Arden (Flash Gordon).

Two thrilling novels featuring scientist and world-saving explorer Doctor Ardan, created in 1928, five years before Doc Savage. These two ground-breaking SF adventures have been translated by award-winning authors Jean-Marc & Randy Lofficier.In The Troglodytes of Mount Everest (1929), young Francis Ardan, who has just earned his title of Doctor, embarks for a cruise around the world, but ends up fighting Captain Mendax, a science pirate and the master of a super-powered flying machine and submarine, The Astaroth, built according to the late Captain Nemo's designs.In The Giants of Black Lake (1931), Doctor Ardan comes across an underground city in Mongolia ruled by the fearsome Kyzyl Kaya, a 250-year-old scientist who has created a horde of giant spiders and other colossal creatures to guard his lair and conquer the world.