W. Ryerson Johnson

Who was W. Ryerson Johnson?

Walter Ryerson Johnson was an American pulp fiction writer and editor. He wrote in many genres, but is probably best known at having been one of the men who wrote Doc Savage novels, under the pseudonym Kenneth Robeson. He also published works under the names "Matthew Blood" and "Peter Field."

Johnson had a university diploma in international commerce. In his thirties he began a career as a writer of fiction.

He wrote numerous western stories for pulps like Western Story Magazine, Ace-High Magazine, Cowboy Stories, and Star Western. A number of the Star Western stories featured hero Len Siringo.

He wrote horror stories for Dime Mystery Magazine, Detective Tales and other pulps. He also wrote several crime novels, two under his own name, the others under various pseudonyms. These novels include Naked in the Streets, Lady in Dread; under the joint pseudonym Matthew Blood The Avenger, Death Is a Lovely Dame; under Dresser's pseudonym Brett Halliday Dolls Are Deadly, Killers from the Keys and more under the house name Robert Wallace. Some of his crime novels were translated into French and German.