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Fu Manchu #6
The Bride of Fu Manchu
Mistress in the Garden of Death...
It was a garden of terrible beauty. Deadly human insects lurked beneath its carnivorous shrubs. Poisonous pollen drifted gently on the breeze. The gardeners held the fixed stare of the living dead; while from the window of an ancient villa, gentle gray eyes watched in helpless terror!
A plague swept out of this garden; the entire Mediterranean in its murderous grasp. yet the lovely girl with the soft gray eyes could not raise a finger to stop the carnage which already raged along the seacoast--that would in time envelop the entire world. For she was mistress in this garden of death... The Bride of Fu Manchu!
It was a garden of terrible beauty. Deadly human insects lurked beneath its carnivorous shrubs. Poisonous pollen drifted gently on the breeze. The gardeners held the fixed stare of the living dead; while from the window of an ancient villa, gentle gray eyes watched in helpless terror!
A plague swept out of this garden; the entire Mediterranean in its murderous grasp. yet the lovely girl with the soft gray eyes could not raise a finger to stop the carnage which already raged along the seacoast--that would in time envelop the entire world. For she was mistress in this garden of death... The Bride of Fu Manchu!
190 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1933
10 people are currently reading
236 people want to read
About the author
Sax Rohmer
494 books124 followersAKA Arthur Sarsfield Ward (real name); Michael Furey.
Arthur Henry Sarsfield Ward (15 February 1883 - 1 June 1959), better known as Sax Rohmer, was a prolific English novelist. He is best remembered for his series of novels featuring the master criminal Dr. Fu Manchu.
Born in Birmingham to a working class family, Rohmer initially pursued a career as a civil servant before concentrating on writing full-time.
He worked as a poet, songwriter, and comedy sketch writer in Music Hall before creating the Sax Rohmer persona and pursuing a career writing weird fiction.
Like his contemporaries Algernon Blackwood and Arthur Machen, Rohmer claimed membership to one of the factions of the qabbalistic Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Rohmer also claimed ties to the Rosicrucians, but the validity of his claims has been questioned. His physician and family friend, Dr. R. Watson Councell may have been his only legitimate connection to such organizations. It is believed that Rohmer may have exaggerated his association in order to boost his literary reputation as an occult writer.
His first published work came in 1903, when the short story The Mysterious Mummy was sold to Pearson's Weekly. He gradually transitioned from writing for Music Hall performers to concentrating on short stories and serials for magazine publication. In 1909 he married Rose Elizabeth Knox.
He published his first novel Pause! anonymously in 1910. After penning Little Tich in 1911 (as ghostwriter for the Music Hall entertainer) he issued the first Fu Manchu novel, The Mystery of Dr. Fu-Manchu, was serialized from October 1912 - June 1913. It was an immediate success with its fast-paced story of Denis Nayland Smith and Dr. Petrie facing the worldwide conspiracy of the 'Yellow Peril'. The Fu Manchu stories, together with his more conventional detective series characters—Paul Harley, Gaston Max, Red Kerry, Morris Klaw, and The Crime Magnet—made Rohmer one of the most successful and well-paid authors of the 1920s and 1930s.
Rohmer also wrote several novels of supernatural horror, including Brood of the Witch-Queen. Rohmer was very poor at managing his wealth, however, and made several disastrous business decisions that hampered him throughout his career. His final success came with a series of novels featuring a female variation on Fu Manchu, Sumuru.
After World War II, the Rohmers moved to New York only returning to London shortly before his death. Rohmer died in 1959 due to an outbreak of influenza ("Asian Flu").
There were thirteen books in the Fu Manchu series in all (not counting the posthumous The Wrath of Fu Manchu. The Sumuru series consist of five books.
His wife published her own mystery novel, Bianca in Black in 1954 under the pen name, Elizabeth Sax Rohmer. Some editions of the book mistakenly credit her as Rohmer's daughter. Elizabeth Sax Rohmer and Cay Van Ash, her husband's former assistant, wrote a biography of the author, Master of Villainy, published in 1972.
Arthur Henry Sarsfield Ward (15 February 1883 - 1 June 1959), better known as Sax Rohmer, was a prolific English novelist. He is best remembered for his series of novels featuring the master criminal Dr. Fu Manchu.
Born in Birmingham to a working class family, Rohmer initially pursued a career as a civil servant before concentrating on writing full-time.
He worked as a poet, songwriter, and comedy sketch writer in Music Hall before creating the Sax Rohmer persona and pursuing a career writing weird fiction.
Like his contemporaries Algernon Blackwood and Arthur Machen, Rohmer claimed membership to one of the factions of the qabbalistic Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Rohmer also claimed ties to the Rosicrucians, but the validity of his claims has been questioned. His physician and family friend, Dr. R. Watson Councell may have been his only legitimate connection to such organizations. It is believed that Rohmer may have exaggerated his association in order to boost his literary reputation as an occult writer.
His first published work came in 1903, when the short story The Mysterious Mummy was sold to Pearson's Weekly. He gradually transitioned from writing for Music Hall performers to concentrating on short stories and serials for magazine publication. In 1909 he married Rose Elizabeth Knox.
He published his first novel Pause! anonymously in 1910. After penning Little Tich in 1911 (as ghostwriter for the Music Hall entertainer) he issued the first Fu Manchu novel, The Mystery of Dr. Fu-Manchu, was serialized from October 1912 - June 1913. It was an immediate success with its fast-paced story of Denis Nayland Smith and Dr. Petrie facing the worldwide conspiracy of the 'Yellow Peril'. The Fu Manchu stories, together with his more conventional detective series characters—Paul Harley, Gaston Max, Red Kerry, Morris Klaw, and The Crime Magnet—made Rohmer one of the most successful and well-paid authors of the 1920s and 1930s.
Rohmer also wrote several novels of supernatural horror, including Brood of the Witch-Queen. Rohmer was very poor at managing his wealth, however, and made several disastrous business decisions that hampered him throughout his career. His final success came with a series of novels featuring a female variation on Fu Manchu, Sumuru.
After World War II, the Rohmers moved to New York only returning to London shortly before his death. Rohmer died in 1959 due to an outbreak of influenza ("Asian Flu").
There were thirteen books in the Fu Manchu series in all (not counting the posthumous The Wrath of Fu Manchu. The Sumuru series consist of five books.
His wife published her own mystery novel, Bianca in Black in 1954 under the pen name, Elizabeth Sax Rohmer. Some editions of the book mistakenly credit her as Rohmer's daughter. Elizabeth Sax Rohmer and Cay Van Ash, her husband's former assistant, wrote a biography of the author, Master of Villainy, published in 1972.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 1, 2018
Dr. Fu-Manchu returns with a plot to obliterate the white race with a biological plague. Scottish-American botanist Alan Sterling is recovering from a bout of river fever in the house of Dr. Petrie, who is in the South of France investigating a series of strange deaths. Sterling encounters a mysteriously beautiful woman on a nearby beach, and shortly thereafter mayhem ensues. There are Burmese stranglers and shootings and knockout gas and death and a giant spider and Fu-Manchu and his daughter Fah Lo Suee. Sterling blunders his way through until Nayland Smith shows up to save the day. Fu-Manchu also admits to causing the Great Depression, for funsies.
Entertaining as always but what makes this one stand out is the final evolution of Fu-Manchu. In the past he has evaded both capture and death, shown the ability to influence people and events from afar, invent scientifictional devices, and discovered the Fountain of Youth. All that was missing for him to make that last step from Evil Mastermind to True Super Villain was a Secret Lair. Before he has inhabited old Limehouse tenements converted for his use or appropriated someone's mansion, but here he has a complete, purpose built underground complex complete with futuristic sliding doors, intercom, and fluorescent lights. It's not in the side of an active volcano, but now his transformation is complete and now he is the perfect archetype for every Dark Overlord character from Dr. No to Dr. Claw and his Si Fan organization sets the model for every nefarious group seeking world domination from SPECTRE to KAOS.
A truly great villain is written so that you completely hate him or so that in some sense you sympathize with him and almost want him to succeed in his genocidal plot. Dr. Fu-Manchu is far to polite and cultured to hate, and he rarely even touches his enemies and orders them killed without malice, just as a necessity. Sometimes it's the good guys that make you want to pull for the bad guys. Like when Nayland Smith says, "Here in France and at home in England we have an advantage over America: We completely control the press." This from your hero. And as for Alan Sterling, he is a first class pig. When the lovely girl tells him that she speaks 7 languages and has been schooled by world class tutors in several disciplines he asks, "What's the point? One day you'll meet a man and get married then all that learning will be totally useless and wasted." TRIGGERED! Someone carry me to my safe space! When is the next book burning?
Entertaining as always but what makes this one stand out is the final evolution of Fu-Manchu. In the past he has evaded both capture and death, shown the ability to influence people and events from afar, invent scientifictional devices, and discovered the Fountain of Youth. All that was missing for him to make that last step from Evil Mastermind to True Super Villain was a Secret Lair. Before he has inhabited old Limehouse tenements converted for his use or appropriated someone's mansion, but here he has a complete, purpose built underground complex complete with futuristic sliding doors, intercom, and fluorescent lights. It's not in the side of an active volcano, but now his transformation is complete and now he is the perfect archetype for every Dark Overlord character from Dr. No to Dr. Claw and his Si Fan organization sets the model for every nefarious group seeking world domination from SPECTRE to KAOS.
A truly great villain is written so that you completely hate him or so that in some sense you sympathize with him and almost want him to succeed in his genocidal plot. Dr. Fu-Manchu is far to polite and cultured to hate, and he rarely even touches his enemies and orders them killed without malice, just as a necessity. Sometimes it's the good guys that make you want to pull for the bad guys. Like when Nayland Smith says, "Here in France and at home in England we have an advantage over America: We completely control the press." This from your hero. And as for Alan Sterling, he is a first class pig. When the lovely girl tells him that she speaks 7 languages and has been schooled by world class tutors in several disciplines he asks, "What's the point? One day you'll meet a man and get married then all that learning will be totally useless and wasted." TRIGGERED! Someone carry me to my safe space! When is the next book burning?
Read
July 5, 2018Did not finish.
Let's just say that Sax Rohmer has not stood the test of time and leave it at that.
Let's just say that Sax Rohmer has not stood the test of time and leave it at that.
June 18, 2024
Donna mentioned it in her books AHHAHAHAHAH
I was wondering what book Bunny has to put away
I was wondering what book Bunny has to put away
August 22, 2011
This novel, volume 6 of Sax Rohmer's 14 Fu Manchu books, is perhaps the best of the lot so far for the simple reason that we see more of the good Dr. in this tale than in any of the others. The best parts of any Fu Manchu novel are always when Fu himself is present, talking and scheming and gloating and explaining, and in this book we see a LOT of him. This book marks another departure in the series, in that we have a new narrator (the third so far in the series): Alan Sterling, a botanist buddy of our old friend Dr. Petrie. The setting of the book is unique, too--the French Riviera.
As other readers have astutely observed, the plot of this book--spreading biological plague throughout the world--does seem to have influenced Ian Fleming in his later Bond novel, "On Her Majesty's Secret Service." But there are other parallels as well. Fu Manchu's garden of deadly plants could be seen as a precursor to Blofeld's suicide gardens in "You Only Live Twice," and the character of Fu Manchu himself, as has been pointed out elsewhere, would seem to be an inspiration for the later Dr. No. Does anybody out there know whether or not Fleming was a Rohmer fan? Anyway, this is a terrific and fast-moving tale. The high point of the book occurs when Fu Manchu takes Sterling on a tour of his laboratory, showing him all the plant and animal monstrosities that he has created. This section takes up fully 1/4 of the novel, and is a real showstopper. We are also treated to the usual array of Burmese thugs, knockout drugs, opium use, hypnotism, "the Blessing of the Celestial Vision," a sea chase, and even (finally!) the arrest of Fu Manchu himself. Does Fu Manchu get convicted and serve a kajillion years in the slammer, as he deserves? With eight more books in the series to go, what do you think?!?!?!? Anyway, this is an exceptional entry in the Fu Manchu series.
As other readers have astutely observed, the plot of this book--spreading biological plague throughout the world--does seem to have influenced Ian Fleming in his later Bond novel, "On Her Majesty's Secret Service." But there are other parallels as well. Fu Manchu's garden of deadly plants could be seen as a precursor to Blofeld's suicide gardens in "You Only Live Twice," and the character of Fu Manchu himself, as has been pointed out elsewhere, would seem to be an inspiration for the later Dr. No. Does anybody out there know whether or not Fleming was a Rohmer fan? Anyway, this is a terrific and fast-moving tale. The high point of the book occurs when Fu Manchu takes Sterling on a tour of his laboratory, showing him all the plant and animal monstrosities that he has created. This section takes up fully 1/4 of the novel, and is a real showstopper. We are also treated to the usual array of Burmese thugs, knockout drugs, opium use, hypnotism, "the Blessing of the Celestial Vision," a sea chase, and even (finally!) the arrest of Fu Manchu himself. Does Fu Manchu get convicted and serve a kajillion years in the slammer, as he deserves? With eight more books in the series to go, what do you think?!?!?!? Anyway, this is an exceptional entry in the Fu Manchu series.
July 15, 2013
From Shakespeare’s Iago to Satan himself, from Professor Moriarty to Star War’s Darth Vader, Sax Rohmer's creation of the sinister, evil genius, Doctor Fu Manchu, rivals all of these characters as the icon of an evil, genius, mastermind from all of literature. “The Bride of Fu Manchu” is sixth entry in the Fu Manchu series, and interestingly enough, it features a new narrator, Alan Sterling. Although Shan Greville (the narrator from the last two books) is gone, Dr. Petrie, the original narrator, is still here. It is worth noting that Petrie has been allowed to age over the series, and here he is a bit older and wiser than the younger doctor we met in the first book. (It is interesting to note how it is mentioned later in the book that Fu Manchu’s age is unknown; he, on the other hand, does not seem to age.) “The Bride of Fu Manchu” also features more of the character of Fu Manchu than many of the previous books; what is a Fu Manchu book without more of the evil doctor himself!
The story begins on the French Riviera. A strange, unknown epidemic is spreading across the area; in desperation the French authorities bring in Dr. Petrie to try to find an answer to the illness. There to help him is a young botanist, Alan Sterling, who exploring on a day off, discovers a “mysterious woman” on the beach. Strangely, she tells him briefly her name – Fleurette – and quickly leaves the hopelessly captivated Sterling. Later, as the deaths spread, Petrie’s cultures reveal a strange mutated combination of sleeping sickness and plague. Sir Denis Nayland Smith is called in to help, and it is discovered that Petrie himself is sick. Solving the mysterious disease, eventually leads them to the evil genius, Fu Manchu.
Although almost a hundred years old, the plot of “The Bride of Fu Manchu” sounds strangely very contemporary – a form of biological warfare by spreading this “engineered” plague throughout the world by genetically altered insects. The plot is well developed and moves quickly. The settings are clever and descriptive. Sterling’s tour of the laboratory by Fu Manchu and the horrific, experimental insects and plants is vividly described. The oversized spider which can reason is especially creepy. The additional contemporary touch of the “living dead” scientists by the hand of Fu Manchu is marvelously developed; this is just another example of Sax Rohmer’s brilliance as a writer. This is certainly an exceptional entry in the Fu Manchu series.
The old-fashioned writing style in "Daughter of Fu Manchu" (as is true in all the Fu Manchu novels) can be a bit distracting until you get used to it; however, the book, its style, and even the stereotyping is a product of the time and place in which it was written. Rohmer is most famous for creating the infamous evil genius of Fu Manchu who became even more famous in those marvelous black and white movies of the 30's. Several of the early Fu Manchu novels are also available for free on the Kindle and some paperbacks are being re-released, or you can search out the actual books in used bookstores - they are worth the time to discover the great, intellectual (and stereotypical) evil genius who is Fu Manchu.
The story begins on the French Riviera. A strange, unknown epidemic is spreading across the area; in desperation the French authorities bring in Dr. Petrie to try to find an answer to the illness. There to help him is a young botanist, Alan Sterling, who exploring on a day off, discovers a “mysterious woman” on the beach. Strangely, she tells him briefly her name – Fleurette – and quickly leaves the hopelessly captivated Sterling. Later, as the deaths spread, Petrie’s cultures reveal a strange mutated combination of sleeping sickness and plague. Sir Denis Nayland Smith is called in to help, and it is discovered that Petrie himself is sick. Solving the mysterious disease, eventually leads them to the evil genius, Fu Manchu.
Although almost a hundred years old, the plot of “The Bride of Fu Manchu” sounds strangely very contemporary – a form of biological warfare by spreading this “engineered” plague throughout the world by genetically altered insects. The plot is well developed and moves quickly. The settings are clever and descriptive. Sterling’s tour of the laboratory by Fu Manchu and the horrific, experimental insects and plants is vividly described. The oversized spider which can reason is especially creepy. The additional contemporary touch of the “living dead” scientists by the hand of Fu Manchu is marvelously developed; this is just another example of Sax Rohmer’s brilliance as a writer. This is certainly an exceptional entry in the Fu Manchu series.
The old-fashioned writing style in "Daughter of Fu Manchu" (as is true in all the Fu Manchu novels) can be a bit distracting until you get used to it; however, the book, its style, and even the stereotyping is a product of the time and place in which it was written. Rohmer is most famous for creating the infamous evil genius of Fu Manchu who became even more famous in those marvelous black and white movies of the 30's. Several of the early Fu Manchu novels are also available for free on the Kindle and some paperbacks are being re-released, or you can search out the actual books in used bookstores - they are worth the time to discover the great, intellectual (and stereotypical) evil genius who is Fu Manchu.
January 12, 2013
What genre is this exactly? It is a mixture of mystery, horror, science fiction, fantasy with a slice of surrealism thrown in.
As such I found it difficult to relate fully to it. It started quite well with some good descriptive writing about the French Riviera but once Alan Sterling, the hero, had met Fleurette it began to get rather involved, plot-wise.
Disease strikes and people die, or seemingly die, because they later turn up in the laboratory of the living dead. Sterling even finds his good friend Dr Petrie there, much to his surprise for he had seen him die and attended his funeral.
Dr Fu Manchu, a devil incarnate, is determined to take over the world and inflict pain upon it but Sterling, with help from others, goes through a series of surreal adventures in an attempt to prevent world destruction.
Poisonous gases, creeping plants, invidious insects abound but Sterling eventually triumphs, Fu Manchu is captured and incarcerated ... but is he? In an astounding ending he manages to elude his captors and lives to wreak havoc another day.
But I am not so sure I will be joining him!
As such I found it difficult to relate fully to it. It started quite well with some good descriptive writing about the French Riviera but once Alan Sterling, the hero, had met Fleurette it began to get rather involved, plot-wise.
Disease strikes and people die, or seemingly die, because they later turn up in the laboratory of the living dead. Sterling even finds his good friend Dr Petrie there, much to his surprise for he had seen him die and attended his funeral.
Dr Fu Manchu, a devil incarnate, is determined to take over the world and inflict pain upon it but Sterling, with help from others, goes through a series of surreal adventures in an attempt to prevent world destruction.
Poisonous gases, creeping plants, invidious insects abound but Sterling eventually triumphs, Fu Manchu is captured and incarcerated ... but is he? In an astounding ending he manages to elude his captors and lives to wreak havoc another day.
But I am not so sure I will be joining him!
October 20, 2020
So far, this is my least favorite of the Fu-Manchu series of novels. Nonetheless, it is still an entertainingly pulpy read. We get a new narrator, Alan Sterling, and the setting is France. We get some insights into the character of Fu Manchu and into Dr. Petrie's family. In Fu Manchu's Bride, the insidious Doctor is the quintessential mad scientist bent on world domination and the book has more of a science-fiction than crime-noir flavor. So, still a very good slice of pulp, just one I didn't savor quite as much as those that preceded it.
The actual edition I read is a jacketless black hardback, "The Orient Edition," the cover of which contains an uncolored impression of Fu Manchu's head suspended in a spider's web. A spider dangles downward from the web, in which are caught the words "Intrigue," "Mystery," and "Love." "P.F. Collier & Son Corporation, By Special Arrangement With Doubleday, Doran & Company, Inc. Garden City, N.Y." "Copyright 1933 by Sax Rohmer." 319 pages.
The actual edition I read is a jacketless black hardback, "The Orient Edition," the cover of which contains an uncolored impression of Fu Manchu's head suspended in a spider's web. A spider dangles downward from the web, in which are caught the words "Intrigue," "Mystery," and "Love." "P.F. Collier & Son Corporation, By Special Arrangement With Doubleday, Doran & Company, Inc. Garden City, N.Y." "Copyright 1933 by Sax Rohmer." 319 pages.
May 2, 2019
The book has a interesting chapter name like pursuit,the mood the passage creates for me is,its gonna be exciting mostly cause of the chapter name;pursuit.I noticed the word hopelessly first from all other word in a random page.Some of the word i would say is relate able.The chapter named pursuit i would say it symbolize a little picture of the book in a way because since they are still on the look for a medicine for the disease they got.The book is mostly dialogue and some first person from the main character.
The way they probably want us to react to some of the events in a curious way each time to get us hooked and want to read more and more.The main character talks to side character he isn't insane like that,it maybe be that he goes into like another dimension if i would say or like into something supernatural but he isn't crazy like that.The book does have metaphors but it goes with the story/event in order to understand it.
The way they probably want us to react to some of the events in a curious way each time to get us hooked and want to read more and more.The main character talks to side character he isn't insane like that,it maybe be that he goes into like another dimension if i would say or like into something supernatural but he isn't crazy like that.The book does have metaphors but it goes with the story/event in order to understand it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2022
It is most definitely one of the best of the Fu-Manchu stories as it was very creative for being written before World War I.
Alan Sterling is our hero. His story starts out with him encountering a beautiful woman on a beach when he is distracted by a dead body being pulled off a helicopter. Thanks to distraction and the ability to be unable to mind his own business, Sterling soon finds himself trying to stop a plague caused by a virus that can only be spread by insects that carry the deadly disease.
Things get worse for Sterling as he is kidnapped and taken to China where he once again encounters the beautiful woman he met on the beach. Now, Sterling must stop Fu-Manchu, stop the plague, save the girl, and get out of China before anything else goes wrong.
Alan Sterling is our hero. His story starts out with him encountering a beautiful woman on a beach when he is distracted by a dead body being pulled off a helicopter. Thanks to distraction and the ability to be unable to mind his own business, Sterling soon finds himself trying to stop a plague caused by a virus that can only be spread by insects that carry the deadly disease.
Things get worse for Sterling as he is kidnapped and taken to China where he once again encounters the beautiful woman he met on the beach. Now, Sterling must stop Fu-Manchu, stop the plague, save the girl, and get out of China before anything else goes wrong.
January 5, 2024
The more Fu-Manchu the better, and he's in this one plenty. He gives our hero a tour of his south of France underground lair, complete with giant semi intelligent spider, flesh-eating plants, and plague-spreading bugs. And his sexy, only semi-loyal daughter is back. Probably the best of the series.
July 1, 2018
Once again, Fu Manchu TRIES TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD!
May 19, 2020
Dated as you would expect, but I do love a good mad scientist plot. Ironic that I’m reading this now - with a a story centered around the creation of a deadly illness - while COVID is going on.
December 26, 2020
The third 'Fu-Manchu' I've read and, possibly, the best of them. An easy read with exotic overtones and lots of fun action. Don't take them seriously (or yourself) and it's very enjoyable.
July 2, 2021
books this old and this racist shouldn’t be this boring
August 9, 2013
From Shakespeare’s Iago to Satan himself, from Professor Moriarty to Star War’s Darth Vader, Sax Rohmer's creation of the sinister, evil genius, Doctor Fu Manchu, rivals all of these characters as the icon of an evil, genius, mastermind from all of literature. “The Bride of Fu Manchu” is sixth entry in the Fu Manchu series, and interestingly enough, it features a new narrator, Alan Sterling. Although Shan Greville (the narrator from the last two books) is gone, Dr. Petrie, the original narrator, is still here. It is worth noting that Petrie has been allowed to age over the series, and here he is a bit older and wiser than the younger doctor we met in the first book. (It is interesting to note how it is mentioned later in the book that Fu Manchu’s age is unknown; he, on the other hand, does not seem to age.) “The Bride of Fu Manchu” also features more of the character of Fu Manchu than many of the previous books; what is a Fu Manchu book without more of the evil doctor himself!
The story begins on the French Riviera. A strange, unknown epidemic is spreading across the area; in desperation the French authorities bring in Dr. Petrie to try to find an answer to the illness. There to help him is a young botanist, Alan Sterling, who exploring on a day off, discovers a “mysterious woman” on the beach. Strangely, she tells him briefly her name – Fleurette – and quickly leaves the hopelessly captivated Sterling. Later, as the deaths spread, Petrie’s cultures reveal a strange mutated combination of sleeping sickness and plague. Sir Denis Nayland Smith is called in to help, and it is discovered that Petrie himself is sick. Solving the mysterious disease, eventually leads them to the evil genius, Fu Manchu.
Although almost a hundred years old, the plot of “The Bride of Fu Manchu” sounds strangely very contemporary – a form of biological warfare by spreading this “engineered” plague throughout the world by genetically altered insects. The plot is well developed and moves quickly. The settings are clever and descriptive. Sterling’s tour of the laboratory by Fu Manchu and the horrific, experimental insects and plants is vividly described. The oversized spider which can reason is especially creepy. The additional contemporary touch of the “living dead” scientists by the hand of Fu Manchu is marvelously developed; this is just another example of Sax Rohmer’s brilliance as a writer. This is certainly an exceptional entry in the Fu Manchu series.
The story begins on the French Riviera. A strange, unknown epidemic is spreading across the area; in desperation the French authorities bring in Dr. Petrie to try to find an answer to the illness. There to help him is a young botanist, Alan Sterling, who exploring on a day off, discovers a “mysterious woman” on the beach. Strangely, she tells him briefly her name – Fleurette – and quickly leaves the hopelessly captivated Sterling. Later, as the deaths spread, Petrie’s cultures reveal a strange mutated combination of sleeping sickness and plague. Sir Denis Nayland Smith is called in to help, and it is discovered that Petrie himself is sick. Solving the mysterious disease, eventually leads them to the evil genius, Fu Manchu.
Although almost a hundred years old, the plot of “The Bride of Fu Manchu” sounds strangely very contemporary – a form of biological warfare by spreading this “engineered” plague throughout the world by genetically altered insects. The plot is well developed and moves quickly. The settings are clever and descriptive. Sterling’s tour of the laboratory by Fu Manchu and the horrific, experimental insects and plants is vividly described. The oversized spider which can reason is especially creepy. The additional contemporary touch of the “living dead” scientists by the hand of Fu Manchu is marvelously developed; this is just another example of Sax Rohmer’s brilliance as a writer. This is certainly an exceptional entry in the Fu Manchu series.
November 5, 2011
Власти Монте-Карло в панике. Расследование гибели нескольких иностранных туристов показало, что причиной их смерти стала самая настоящая бубонная чума. Приглашенный для борьбы с эпидемией доктор Петри приходит к выводу, что источником заразы является либо экзотическое растение, либо муха цеце. Другое дело, что тому и другому попросту неоткуда взяться в самом центре Европы. В борьбе с вирусом Петри терпит фиаско и впадает в кому, поэтому его место приходится занять Нейланду Смиту и молодому американскому авантюристу Алану Стерлингу, известному в Монте-Карло в качестве профессионального “охотника за орхидеями”.
Смит и Стерлинг находят, что источником чумы является вилла Сент-Клер, ставшая новой штаб-квартирой для самого Фу Манчу. Оказывается, у циничного китайца появился очередной план захвата мирового господства. Доктор решил, что человечество будет покорить гораздо проще, если сократить его количество в десять-двадцать раз.
В пятом романе сериала Сакс Ромер решил устроить тотальный ребрендинг своего любимого персонажа. Если раньше он был талантливым китайским разведчиком, отвечающим за шпионскую сеть в Европе, то теперь все радикально поменялось. Отныне Фу Манчу бессмертен и всемогущ. Повинуясь приказам своего создателя, Нейланд Смит регулярно говорит нам о том, что доктор Фу живет на планете уже далеко не первое столетие, его власть воистину безгранична, а в данный момент его приказам вынуждены подчиняться даже Муссолини и Рузвельт. Вдобавок к этому, “Невеста” оказывается первым произведением сериала, в финале которого доктору Фу не приходится имитировать собственную смерть. Зачем? Для чего? От кого ему скрываться?
Ну и пара слов о самой Невесте. В сериале появился новый женский персонаж по имени Флоретта – та самая Невеста, которой предстоит продолжить династию Доктора в обход мятежной Фа Ло Ше. Нетрудно догадаться кем она приходится доктору Петри. (2007.01.15)
Смит и Стерлинг находят, что источником чумы является вилла Сент-Клер, ставшая новой штаб-квартирой для самого Фу Манчу. Оказывается, у циничного китайца появился очередной план захвата мирового господства. Доктор решил, что человечество будет покорить гораздо проще, если сократить его количество в десять-двадцать раз.
В пятом романе сериала Сакс Ромер решил устроить тотальный ребрендинг своего любимого персонажа. Если раньше он был талантливым китайским разведчиком, отвечающим за шпионскую сеть в Европе, то теперь все радикально поменялось. Отныне Фу Манчу бессмертен и всемогущ. Повинуясь приказам своего создателя, Нейланд Смит регулярно говорит нам о том, что доктор Фу живет на планете уже далеко не первое столетие, его власть воистину безгранична, а в данный момент его приказам вынуждены подчиняться даже Муссолини и Рузвельт. Вдобавок к этому, “Невеста” оказывается первым произведением сериала, в финале которого доктору Фу не приходится имитировать собственную смерть. Зачем? Для чего? От кого ему скрываться?
Ну и пара слов о самой Невесте. В сериале появился новый женский персонаж по имени Флоретта – та самая Невеста, которой предстоит продолжить династию Доктора в обход мятежной Фа Ло Ше. Нетрудно догадаться кем она приходится доктору Петри. (2007.01.15)
February 26, 2009
My roommate John left a Sax Rohmer book out on the kitchen table, bringing back the memory of my introduction to Fu Manchu. Originally I only knew the various movies featuring him starring Warner Oland which appeared occasionally on our local WGN ("World's Greatest Newspaper", the Chicago Tribune being the owner) television station. They weren't so great, but it put Fu and Arthur Henry Sarsfield Ward (aka Sax Rohmer) to mind so that when I was looking for something to read my grandmother's recommendation of his books sufficed to get me into it.
Grandmother was a wonderful woman, but she had this thing about the Chinese which seemed weird at first, but later became understandable as being a quaint revenant of the racial prejudice of her parents' generation. God knows, she probably didn't know any Chinese! Reading Rohmer's books explicated this prejudice. As Wikipedia has it: "Ward was often attacked, even shortly after the Manchu stories were published, for creating a character that reflected 'racist assumptions'. He himself, while 'bemused' at the furore, occasionally defended his character by saying that the portrait was 'fundamentally truthful' because 'criminality was often rampant among the Chinese', especially in Limehouse."
I think I read two or more of Rohmer's book, probably just two though because they weren't very impressive. This was one of them, the "bride of" business having a certain salacious appeal--soon disappointed.
Basically, the Fu Manchu books are an older generation's James Bond as in Dr. No or the nefarious heads of SMERSH.
Grandmother was a wonderful woman, but she had this thing about the Chinese which seemed weird at first, but later became understandable as being a quaint revenant of the racial prejudice of her parents' generation. God knows, she probably didn't know any Chinese! Reading Rohmer's books explicated this prejudice. As Wikipedia has it: "Ward was often attacked, even shortly after the Manchu stories were published, for creating a character that reflected 'racist assumptions'. He himself, while 'bemused' at the furore, occasionally defended his character by saying that the portrait was 'fundamentally truthful' because 'criminality was often rampant among the Chinese', especially in Limehouse."
I think I read two or more of Rohmer's book, probably just two though because they weren't very impressive. This was one of them, the "bride of" business having a certain salacious appeal--soon disappointed.
Basically, the Fu Manchu books are an older generation's James Bond as in Dr. No or the nefarious heads of SMERSH.
April 4, 2016
Unfortunately it was a sign of the times that racist remarks were freely written and accepted by many authors, Sax Rohmer was no different.
That sad fact aside, this series of books was written by the masterful Sax Rohmer where there is no dull moment, no chance of catching your breath, and all the reasons why he was such a great author in each book. A style all his own written at a time when harlots, whores and racy clothing wasn't needed to capture and maintain a readers attention.
Fantastic character development. I couldn't put this book, or any of his other Fu Man Chu works, down.
That sad fact aside, this series of books was written by the masterful Sax Rohmer where there is no dull moment, no chance of catching your breath, and all the reasons why he was such a great author in each book. A style all his own written at a time when harlots, whores and racy clothing wasn't needed to capture and maintain a readers attention.
Fantastic character development. I couldn't put this book, or any of his other Fu Man Chu works, down.
August 19, 2012
This sixth entry in the series, from 1933, features its third male narrator who loses his head over a woman, so the formula remains intact. The scientist-zombies are a new touch, though. And I liked when Fu, remarking that he has "disturbed the currencies of the world," takes credit for the Great Depression. The fiend.
April 3, 2016
Undoubtedly one of the best in the series, fun, silly and over the top as we infiltrate one of the devil doctors establishments on the French Rivera. Fu Manchu himself is in this one a lot, which is always a good sign and the story moves quickly. The "Bride's" identity also comes as a surprise...
January 24, 2016
read SOMETIME in 2009
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