Sexton Blake Bibliography: 1946

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Trivia: KNOCKOUT drops the hyphen from its title.

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Notes: The men who stole the emerald eye are located in Soho by Sexton Blake and Tinker. A thrilling chase begins, with the quarry heading out of London and into the countryside. The crooks round a bend, screech to a halt, hide behind a bush, and shoot at the detectives as they come into sight. Blake's car receives a bullet in a tyre and crashes into a ditch. The villains race to a plane in a nearby field and make a clean getaway. Blake returns to the hospital to speak with the man from India but finds him tight-lipped. He then goes to the India Office where he learns that the escaped villains were Oscar Khan and a confederate, both of whom work for Jehan, the step-brother of the Rajah of Travanistan, who is passionately anti-British and wants to be the Rajah. If he can restore the emerald eye to its place in the temple, the people will back him. Blake and Tinker fly to Travanistan but when they run ibto a storm their plane is damaged and they are forced to bail out.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Notes: Pursuing the man who has the stolen emerald eye, Sexton Blake and Tinker are flying to Travanistan when their plane crashes in the Himalayas. They parachute to safety, fall into the hands of wild tribesmen, and are taken to Oscar Khan. Along with an Indian captive, they are imprisoned in huge wicker baskets suspended over a precipitous gulch.

Rating: ★★★★☆

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Notes: Sexton Blake and his Hindu friend, Dhulap Singh, are captured by the soldiers of Jehan, the renegade Rajah, but Tinker is not far away and manages to enter the palace through one of its windows. Knocking out a servant, he dresses in the man's clothes and makes his way to the throne room where Jehan is ordering Blake to be taken away prior to questioning by torture.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Notes: Jewan, the renegade brother of the Rajah of Travanistan, has captured Sexton Blake and his Hindu friend, Dhulap Singh. Tinker, disguised as an Indian, is inside the palace. He follows the guards as they take the prisoners down to the dungeon but is spotted and has to beat a hasty retreat. He enters a room to hide and finds that it's a wireless control room. He conceals himself behind a curtain and watches as Jehan and Oscar Khan enter. They turn on the wireless and receive a report that Hoo Sung is nearby in the Rolling Sphere. As soon as they depart, Tinker broadcasts a message to his old friend but is then seen and must flee the palace.

Rating: ★★★★☆

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Notes: Sexton Blake, Tinker and their Hindu friend, Dhulap Singh, surprise Jehan, the renegade brother of the Rajah, and snatch back the emerald eye which he has stolen. They flee from the palace and conceal themselves in high grass. Blake uses his radio set to broadcast to Hoo Sung, who is somewhere nearby in the Rolling Sphere. Suddenly, a couple of tigers emerge from the grass.

Rating: ★★★★☆

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Notes: The bridge over the gorge collapses and the Rolling Sphere falls into the river below. Jehan's men start throwing rocks down onto the machine. Hoo Sung submerges the sphere and travels clear of the area. Through the periscope, he and Blake see Jehan's army marching across another bridge. Hoo Sung steers his machine beneath it and releases the ballast. The sphere rises up and destroys the bridge.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Notes: Sexton Blake and his friends, in the rolling sphere, stop the rebel army marching on Travanistan by smashing a bridge. Jehan and his European confederate escape in a car but are pursued by the sphere. Hoo Sung uses his machine's grappling claw to capture the fleeing vehicle. The revolt is crushed, the emerald eye has been recovered, and now Tinker hopes to take a holiday.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Notes: Sexton Blake's friend, the Chinese inventor Hoo Sung, calls at the detective's Baker Street home. He has invented a 'stratoplane' that can reach higher altitudes than any other existing craft thanks to its revolutionary 'atom egg' power source. But on a recent flight, the plane's cameras had filmed five strange bat-like aircraft flying above it. Hoo Sung believes that either the secret of his atom egg invention has been stolen or a hostile foreign power has developed the technology independently. Blake promises to fly down to Hoo Sung's secret aerodrome on Gull Island to begin his investigations. As the inventor leaves the house, his movements are watched from an autogyro hovering ovehead ... and a report is radioed to a strange and sinister figure in a distant land!

Rating: ★★★★☆

Notes: True to his promise to Hoo Sung, Sexton Blake arrives at Gull Island to investigate whether the secret of Hoo Sung's atom eggs has been stolen or if some foreign power has invented the same thing. As he lands his plane, Blake spots a strange figure in a pointed helmet. The individuals attacks the newcomers with a flame-thrower while, behind him, two other helmeted men carry out Hoo Sung and bundle him into a peculiar-looking flying machine.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Notes: Strange men from the sky have kidnapped Sexton Blake's friend Hoo Sung and Blake believes they have stolen the secret of Hoo Sung's atom egg as well. His only clue is a strange helmet worn by the villains. Accompanied by Hoo Sung's daughter, Lotus, he shows this to a wise old curio dealer who identifies it as the work of craftsmen from the dead city of Ankor in Cambodia. Blake, Tinker and Lotus return to Gull Island for Hoo Sung's stratoplane, which they fly to Ankor. There, they find carvings that resemble the enemy bat-planes. Unknown to them, they are being observed from a control room hidden inside a massive idol. Their presence it reported by radio to the villains' leader, who orders that Blake & Co be captured.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Notes: Determined to rescue his friend, Hoo Sung, Sexton Blake flies to the dead city of Ankor. Little does he know that the mystery men who kidnapped the inventor and stole the secret of the atom eggs are watching his every move. The detectives dicover a tunnel inside a huge statue of a dragon. Blake, noticing that the entrance is booby-trapped, jams the mechanism. He, Tinker and Lotus pass through and follow the tunnel unaware that the enemy is ready to ambush them.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Notes: Sexton Blake, Tinker and Lotus explore the vaults below the dead city. Blake suspects that an ambush has been laid. He and Tinker shoot at a couple of idols so that the bullets ricochet around the chamber ahead of them. The men lying in wait panic and are captured. This is reported by radio to the villains' leader who orders that the rest of his men should evacuate the city. Upon questioning the prisoners, Blake is told that Hoo Sung is being kept in a hidden city. Suddenly, Ankor starts to shake. Blake and his companions race outside in time to see the bat-planes departing.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Notes: As the bat-planes depart, Blake, Tinker and Lotus jump aboard the stratoplane to give chase. Just as they take off, the villains' leader operates a remote control from his base in the Hidden City and sets off a massive explosion which engulfs the stratoplane. It reels wildly across the sky. Blake finally succeeds in getting it under control. He tells Tinker that their opponent is probably certain that they have been killed.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Notes: Believing that Sexton Blake has perished in the ruins of Ankor, the men of the Hidden City fly homeward. However, the great detective is still on their trail, intent on rescuing Hoo Sung from their clutches and saving the secret of the atom eggs. As they come to the Himalayas, the enemy planes fly straight into the crater of a smoking volcano. Beneath it, in the Hidden City, the enemy leader orders a scanner to be raised. Through this, he watches as the stratoplane approaches.

Rating: ★★★★☆

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Notes: As Blake and Lotus climb toward the volcano's brim, a gyrocopter swoops down and they are captured. This, however, was something the detective expected to happen. Tinker loads a gun and sets out after them. He watches bat-planes arrive and plunge into the crater but when he reaches the volcano's peak and looks into its mouth, he is surprised to see only a lake of black water.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Notes: Tinker dives into the lake in the mouth of the volcano. A strong current snatches him and sweeps him into the depths. He surfaces and finds himself in an underground lake beside the Hidden City. Meanwhile, Sexton Blake and Lotus are being questioned by Zanadu, the leader of the villains. Hoo Sung is brought forth and Zanadu declares that the inventor is more likely to cooperate now that he knows his daughter has been captured.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Notes: Zanadu demands that Hoo Sung creates more atom eggs with which the villain can conquer the world. If the inventor refuses, his daughter will be sacrificed to Kugaku, the thunder god. Meanwhile, Tinker swims through a pumping station and clambers into a pipe hoping it will lead him into the city. He emerges into a great vase held in the hands of a monstrous metal idol. At its feet, Hoo Sung, Lotus, and Sexton Blake are tied to posts. Zanadu addresses the idol: "Oh mighty Kugalu! Strike once on your gong and the maiden shall perish—twice and I will set her free!"

Rating: ★★★★☆

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Notes: Tinker has caused the god Kagalu to strike his gong twice, indicating that his prisoners must be set free. Though he knows he has been tricked, Zanadu obeys the dictum, aware that his followers will overthrow him if he refuses. While Blake, Lotus and Hoo Sung are conducted to a palace, Zanadu starts to search for Tinker. He climbs into the idol's control room and there sees that one of his men has knocked out a stranger.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Notes: Zanadu enters the control room of the mechanical god and finds himself held at gunpoint by Tinker, who has captured the guard and donned his uniform. Tinker forces Zanadu to take him to the place where Sexton Blake and his friends are held prisoner. Blake decides to hold Zanadu hostage until all the atom eggs are destroyed. However, the capture of Zanadu is observed by Balu, who releases gas into the prison chamber.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Notes: Overcome by the gas, Sexton Blake and his friends collapse into unconsciousness. While, Zanadu is taken to his palace to recover, the rest are bundled into a helicopter and lowered by rope into the pagoda of the Golden Cage — finding themselves atop a tall tower with no means of escape. When Zanadu regains his senses and is told of this, he rages at Balu: "The pagoda overlooks the Square Tower ... had you forgotten who is prisoner in the Square Tower?" Meanwhile, Blake looks down onto the neighbouring tower and sees there a men wearing a golden dragon mask.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Notes: The man in the dragon mask claims that he is also a prisoner of Zanadu and asks to join forces with Blake & Co. The detective and his friends use their shirts to braid a rope and, as darkness falls, they throw one end across to their new ally. Blake begins to swing across.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Notes: Sexton Blake swings hand over hand toward the prisoner in the dragon mask. Once he reaches the tower, Tinker sets out to follow him and narrowly escapes a deadly fall when the rope snaps. The prisoner introduces himself as Dragonhead. Blake takes a lockpick from a compartment in the heel of his shoe and uses it to remove the man's mask. He and Tinker stare dumbfounded at the prisoner's exposed features.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Notes: Dragonhead's true identity is exposed. He is Zanadu! The prisoner explains that, in fact, he is Zorogu, the villain's twin brother. Blake and Tinker hide as someone approaches. Zorogu puts his mask on. Zanadu enters, intending to do away with his brother once and for all, but the detectives pounce on him. The villain's ray-gun goes off and sets the room ablaze, trapping them all inside.

Rating: ★★★★☆

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Notes: The firefighters of the Hidden City attend to the burning Square Tower. Sexton Blake and his friends escape a second before it collapses. Repentant, Zanadu hands rulership over to his brother and leaves the city forever. Using the gyrocopter, Blake, Tinker, Lotus and Hoo Sung make their departure, promising to keep secret the whereabouts of the city. They land beside the stratoplane, which they then fly back to Gull Island.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Notes: Super-Clipper, the world's mightiest air liner is due to land. Sexton Blake, invited by his friend, Sir Douglas Wand, the airways chief, has come to see it. However, a problem has arisen: the aircraft cannot be raised on the radio. The Super-Clipper circles the landing field then touches down smoothly but doesn't brake. It crashes through the perimeter fence and comes to rest wedged across a railway cutting. A rescue crew arrives on the scene and enters the plane. It is empty. 231 people have vanished into thin air!

Rating: ★★★★☆

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Notes: Sexton Blake deduces that the Super-Clipper has been a victim of sky piracy. Suddenly, a plane roars past and drops a blackmail note which informs Sir Douglas Wand that he must leave £10,000 in gold on the top of Mount Snowdon each Saturday in order to guarantee the safety of the missing passengers. It is signed 'The Black Eagle'. Blake recommends that the Duke complies with the demand but, meanwhile, the detective visits Hoo Sung and asks the inventor to help. Sung's new Rolling Sphere has the ability to fly, so the following Saturday, it takes up position in the clouds above Snowdon and awaits the Black Eagle's arrival.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Notes: The mysterious Black Eagle has kidnapped the passengers and crew of the Super-Clipper. He demands £10,000 a week in gold as the price of their safety. Sexton Blake and Hoo Sung, in the new Rolling Sphere, watch to see him collect the first payment. A strangely designed aeroplane swoops down and employs a grappler to snatch up the gold. It flies off at great speed. The next day, Blake tells Sir Douglas Wand that he wants to set a trap but needs a rich man to use as bait. Sir Douglas suggests Jengiz Khan, a prince of great wealth and power. Blake makes an appointment to see him.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Notes: Blake asks Jengiz Khan to allow him to masquerade as him during the prince's journey home. Jengiz Khan refuses, preferring to be the bait himself. The next day, he sets off in his special, treasure-filled plane. En route, as hoped, the Black Eagle swoops, his aircraft extending claw-like limbs and fixing itself to the prince's plane. A figure clambers down from the pirate craft and takes Jengiz Khan prisoner. The captured plane is then steered towards a great flying island.

Rating: ★★★★☆

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Notes: To trap the mystery man who calls himself Black Eagle, Jengiz Khan has let himself be kidnapped. Now, Sexton Blake is following his track by radar. However, the villain discovers the transmitter, so makes ready for the attack that he's sure will soon come. Blake, Tinker and Hoo Sung set off in the Rolling Sphere and follow the signal to the flying island.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Notes: Fighter aircraft launch from the flying island. The Black Eagle orders them to aim at the Rolling Sphere's rotors. The command is successfully obeyed and the sphere drops like a stone.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Notes: As it plummets toward the sea, Hoo Sung causes the Rolling Sphere to turn onto its side. He then fires the machine's jets, slowing the descent.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Notes: The Rolling Sphere uses its jets to cushion its fall into the ocean. The Black Eagle orders his fighters to attack. Tinker dives overboard to loosen a plug in the Sphere's hull. This allows water to flood into the lower compartments and the giant vehicle submerges as the fighter planes fly overhead.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Notes: The squadrons of the sky pirate, Black Eagle, search the seas for some sign of the Rolling Sphere but they miss it completely as it floats just below the surface. The villain recalls all but one of his fliers. Once they've gone, the sphere rises just sufficiently that Blake can crawl out onto the top of it. From there, he uses a shaving mirror to dazzle the remaining pilot. The man crashes his plane into the sea.

Rating: ★★★★☆

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Notes: Hoppy Knight is a cockney lorry driver. One evening he reluctantly gives a woman a lift. She's running away from her husband and wants to get to Leicester. During the journey she starts to fall asleep and Hoppy insists that she move to the back of the vehicle and sleep under the canvas covering his small load. She does so. Later, he too becomes sleepy and pulls over to rest. When he wakes up, the girl has gone. Farther along his route, Hoppy stops at Leary's way station for food and rest. His vehicle is surreptitiously inspected by two members of the Palmer gang who want to involve him in a black market racket. They find one of the girl's discarded stockings. That same night, the girl is found in a ditch, strangled. The investigation, led by Detective-Inspector Harker suggests that it may be a case of sexual assault and the evidence soon identifies Hoppy as the killer. Sexton Blake learns something of Hoppy's history: he isn't a cockney at all, but an ex-R.A.F. man who spent considerable time in German prison camps. He'd suffered a bad head injury and has been a loner ever since. The detective is convinced that the man is innocent and so begins to trace his movements. This soon leads him to the Palmer gang. Smashing their racket becomes an essential part of the investigation and, as Blake pieces together the jigsaw, a picture of the real killer soon emerges.

Trivia: This is a surprising story for the period due to its sexual element. It wouldn't seem strange to find a sex crime dealt with in the post-1956 'New Order' Sexton Blake Library, but this is 1949 and the subject comes as something of a shock. There's no sensationalism though; instead we get psychological depth and a very logical piece-by-piece investigation that rings true. This story is a good example of how the Blake saga changed over the years. It's a very long way removed from the early UNION JACK tales.

Blake admits: "I'm beginning to feel, at times, I'm not so young as I used to be."

Rating: ★★★★☆ A story that, perhaps, marks the peak of the Sexton Blake saga's 'realistic' phase.

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Notes: Story features Lady Emily Westomholme.

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