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Fu Manchu #3
The Hand Of Fu-Manchu Being a New Phase in the Activities of Fu-Manchu, the Devil Doctor
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188 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1917
61 people are currently reading
319 people want to read
About the author
Sax Rohmer
486 books123 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 - 30 of 96 reviews
October 13, 2021
First published in 1917, by Arthur Henry Ward (Sax Rohmer), this is the third of the Fu Manchu books, and the last one to be published for another 14 years. Each of the first three books are episodic in nature and clearly written with serial publication in mind for the pulp mags of the day. They feature the redoubtable Nayland Smith as a sort of Sherlock Holmes type, and his trusty sidekick and narrator of the first three books, Dr. Watson Petrie as they continuously try to stop the insidious Dr. Fu Manchu, a criminal mastermind intent on world domination.
The book opens with Smith and Petrie (and us readers) believing that Fu Manchu had been killed in the previous book, but since he was the head of a worldwide criminal organization that continues the nefarious plot to rule the world, they must remain vigilant. I don’t think it’s a spoiler to note that it turns out Fu Manchu is not dead, especially considering there are still eleven more books to come with his name in the title. But he is severely injured and an interesting first episode in the book concerns Dr. Petrie being forced to assist in an operation on him to remove a bullet in his brain.
This book also introduces the Si-Fan, a mysterious Eastern organization dedicated to conquering the Western world. In fact, the original title of these book was “The Si-Fan Mysteries”. Part of the mystery is whether Fu Manchu works for them as one of their operatives or if in fact he is the leader.
The book does follow directly from the previous two volumes and includes several familiar characters, so it is best to read these in order. I’ve seen many reviewers say that after the first two, the reading order doesn’t matter, and maybe it’s not a concern but so far, my recommendation is to go at them in order if that is an option.
The book opens with Smith and Petrie (and us readers) believing that Fu Manchu had been killed in the previous book, but since he was the head of a worldwide criminal organization that continues the nefarious plot to rule the world, they must remain vigilant. I don’t think it’s a spoiler to note that it turns out Fu Manchu is not dead, especially considering there are still eleven more books to come with his name in the title. But he is severely injured and an interesting first episode in the book concerns Dr. Petrie being forced to assist in an operation on him to remove a bullet in his brain.
This book also introduces the Si-Fan, a mysterious Eastern organization dedicated to conquering the Western world. In fact, the original title of these book was “The Si-Fan Mysteries”. Part of the mystery is whether Fu Manchu works for them as one of their operatives or if in fact he is the leader.
The book does follow directly from the previous two volumes and includes several familiar characters, so it is best to read these in order. I’ve seen many reviewers say that after the first two, the reading order doesn’t matter, and maybe it’s not a concern but so far, my recommendation is to go at them in order if that is an option.
August 18, 2014
The review from afar – No. 11
Re-revised forward to these overseas reviews:
As I emulate a yo-yo, I continue to rely on an old-style Kindle 3G for any non-technical reading. I tip my hat to the fine folks at Project Gutenberg: virtually every title I have or will be reading in the near future comes from them.
The Hand of Fu Manchu (UK title, The Si-Fan Mysteries) is the third installment (and ends with the temporary halt) in the duel between Colonial Police Commissioner (with a Royal Roving License) Denis Nayland Smith and his friend and associate (and narrator), Dr. Petrie and the sinister mastermind Doctor Fu Manchu.
For this outing, the prolific and imaginative Sax Rohmer (nee’ Arthur Henry Ward) chose to mix things up. Dr. Petrie has been sojourning in Egypt of all places and must journey back to England at Nayland Smith’s call. While the game may not have been afoot, trouble was stirring and it had a name: Doctor Fu Manchu. And behind the brilliant mind there is the Si-Fan; the organization that holds his allegiance and directs his efforts. Unlike the previous two novels, we see the organization and learn what the Doctor expects from it (and in turn is required to provide). He is to be elevated to a high status within it, but by luck or fate he loses the one thing he must have and instead it comes under the ken of our heroes.
There is still plenty of acrimony between the actors as well as grudging respect, but we see Nayland Smith and Petrie beginning to gain the upper hand. Here, they are not rescued by the diminutive and beautiful Karamaneh, instead they must rescue her (and about time, too!) Just when all seems darkest for the Dark Genius, he is saved by horse-trading by our stalwart Englishmen. (Of course they are compelled into the compact by their own needs, but that doesn’t abate any of the delicious irony – Fu Manchu has been put in the position of granting them clemency more than once before.)
In addition to putting his standard plots on their heads, our author had one more trick up his Oriental robe: at the end of the novel we believe that Fu Manchu has surely met his end. Like Conan Doyle before him, Rohmer had wearied of the character, the demand for more, and possibly the notoriety that it had garnered (it was even then a low-brow attitude towards the Celestials that he was preaching, after all.) So, in this novel he buried the Evil Doctor and planned to leave him there for all time.
Like Sauron, even named evil has a way of re-constituting itself. In the end, Rohmer resisted the siren calls for 3 (if you count to the publication of The Return of Sherlock Holmes) or 5 (if you count to the “prequel”, The Hound of the Baskervilles) years longer that Conan Doyle managed. I haven’t yet read any of these later works, but like ACD, there are more of the post-break tales than there are of the earlier ones. They’re on my list.
As before, the stories were written for serial publication, so the novel is the agglutination of these novelettes. Was the tale planned out in advance, or was it just extended as each new deadline loomed? I can’t tell. If done as a full book, it would still need to be sliced into attractive (i.e. thrilling) segments that were long enough to carry their own tune, but not so long that they took up the entire publication. If done per deadline, then there would have to be some thought (perhaps a smidge more than what Michael Moorcock has described in his pressure-writings) of the overall continuity and final outcome at each step. Without detailed notes from the author it matters very little how the story arouse. What does matter is does it fill the reader’s appetite for action, adventure, and alliteration. (Okay, that last one was just pure indulgence on my part.)
But indulgent is one way of looking at these stories. Here we see an author successfully meet the needs of his readers. Does Sax Rohmer have to be the vilest, meanest racist on the planet to broadly and subtly denigrate other races and cultures? Of course not. Is he a product of his times and the misgivings of the West about the East? Yes, most certainly he is. But I also think that he knew, knew and played these threads to create the story that the buying public wanted. Were they manipulated and fed tales about the “Yellow Peril”? Definitely. Was pandering to this a dive to the sewers (you philosophers can say it is another fallacy of sweeping generalization) in the expectation of selling magazines and books? You betcha!
Show me a writer that has never taken up a popular genre or theme when faced with objective proof that it sells. It’s good enough for the TV News & Sunday Papers (in the guise of “if it bleeds, it leads”), so I think that it’s good enough for popular fiction, too. Sax Rohmer raised himself up from being a music hall writer to the creator of fiction that sold and sold well. I think that deserves recognition no matter what he built his fame upon.
Fu Manchu is a blackguard, a fiend, a criminal who stops at nothing and no one. But he is more than that. He has standards and scruples. They may be (*ahem*) inscrutable until voiced, but they exist. He seeks what he has been directed to and yet, at the same time, He is the archetype for brilliant, evil, fiends bent on world domination. No whack-job with a garrulous streak, he does however spin off into the occasional soliloquy. But when he did it only a few notables had done so before him: Captain Nemo, Professor Moriarty, and so on. On our side of the Pond, it was still “Before the Golden Age of Science Fiction” and Dashiell Hammett was writing, but not Raymond Chandler. To be there when these stories were first published would have been a real treat. Despite the rough edges (part of their appeal originally), these are good stories and Doctor Fu Manchu is a most wonderful adversary!
Three (3.0) Solid Stars for the actual writing, but Four (4.0) Stars awarded for creating one of the Baddest of the Bad Guys of All Time.
You can get this story for free from the Gutenberg Project site.
February 19, 2015
I'm not sure this was the best one to read first.. it's actually the 3rd of the series, but was the first one in the Sax Rohmer reader the library had. I have to say, it really didn't enjoy it. It read very much like a pale copy of Sherlock Holmes to me. Nayland Smith has far less personality and, in fact, doesn't really have any defining characteristics throughout the novel. Dr. Petrie, the Narrator/sidekick, was pretty much completely incompetent... getting kidnapped TWICE by the bad guys, falling asleep on the job, and spending the rest of the time pining over the girl he was hoping to rescue.
Worst of all, Fu Manchu himself is really more of an idea than a character. We're constantly TOLD how he's an evil mastermind, but we're not SHOWN it. He spends the entire book tried to kill Smith, narrowly failing, then running away... that happened, I think, 4 times, then the novel ended. Very disappointing.
Worst of all, Fu Manchu himself is really more of an idea than a character. We're constantly TOLD how he's an evil mastermind, but we're not SHOWN it. He spends the entire book tried to kill Smith, narrowly failing, then running away... that happened, I think, 4 times, then the novel ended. Very disappointing.
January 16, 2016
Another thrilling Nayland Smith / Dr. Petrie adventure plagued by the terrors of Fu Manchu...
April 26, 2019
Couldn’t hang with the racist tone.
April 7, 2021
This was a fun Fu-Manchu book with Petrie allowed much more of a star role than in the past (he's the Dr. Watson of the series). There is also a lot more hypnotism and drug-control (via smoke, needles, or Port) than I recall from the previous books. To be fair, I don't remember tons about the previous books in that way because I was usually racing through the exciting adventures. This book felt a little slower but I enjoyed it a lot anyway.
February 12, 2020
As a child/youth, I have vague memories of seeing a movie or TV show featuring the nefarious Dr. Fu Manchu and I seem to recall him (or someone like him) making an appearance in Scooby Doo cartoons. I also knew that the "fu manchu" mustache was named for this character. Those vague memories and associated details left me pretty much in the dark as to the novels and movies of Dr. Fu Manchu. My reading adventure with the Dr. began with his third book, The Hand of Fu-Manchu.
The style and structure immediately felt familiar. Published in the early 1900s, the writing had that formal feel. It also felt very similar to a Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes story. I sensed a direct parallel between the Fu-Manchu pair of Nayland Smith / Dr. Petrie and the Conan Doyle pair of Holmes / Watson. Smith has his own distinctive methods for puzzling through problems and coming up with solutions. Meanwhile Petrie (also a Doctor) serves as narrator and foil for Smith as he works through the case.
***STEPPING ONTO SOAPBOX***
I've seen some criticism that the book/series is racially insensitive and inaccurate. I can certainly see where these attacks are coming from. The portrayal of Chinese culture in this book can be taken as demeaning and vilifying. Very few Chinese characters with any redeeming qualities at all. Most are either neutral characters (who are found wallowing in vice in opium dens) or evil characters either directly in league with Fu-Manchu or engaged in their own form of civil and cultural disobedience.
While this portrayal is wildly inaccurate, what it does portray is the feeling of "Yellow Peril" that did exist in the time period and persisted for many decades. This certainly does not excuse the author for his one-sided portrayal of Chinese culture but it does help put some perspective on the presentation.
I tried to take the racially charged aspects with a grain of salt in much the same way as when I read Huckleberry Finn. I also try to remind myself that we have come a long way over the course of a century and that we aren't so racially insensitive. Then I see news articles about racial profiling and hate crimes and I cringe to remember that even though we've progressed away from many of these behaviors, many of the underlying attitudes and ideas are still present. There is danger in letting this novel vilify an entire race of people, but I think we need to look at it as a warning and take a look in the mirror and make sure we are not perpetuating those types of behaviors even in small ways.
***GETTING OF THE SOAPBOX***
Back to the main plot and structure of the novel...without spoiling it. I can't compare with other Fu-Manchu books but I felt like the opening to this may have been a slight departure from previous stories. Smith and Petrie seem to have been off on their own pursuits and they're called in on a case with an unclear trajectory. As they realize and acknowledge the involvement of Fu-Manchu, things ramp up in intensity. We learn that Petrie has had a love interest (or at least a crush) in previous stories and she is going to arrive on the scene and be in peril. In addition, each of our protagonists faces danger and tragedy at numerous parts in the story.
Just as I found parallels between Smith/Petrie and Holmes/Watson, I found the general structure of adventure to be familiar. At the same time, it had some great twists and nuances that I really enjoyed. I was impressed by some of the surprises the author sprung on our heroes and the readers. There were a number of moments I found myself taken off guard and excited to see what happened next.
I particularly liked the character of Fu-Manchu. Unlike Professor Moriarty (who I felt like I didn't get to know very much), I felt like this book really explored the character of Dr. Fu-Manchu. He shows up in lengthy scenes where we get to watch his scheming and learn of his plans. We hear numerous conversations between he and his henchmen as they plot or as he gives instruction. We also see how viscously cruel he can be but also that he has some code of honor that he follows.
*** MINOR SPOILER ***
One scene that I particularly enjoyed for its portrayal of the evil Doctor was when he captured Dr. Petrie. His goal wasn't merely to use Petrie as bait for a trap or to torture him for information. Fu-Manchu had a much different need for Petrie. The scene involving the two men was suspenseful, tense and well written. Part of me wanted to doubt the credulity of the actions but the rest of me found joy and intrigue into what it revealed about Fu-Manchu's character.
*** END SPOILER ***
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was a fun adventure with creative and exciting twists and turns. The racial negativity is its biggest downside and while that can certainly be ignored, doing so does a greater disservice to the treat and reality of racism. I feel that the book can, and should, be read and enjoyed but that readers should be willing to have an open conversation (with themselves or others) about the racial problems with the book and what they can/should learn from them. I am willing and interested in reading more adventures of Fu-Manchu.
***
3.5 out of 5 stars
The style and structure immediately felt familiar. Published in the early 1900s, the writing had that formal feel. It also felt very similar to a Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes story. I sensed a direct parallel between the Fu-Manchu pair of Nayland Smith / Dr. Petrie and the Conan Doyle pair of Holmes / Watson. Smith has his own distinctive methods for puzzling through problems and coming up with solutions. Meanwhile Petrie (also a Doctor) serves as narrator and foil for Smith as he works through the case.
***STEPPING ONTO SOAPBOX***
I've seen some criticism that the book/series is racially insensitive and inaccurate. I can certainly see where these attacks are coming from. The portrayal of Chinese culture in this book can be taken as demeaning and vilifying. Very few Chinese characters with any redeeming qualities at all. Most are either neutral characters (who are found wallowing in vice in opium dens) or evil characters either directly in league with Fu-Manchu or engaged in their own form of civil and cultural disobedience.
While this portrayal is wildly inaccurate, what it does portray is the feeling of "Yellow Peril" that did exist in the time period and persisted for many decades. This certainly does not excuse the author for his one-sided portrayal of Chinese culture but it does help put some perspective on the presentation.
I tried to take the racially charged aspects with a grain of salt in much the same way as when I read Huckleberry Finn. I also try to remind myself that we have come a long way over the course of a century and that we aren't so racially insensitive. Then I see news articles about racial profiling and hate crimes and I cringe to remember that even though we've progressed away from many of these behaviors, many of the underlying attitudes and ideas are still present. There is danger in letting this novel vilify an entire race of people, but I think we need to look at it as a warning and take a look in the mirror and make sure we are not perpetuating those types of behaviors even in small ways.
***GETTING OF THE SOAPBOX***
Back to the main plot and structure of the novel...without spoiling it. I can't compare with other Fu-Manchu books but I felt like the opening to this may have been a slight departure from previous stories. Smith and Petrie seem to have been off on their own pursuits and they're called in on a case with an unclear trajectory. As they realize and acknowledge the involvement of Fu-Manchu, things ramp up in intensity. We learn that Petrie has had a love interest (or at least a crush) in previous stories and she is going to arrive on the scene and be in peril. In addition, each of our protagonists faces danger and tragedy at numerous parts in the story.
Just as I found parallels between Smith/Petrie and Holmes/Watson, I found the general structure of adventure to be familiar. At the same time, it had some great twists and nuances that I really enjoyed. I was impressed by some of the surprises the author sprung on our heroes and the readers. There were a number of moments I found myself taken off guard and excited to see what happened next.
I particularly liked the character of Fu-Manchu. Unlike Professor Moriarty (who I felt like I didn't get to know very much), I felt like this book really explored the character of Dr. Fu-Manchu. He shows up in lengthy scenes where we get to watch his scheming and learn of his plans. We hear numerous conversations between he and his henchmen as they plot or as he gives instruction. We also see how viscously cruel he can be but also that he has some code of honor that he follows.
*** MINOR SPOILER ***
One scene that I particularly enjoyed for its portrayal of the evil Doctor was when he captured Dr. Petrie. His goal wasn't merely to use Petrie as bait for a trap or to torture him for information. Fu-Manchu had a much different need for Petrie. The scene involving the two men was suspenseful, tense and well written. Part of me wanted to doubt the credulity of the actions but the rest of me found joy and intrigue into what it revealed about Fu-Manchu's character.
*** END SPOILER ***
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was a fun adventure with creative and exciting twists and turns. The racial negativity is its biggest downside and while that can certainly be ignored, doing so does a greater disservice to the treat and reality of racism. I feel that the book can, and should, be read and enjoyed but that readers should be willing to have an open conversation (with themselves or others) about the racial problems with the book and what they can/should learn from them. I am willing and interested in reading more adventures of Fu-Manchu.
***
3.5 out of 5 stars
May 8, 2025
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
The Hand of Fu-Manchu was a tough one for me. I went in expecting something thrilling and mysterious, but instead it felt more like a darker, slightly chaotic episode of Scooby-Doo. The plot moved in a way that often felt disjointed, like we were jumping from one villainous scheme to the next without much real buildup or payoff.
There were moments where things would suddenly happen—someone collapses, something explodes, or there's a sudden twist—and the characters would immediately chalk it up to Fu-Manchu or the Si-Fan, even if there wasn’t much leading up to it. It made the story feel a bit forced, like the villain was being used more as a catch-all excuse than an actual character with a presence.
The structure also got repetitive. One of the main characters nearly dies several times, and while that’s supposed to raise the stakes, it started to lose impact and feel more like filler. I found myself losing interest pretty early on, but I stuck with it in hopes it would come together by the end. Unfortunately, it never quite did for me.
That said, I can see why the Fu-Manchu stories have a place in classic pulp fiction. There’s a certain nostalgic charm in the style, and the writing does have some strong atmospheric moments. It just wasn’t a great fit for my tastes. If you enjoy old-school adventure thrillers with a bit of melodrama and don’t mind a loose narrative, you might enjoy this more than I did.
The Hand of Fu-Manchu was a tough one for me. I went in expecting something thrilling and mysterious, but instead it felt more like a darker, slightly chaotic episode of Scooby-Doo. The plot moved in a way that often felt disjointed, like we were jumping from one villainous scheme to the next without much real buildup or payoff.
There were moments where things would suddenly happen—someone collapses, something explodes, or there's a sudden twist—and the characters would immediately chalk it up to Fu-Manchu or the Si-Fan, even if there wasn’t much leading up to it. It made the story feel a bit forced, like the villain was being used more as a catch-all excuse than an actual character with a presence.
The structure also got repetitive. One of the main characters nearly dies several times, and while that’s supposed to raise the stakes, it started to lose impact and feel more like filler. I found myself losing interest pretty early on, but I stuck with it in hopes it would come together by the end. Unfortunately, it never quite did for me.
That said, I can see why the Fu-Manchu stories have a place in classic pulp fiction. There’s a certain nostalgic charm in the style, and the writing does have some strong atmospheric moments. It just wasn’t a great fit for my tastes. If you enjoy old-school adventure thrillers with a bit of melodrama and don’t mind a loose narrative, you might enjoy this more than I did.
April 1, 2017
Routine and quaint. Exoticism is the only aspect of this novel that differentiates this story from so many others of the period.
Thin characterization and clumsy writing. But if you can reset your "quality control" and enjoy guilty pleasures on occasion you may enjoy.
Thin characterization and clumsy writing. But if you can reset your "quality control" and enjoy guilty pleasures on occasion you may enjoy.
February 5, 2013
Sax Rohmer in his book, “The Hand of Fu-Manchu” Book Three in the Dr. Fu-Manchu series published by Titan Books brings us new adventures of Sir Denis Nayland Smith, Dr. Petrie and, of course, the evil Dr. Fu-Manchu.
From the Back Cover: “Imagine a person, tall, lean, and feline, high-shouldered, with a brow like Shakespeare and a face like Satan…”
London, 1913—the era of Sherlock Holmes, Dracula, and the Invisible Man. A time of shadows, secret societies, and dens filled with opium addicts. Into this world comes the most fantastic emissary of evil society has ever known… Fu-Manchu.
A sealed box and murder most foul call Nayland Smith and Dr. Petrie back from distant Egypt to the fog-enshrouded streets of London. There they discover that Dr. Fu-Manchu is an agent of a vast and deadly organization–one which will stop at nothing to achieve its ruthless goals.
Afterword by Leslie S. Kilnger
He’s back! Dr. Fu-Manchu returns and this time the danger is even greater for Sir Denis Nayland Smith and his partner, Dr. Petrie than their previous run in with him. Now they are the target of the deadly Si-Fan, Secret Oriental society intent on world domination. Dealing with this tricky Doctor is like playing a high level chess game. Move, counter move, first Fu-Manchu is on the offensive and it takes all the skills of our heroic duo to keep up with him. Then Smith and Petrie take on the offensive and just when you think they have him he escapes to keep the game going. “The Hand of Fu-Manchu” is a thriller, no doubt about it. Smith and Petrie’s lives are in great danger from page one and the danger grows with the body count. Just when you think you might know where the story is heading Mr. Rohmer tosses in another turn which you take at high-speed on two wheels. Mr. Rohmer writes in a breathless style that will keep you on the edge of your seat, flipping pages as fast as you can read them just trying to keep up with runaway roller coaster ride story. Yes, this book was originally written in 1917 and the characterization of Dr. Fu-Manchu is completely racist but fits perfectly with the atmosphere at the time they were written. If you can put that aside “The Hand of Fu-Manchu” is the perfect read to get your adrenalin going and root for the good guys to conquer a menace that is almost supremely evil. This is a wild ride read and I recommend it highly. This is a high-octane series and I am so glad that Titan Books is bringing the whole series back. I am really looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Titan Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
From the Back Cover: “Imagine a person, tall, lean, and feline, high-shouldered, with a brow like Shakespeare and a face like Satan…”
London, 1913—the era of Sherlock Holmes, Dracula, and the Invisible Man. A time of shadows, secret societies, and dens filled with opium addicts. Into this world comes the most fantastic emissary of evil society has ever known… Fu-Manchu.
A sealed box and murder most foul call Nayland Smith and Dr. Petrie back from distant Egypt to the fog-enshrouded streets of London. There they discover that Dr. Fu-Manchu is an agent of a vast and deadly organization–one which will stop at nothing to achieve its ruthless goals.
Afterword by Leslie S. Kilnger
He’s back! Dr. Fu-Manchu returns and this time the danger is even greater for Sir Denis Nayland Smith and his partner, Dr. Petrie than their previous run in with him. Now they are the target of the deadly Si-Fan, Secret Oriental society intent on world domination. Dealing with this tricky Doctor is like playing a high level chess game. Move, counter move, first Fu-Manchu is on the offensive and it takes all the skills of our heroic duo to keep up with him. Then Smith and Petrie take on the offensive and just when you think they have him he escapes to keep the game going. “The Hand of Fu-Manchu” is a thriller, no doubt about it. Smith and Petrie’s lives are in great danger from page one and the danger grows with the body count. Just when you think you might know where the story is heading Mr. Rohmer tosses in another turn which you take at high-speed on two wheels. Mr. Rohmer writes in a breathless style that will keep you on the edge of your seat, flipping pages as fast as you can read them just trying to keep up with runaway roller coaster ride story. Yes, this book was originally written in 1917 and the characterization of Dr. Fu-Manchu is completely racist but fits perfectly with the atmosphere at the time they were written. If you can put that aside “The Hand of Fu-Manchu” is the perfect read to get your adrenalin going and root for the good guys to conquer a menace that is almost supremely evil. This is a wild ride read and I recommend it highly. This is a high-octane series and I am so glad that Titan Books is bringing the whole series back. I am really looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
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September 1, 2012
Reviewed for Hearts on Fire Reviews. Review copy (print) received via Hearts on Fire Reviews, from publisher (Titan Books) in exchange for my provision of a fair and impartial review.
Readers of my reviews will know that I have been a confirmed aficionado of the wily Oriental villain Dr. Fu Manchu and his determined British adversary Sir Denis Nayland Smith since tiny childhood. I’ve always found Smith and sidekick Dr. Petrie more appealing than Holmes and Watson (shocker), perhaps because Sax Rohmer’s illustrious duo are less aloof, more intelligent (Dr. Petrie is definitely a notch above Dr. Watson in the intellectual realm). In a sense, Nayland Smith is a “sexier” hero meaning I find him far more appealing than the very reserved Holmes. None of this, of course, is meant in any way to denigrate Holmes, whom I do admire; but only to say that if exiled to a remote locale with the choice of novels, Nayland Smith and his elusive target Fu-Manchu would be among the first choices to keep.
“The Hand of Fu-Manchu” begins with a bang: Dr. Petrie has been suddenly recalled from his pleasurable travels in Egypt, back to London to meet up with Smith. A British emissary who is considered the world’s expert on the secretive land of Tibet (remember, original publication was in 1917) has returned inexplicably to London and gone into hiding, concealing a bizarre engraved chest. Unfortunately, the man dies mysteriously before he can reveal any information to Smith, who confiscates the chest and becomes himself the target of the deadly Si-Fan, a secret Eastern society which surpasses even those of which conspiracy theorists today surmise.
Despite the fact that Sax Rohmer published nearly a century ago, his writing is still superb, still enchanting, and really a speedy read, because the reader becomes so caught up in the plotting and characterizations that the end is reached all unthinkingly. Do yourself a favour and pick up “The Hand of Fu-Manchu,” and then get on with the rest of the series. You’ll be ecstatic that you did. I applaud Titan Books for their foresight in bringing Sax Rohmer, and Fu Manchu, back into ready availability.
Readers of my reviews will know that I have been a confirmed aficionado of the wily Oriental villain Dr. Fu Manchu and his determined British adversary Sir Denis Nayland Smith since tiny childhood. I’ve always found Smith and sidekick Dr. Petrie more appealing than Holmes and Watson (shocker), perhaps because Sax Rohmer’s illustrious duo are less aloof, more intelligent (Dr. Petrie is definitely a notch above Dr. Watson in the intellectual realm). In a sense, Nayland Smith is a “sexier” hero meaning I find him far more appealing than the very reserved Holmes. None of this, of course, is meant in any way to denigrate Holmes, whom I do admire; but only to say that if exiled to a remote locale with the choice of novels, Nayland Smith and his elusive target Fu-Manchu would be among the first choices to keep.
“The Hand of Fu-Manchu” begins with a bang: Dr. Petrie has been suddenly recalled from his pleasurable travels in Egypt, back to London to meet up with Smith. A British emissary who is considered the world’s expert on the secretive land of Tibet (remember, original publication was in 1917) has returned inexplicably to London and gone into hiding, concealing a bizarre engraved chest. Unfortunately, the man dies mysteriously before he can reveal any information to Smith, who confiscates the chest and becomes himself the target of the deadly Si-Fan, a secret Eastern society which surpasses even those of which conspiracy theorists today surmise.
Despite the fact that Sax Rohmer published nearly a century ago, his writing is still superb, still enchanting, and really a speedy read, because the reader becomes so caught up in the plotting and characterizations that the end is reached all unthinkingly. Do yourself a favour and pick up “The Hand of Fu-Manchu,” and then get on with the rest of the series. You’ll be ecstatic that you did. I applaud Titan Books for their foresight in bringing Sax Rohmer, and Fu Manchu, back into ready availability.
November 28, 2018
The Hand of Fu-Manchu is the 3rd book in the Dr. Fu-Manchu series by English writer, Sax Rohmer. It was originally published in 1917 as The Si-Fan Mysteries.
In the 2nd book, Fu-Manchu disappears. The third book finds Nayland Smith and his friend and assistant Dr. Petrie called back to London with a new threat to England and even the world. The threat is a secret cult / organization from Asia, the Si-Fan, which uses occult practices and strange mysterious people to try to take out Smith and Petrie. It turns out that Fu-Manchu was one of the senior members of Si-Fan.
The story is more like a collection of events as Smith and Petrie, along with faithful Scotland Yard detective Weymouth battle against the serious threat and find themselves backed against the wall in pretty well every chapter; especially poor Dr. Petrie. The book is more like one of those serials that used to start off a Saturday matinee (if you are old enough to remember them), with each chapter finding the duo in dire straits and hoping to survive for another chapter.
Smith and Petrie are very much like Holmes and Watson, sturdy, and. smart (even though they often seem to be caught up in these situations) and make an interesting duo. The stories are all well-crafted, described very well and action-packed. I think that people would now call them politically incorrect, what with the constant threat of the 'yellow peril' but consider instead that Fu-Manchu is Smith and Petrie's Professor Moriarity, an arch enemy that they need to find and destroy.
All in all, it's another entertaining chapter in the Fu-Manchu adventure, thriller series. If you want a quick entertaining read, it's worth trying (3.5 stars).
In the 2nd book, Fu-Manchu disappears. The third book finds Nayland Smith and his friend and assistant Dr. Petrie called back to London with a new threat to England and even the world. The threat is a secret cult / organization from Asia, the Si-Fan, which uses occult practices and strange mysterious people to try to take out Smith and Petrie. It turns out that Fu-Manchu was one of the senior members of Si-Fan.
The story is more like a collection of events as Smith and Petrie, along with faithful Scotland Yard detective Weymouth battle against the serious threat and find themselves backed against the wall in pretty well every chapter; especially poor Dr. Petrie. The book is more like one of those serials that used to start off a Saturday matinee (if you are old enough to remember them), with each chapter finding the duo in dire straits and hoping to survive for another chapter.
Smith and Petrie are very much like Holmes and Watson, sturdy, and. smart (even though they often seem to be caught up in these situations) and make an interesting duo. The stories are all well-crafted, described very well and action-packed. I think that people would now call them politically incorrect, what with the constant threat of the 'yellow peril' but consider instead that Fu-Manchu is Smith and Petrie's Professor Moriarity, an arch enemy that they need to find and destroy.
All in all, it's another entertaining chapter in the Fu-Manchu adventure, thriller series. If you want a quick entertaining read, it's worth trying (3.5 stars).
May 3, 2012
The sinister doctor returns again in "The Hand of Fu Manchu," and this time the Devil Doctor is not alone. "The Hand of Fu Manchu," also known as "The Si-Fan Mysteries," is the third of 14 Fu Manchu books that Sax Rohmer gave the world. Now Sir Denis Nayland Smith, Doctor Petrie, and their associates encounter baffling mystery after mystery in one of London's newest hotels and then elsewhere in London itself. Eventually, they learn of a new and deadly organization that stalks the shadows; Fu Manchu is but part of this larger organization. Their evil goal is to undermine the balance of global power, and they allow no one to stand in their way. They are the very powerful terrorist assassins known as the Si-Fan. The Fu Manchu books are well written and, as this one, they start quickly drawing the reader into a web of intrigue.
Sax Rohmer wrote the Fu Manchu stories between 1912 and the late 1950s. Rohmer's creation of the sinister, evil genius, Fu Manchu, rivals Doyle's Professor Moriarty as an icon of en evil, genius, mastermind. Rohmer's work also appears to bridge the mystery genre from Holmes to Christie's Poirot and Bigger's Charlie Chan books. Sax Rohmer is most famous for creating the infamous character of Fu Manchu who later became even more famous in the black and white movies of the 30's. Fu Manchu was portrayed in various films by Boris Karloff in the 1930's. Several of the first Fu Manchu novels are also available for free on the Kindle or 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. Some editions are currently being re-released in paperback and more are destined for the Kindle as well.
Sax Rohmer wrote the Fu Manchu stories between 1912 and the late 1950s. Rohmer's creation of the sinister, evil genius, Fu Manchu, rivals Doyle's Professor Moriarty as an icon of en evil, genius, mastermind. Rohmer's work also appears to bridge the mystery genre from Holmes to Christie's Poirot and Bigger's Charlie Chan books. Sax Rohmer is most famous for creating the infamous character of Fu Manchu who later became even more famous in the black and white movies of the 30's. Fu Manchu was portrayed in various films by Boris Karloff in the 1930's. Several of the first Fu Manchu novels are also available for free on the Kindle or 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. Some editions are currently being re-released in paperback and more are destined for the Kindle as well.
August 16, 2021
This one was not quite as enjoyable as the first two. It was quite episodic, with a lot of repetition and very thin characterization. Honestly, it was only interesting when Fu Manchu was actually present and talking, which was not often. This novel felt more like three thinly linked novellas than one cohesive novel. It was interesting to learn of the Si-Phan, the organization that Fu Manchu is part of. Apparently Fu Manchu dies again (via shipwreck this time) but his body isn't seen so... LOL. He'll be back, I am sure. I also liked seeing a Cult of Asmodius referenced - the final scene is in a lost temple to Asmodius.
Aside from the thin characterizations, and the clear Sherlock-Watson copying done to create Smith and Petrie, one issue with the writing is that instead of showing us what Smith is doing, we are simply told in massive expositions whenever Petrie catches up with Smith. Also, although we are told how Fu Manchu is a genius of evil, we never really are shown this. I don't really get what the plot is other than "Stop Fu-Manchu."
Aside from the thin characterizations, and the clear Sherlock-Watson copying done to create Smith and Petrie, one issue with the writing is that instead of showing us what Smith is doing, we are simply told in massive expositions whenever Petrie catches up with Smith. Also, although we are told how Fu Manchu is a genius of evil, we never really are shown this. I don't really get what the plot is other than "Stop Fu-Manchu."
March 27, 2012
White people of Europe beware! Your sovereignty is yet again under attack by the heinous, devil-worshiping Yellow threat! (Now with more villainy, more burning opium dens, more perilous double-crosses, more hidden passages, more black panthers, more scorpions, more beautiful women of unknown ethnic origin, and more Dr. Fu-Manchu.)
August 7, 2017
I'm sticking with my radio serial analogy. Some good scenes in this one (trapped on the hashish house rooftop with the fire raging, tunnel filled with deadly bugs, Fu's brain surgery). Nayland Smith seems wired to the point of overload and Petrie's still annoying. I think I like these better than Doc Savage...
September 25, 2017
Although I discovered the racist, pulpy Fu-Manchu novels of Sax Rohmer when a high school friend loaned me a copy during the height of the James Bond spy craze, it wasn’t until many years later that I remembered that I had watched a television adventure show with an evil mastermind when I had been much younger. The television show (Yes, it was about Fu-Manchu!) had been one of those typical Hollywood efforts where a Caucasian actor played the major Asian character (as in Mr. Moto and Charlie Chan films). Not being Asian, I enjoyed the show because of its adventure elements just as, in high school, I enjoyed the novels as a sort of James Bond at the turn of the 20th century. Instead of SMERSH, Nayland Smith was battling the insidious Si-Fan masterminded by the title character. I loved the descriptions of contemporary settings and lifestyles when Rohmer wrote these novels though, of course, these were historical attributes by the time I was reading them.
The Hand of Fu-Manchu is not even a guilty pleasure for that majority of our population who are easily offended by humorous memes, routines, shows, and social media which use irony and exaggeration. Although the reader may be horrified by the references to “hell fiends” (p. 172), “Yellow Peril” (p. 19), “yellow fiend of hell” (p. 43), “Far Eastern deviltries” (p. 87), and “devouring tide of the Yellow” (p. 140), as well as descriptions like this one of a femme fatale: “Clearly she was a half-caste of some kind; probably a Eurasian.” (p. 17) Even the eponymous villain makes a racial generalization when he tells our narrator, “Shall we then determine your immediate future upon the turn of a card, as the gamester within me, within every one of my race, suggests?” (p. 82)
That disclaimer whipped into, perhaps, an overblown frenzy, let me suggest that The Hand of Fu-Manchu is a paradigmatic pulp adventure. Opium dens, secret passages, secret societies, major coincidences, and escapes reminiscent of the first minute of each succeeding chapter of an old movie serial. The latter, of course, was the way the serials would back up to the cliffhanger where you were certain the “good guys” or their romantic interests were sure goners. Then, one would see a few frames where a protagonist jumped out of plane, train, or car before the crash, a “good guy” escapes a building just seconds before an explosion, or some other deus ex machina. In fact, the short chapters that Rohmer has divided his story into are something like those adventures in the serials.
Anyone who enjoys mysterious traps, esoteric potions and substances, improbable rescues, and implausible (and, in this case, mostly undefined) conspiracies is likely to enjoy The Hand of Fu-Manchu, the third volume in the saga written roughly contemporaneously with WWI, will enjoy this romp in the past. This isn’t a masterpiece; it’s just entertaining. Provided you read older books where less cultural and racial sensitivity and appreciation with the reserved judgment I like to show, it can be a rewarding experience. If you are the kind of reader who puts everything in the context of the present, stay away from this old-style (and sadly racist) treatment.
The Hand of Fu-Manchu is not even a guilty pleasure for that majority of our population who are easily offended by humorous memes, routines, shows, and social media which use irony and exaggeration. Although the reader may be horrified by the references to “hell fiends” (p. 172), “Yellow Peril” (p. 19), “yellow fiend of hell” (p. 43), “Far Eastern deviltries” (p. 87), and “devouring tide of the Yellow” (p. 140), as well as descriptions like this one of a femme fatale: “Clearly she was a half-caste of some kind; probably a Eurasian.” (p. 17) Even the eponymous villain makes a racial generalization when he tells our narrator, “Shall we then determine your immediate future upon the turn of a card, as the gamester within me, within every one of my race, suggests?” (p. 82)
That disclaimer whipped into, perhaps, an overblown frenzy, let me suggest that The Hand of Fu-Manchu is a paradigmatic pulp adventure. Opium dens, secret passages, secret societies, major coincidences, and escapes reminiscent of the first minute of each succeeding chapter of an old movie serial. The latter, of course, was the way the serials would back up to the cliffhanger where you were certain the “good guys” or their romantic interests were sure goners. Then, one would see a few frames where a protagonist jumped out of plane, train, or car before the crash, a “good guy” escapes a building just seconds before an explosion, or some other deus ex machina. In fact, the short chapters that Rohmer has divided his story into are something like those adventures in the serials.
Anyone who enjoys mysterious traps, esoteric potions and substances, improbable rescues, and implausible (and, in this case, mostly undefined) conspiracies is likely to enjoy The Hand of Fu-Manchu, the third volume in the saga written roughly contemporaneously with WWI, will enjoy this romp in the past. This isn’t a masterpiece; it’s just entertaining. Provided you read older books where less cultural and racial sensitivity and appreciation with the reserved judgment I like to show, it can be a rewarding experience. If you are the kind of reader who puts everything in the context of the present, stay away from this old-style (and sadly racist) treatment.
January 31, 2018
Dr. Fu-Manchu is alive! Surprise! It takes more than a bullet to the brain to keep a good Yellow Menace down. Dr. Fu-Manchu is so evil that when he is in town even the fog is Yellow. Nayland Smith and Dr. Petrie return to London just in time to not prevent a murder, as usual. In the process they come into possession of a mysterious box and learn about the sinister association that Dr. Fu-Manchu works for, the Si-Fan. They proceed James Bond style to attempt to thwart the Si-Fan, which means they blunder in with half a plan right into the heart of the villain's lair, get captured, and escape by a combination of dumb luck and Fu Manchu's refusal to just shoot them in the head when he has the chance. They are introduced to a new rogue, a strangely beautiful Eastern woman with hypnotic powers, and Dr. Petrie's love interest also returns, mostly to act as hostage and speak rarely, though she still has wonderful ankles.
The settings and the wordplay are again more entertaining than the plot. In 1917 England the world is apparently divided into three parts: the White part (Civilization), the Negro part (they make good servants), and the Eastern part. The Eastern part encompasses everything from Istanbul to the Philippines, including Greeks, Jews, Egyptians, Moroccans, Arabs, Persians, Indostanis, Burmese, Chinese, Japanese, Mongolians, and probably Hawaiians. Being from the East makes them of suspect moral character and possibly even dangerous, unlike the upstanding and correct British.
Always amusing are the anachronisms. In London of 1917 men smoke cigars, pipes, dip snuff, and even the women smoke cigarettes. The police have to hail a cab or commandeer a motor boat to move about, and a hotel can be recognized as the height of luxury if it has a telephone in EVERY room. One wears one's sitting clothes for sitting and naturally must change into one's walking clothes if one would choose to go for a stroll. The thought that an unmarried woman might be kidnapped is less appalling than the idea that she might be left unchaperoned in a bachelor's apartment. My favorite: Needing a light at night, because Dr. Fu-Manchu is like Batman and is only active at night, they take the acetylene headlight off a Rolls-Royce to use as a flashlight.
This story is disjointed and not particularly well written. The separate incidents do not fit together well. At one point Dr. Petrie discovers a secret meeting of the Si-Fan through a series of coincidences so ridiculous that I was waiting for Dr. Fu-Manchu to reveal that he had led him there to trap him. Not Sax Rohmer's best effort.
SPOILER ALERT: Dr. Fu-Manchu dies at the end. I have every confidence that he will recover in time for the next book.
The settings and the wordplay are again more entertaining than the plot. In 1917 England the world is apparently divided into three parts: the White part (Civilization), the Negro part (they make good servants), and the Eastern part. The Eastern part encompasses everything from Istanbul to the Philippines, including Greeks, Jews, Egyptians, Moroccans, Arabs, Persians, Indostanis, Burmese, Chinese, Japanese, Mongolians, and probably Hawaiians. Being from the East makes them of suspect moral character and possibly even dangerous, unlike the upstanding and correct British.
Always amusing are the anachronisms. In London of 1917 men smoke cigars, pipes, dip snuff, and even the women smoke cigarettes. The police have to hail a cab or commandeer a motor boat to move about, and a hotel can be recognized as the height of luxury if it has a telephone in EVERY room. One wears one's sitting clothes for sitting and naturally must change into one's walking clothes if one would choose to go for a stroll. The thought that an unmarried woman might be kidnapped is less appalling than the idea that she might be left unchaperoned in a bachelor's apartment. My favorite: Needing a light at night, because Dr. Fu-Manchu is like Batman and is only active at night, they take the acetylene headlight off a Rolls-Royce to use as a flashlight.
This story is disjointed and not particularly well written. The separate incidents do not fit together well. At one point Dr. Petrie discovers a secret meeting of the Si-Fan through a series of coincidences so ridiculous that I was waiting for Dr. Fu-Manchu to reveal that he had led him there to trap him. Not Sax Rohmer's best effort.
SPOILER ALERT: Dr. Fu-Manchu dies at the end. I have every confidence that he will recover in time for the next book.
September 18, 2019
Since the first two books of this series, Sax Rohmer's writing style seems to have improved somewhat. But "The Hand of Fu Manchu" suffers from the same flaws as the previous two entries in the Fu Manchu series. Instead of reading like a novel, like a continuous story, "Hand" is a litany of incidents and adventures the heroes, Nayland Smith and Dr. Petrie stumble through. Maybe it would have helped if we told or shown exactly what Fu Manchu and Ki-Ming's schemes to take over Western civilization were. Instead, they remain vague, involving a box, involving killing this person or that because reasons. We're never told exactly how these things will help the "Yellow peril" triumph (and yes, this time is hella racist). We, the readers, are supposed to simply accept the schemes are dangerous.
Even more helpful would be making Fu Manchu more of a physical presence and more directly active in the events of the story. I suppose Rohmer thought the less we actually encounter and have scenes with Fu Manchu, the more mysterious he would be. Unfortunately, it's hard to view him as much of a threat when he's barely present in the book.
So far, I'm really not seeing why so many people were at one time huge fans of the Fu Manchu series. They're very lacking in substance and thrills and a sense of real danger to me. The first three books are pure fluff.
Even more helpful would be making Fu Manchu more of a physical presence and more directly active in the events of the story. I suppose Rohmer thought the less we actually encounter and have scenes with Fu Manchu, the more mysterious he would be. Unfortunately, it's hard to view him as much of a threat when he's barely present in the book.
So far, I'm really not seeing why so many people were at one time huge fans of the Fu Manchu series. They're very lacking in substance and thrills and a sense of real danger to me. The first three books are pure fluff.
July 12, 2021
I really can’t emphasize how deeply racist this book is, White Supremacy is as thoroughly and irrevocably a part of this it as flour is a part of bread. But I feel like as a white person I have a MUCH better understanding of the roots of anti-Asian racism after reading it, in a similar way to how reading Gone With the Wind gave me a lot more context as to why there are still so many confederate apologists in the United States. And similarly to Gone With the Wind I can see why so many people have read and enjoyed this book over the years, the prose are quite nice and approachable and if I wasn’t overwhelmingly distracted by the colonial ignorance and overt racism of the author I would have naïvely thought it was just a fun little adventure story. It’s really interesting to see how reading things like this must have effected the worldviews of readers 100 years and how that has directly and indirectly led to the world we live in today. However, I really wouldn’t recommend anyone read this book unless they are also a white person trying to better understand Anti-Asian sentiment in the West so they can more effectively fight its lingering influence within themself and on society as whole.
October 25, 2021
My first Fu-Manchu (even though this is the 3rd in the series). Mixed feelings... the absurd klang of repeated reference to the yellow peril and the devilish race of the Asians would be enough to put off many/most i know, but i bleep over that part as if it is a science fiction and we have this other worldly master species (mind control, intuition, second sight- i don't know what else). Still i found myself enjoying this adventure story greatly from episode to episode... which is the downfall of the style as well. Over and over, our heroes are captured, but escape or capture the evil and then the evil escapes over and over and on and on. Yes- always the them of a series with a villain, but so much more in your face in this book- simple - digestible adventures. No doubt i responded to this as i am supposed to- as in a Hardy Boys book or maybe Sherlock Holmes (more to the direct comparison) or Edgar Wallace... so obvious, but yet so enticing ... the scorpions, the regular druggings, and the browning reports. I shall read more, but feel a bit guilty about it.
December 7, 2018
The ending was a bit of an anti-climax and some of the story was a bit far fetched, especially the hauntings, but it wasn't a bad read. It's one of those mindless books that you can pick up and read in no time if your mind is stressed out and needs a break from heavy reading. I can see where people are getting their "racist" vibes from, but you have to remember that this book was first published in 1917. People were prejudiced against the Chinese in those days. There still are people who are prejudiced against the Chinese, but it's politically incorrect to voice those opinions nowadays. This book is mild in its prejudice. If you want to read real prejudice, pick up a book by Emily Murphy. Some of what she says will make your hair stand on end.
If you can get past the "yellow peril" phrases and concentrate on the story line, it's a pretty good book.
If you can get past the "yellow peril" phrases and concentrate on the story line, it's a pretty good book.
July 2, 2021
Reminded me of the penny dreadful novels. It is written as if it were meant to be published as a serial. Every two pages something dire happens. The plot is pretty nonsensical and there is no character or plot development, just a series of incidents. There are three more novels in the collection that I have, but I don't think I'll spend any more time on them.
Brief plot summary: The evil Fu Manchu was supposedly killed in the previous story, but he is back. He has kidnapped Doctor Petrie's Egyptian girlfriend. Nayland Smith renowned Fu Manchu expert is on the case. That's probably enough.
There was nothing worth offsetting the unbelievably prejudiced portrayal of all Orientals, meaning anyone east of western Europe. I can usually live with prejudices that were accepted at the time the story was written.
Brief plot summary: The evil Fu Manchu was supposedly killed in the previous story, but he is back. He has kidnapped Doctor Petrie's Egyptian girlfriend. Nayland Smith renowned Fu Manchu expert is on the case. That's probably enough.
There was nothing worth offsetting the unbelievably prejudiced portrayal of all Orientals, meaning anyone east of western Europe. I can usually live with prejudices that were accepted at the time the story was written.
October 31, 2022
DNF.
I tried, but couldn't make it to the end. Dr Fu Manchu doesn't even need to be a supergenius criminal, because the Brits he's up against are thicker than a plate of cold porridge.
Our story begins with the two main characters killing time by telling each other things they both already know. Smith then declares that they actually have "not a moment to waste" and they rush off, just in time to be too late (on a matter of life or death).
Later in the book, Smith receives some advice from Ki-Ming. Despite believing that Ki-Ming intends to kill him, Smith decides that "There are several alternatives, but I prefer to follow the advice of Ki-Ming."
In short, these guys are Too Dumb To Live (without significant authorial assistance) and definitely too dumb to make me want to spend a moment more in their company.
I tried, but couldn't make it to the end. Dr Fu Manchu doesn't even need to be a supergenius criminal, because the Brits he's up against are thicker than a plate of cold porridge.
Our story begins with the two main characters killing time by telling each other things they both already know. Smith then declares that they actually have "not a moment to waste" and they rush off, just in time to be too late (on a matter of life or death).
Later in the book, Smith receives some advice from Ki-Ming. Despite believing that Ki-Ming intends to kill him, Smith decides that "There are several alternatives, but I prefer to follow the advice of Ki-Ming."
In short, these guys are Too Dumb To Live (without significant authorial assistance) and definitely too dumb to make me want to spend a moment more in their company.
August 26, 2025
Interesting, although a very dated read. I've never read a Fu Manchu story before but had always planned to. I enjoyed it for its absolute pulpy sensibilities and silly cliffhangers. One thing I was struck by is the similarity between Sax Rohmer's story and Conan Doyle, who predated him. This Fu Manchu book hewed very closely to the structural blueprint of a Sherlock Holmes story, nearly beat for beat. The heroic character even had a doctor as a loyal companion who also served as narrator/faux auther of the tale.
The ending was really, really (and strangely) abrupt, almost as if the author grew tired of the story or a brutal editing job was performed to get it down to the proper page count.
The ending was really, really (and strangely) abrupt, almost as if the author grew tired of the story or a brutal editing job was performed to get it down to the proper page count.
June 18, 2019
I listened to this book via B.J. Harrison's podcast, Classic Tales Podcast. If not for this podcast I don't think I would have heard of this book, let alone picked it up. It was broken up into weekly parts, so to get the whole thread of the story I'd have to go back and binge listen. Over all, though, it seems like Romer captured the stereotypes of his day. There was a suspense factor overall that kept me listening.
In order to get a better sense of how the stories fit into culture and literary history I may one day go back and read the series from the beginning. For now though, it's on to other stories.
In order to get a better sense of how the stories fit into culture and literary history I may one day go back and read the series from the beginning. For now though, it's on to other stories.
July 13, 2020
I think I read a Fu-Manchu book years ago and know he is considered a classic villain. It did not stand up to rereading---I found the British figures who are portrayed as the only ones saving the Western world from the "Yellow Peril" disturbing. It is not just the presentation of the Chinese but also of other peoples of the East which is problematic and racist. Since this is the third Fu-Manchu novel and I do not plan to read or reread the others, I do not know the history of the narrator's (Eastern) beloved but am bothered by her not only being a pawn in the struggle with Dr. Fu-Manchu but the narrator's pleasure in her submitting her own ideas and desires to his direction.
September 22, 2020
This is the first of 4 of Sax Rohmer's books that I picked up recently (Forbidden Planet - 99p each, new!). I've been aware of the character of Fu-Manchu for a while, having previously worked in a bookshop, and knew it was in that - gaslight era, Jack the Ripper, Sherlock Holmes et al time frame.
Written at a reasonable pace with fantastic era and mood setting, and an exquisitely cunning arch nemesis and enough tricks and turns to stand alongside S.H. I half expected it to be - wincingly terrible - in terms of the "Yellow menace" but it stands above that; indeed, many contemporarily written books are not so good.
Written at a reasonable pace with fantastic era and mood setting, and an exquisitely cunning arch nemesis and enough tricks and turns to stand alongside S.H. I half expected it to be - wincingly terrible - in terms of the "Yellow menace" but it stands above that; indeed, many contemporarily written books are not so good.
February 23, 2023
I might revisit this one once I manage to pick up
the first in the series.
It might be an unpopular opinion, but I didn't
find it as "problematic" as others.
The bad guys are painted with a broad stereotyped
brush but it reads to me as:
The bad guys are so horrible as to be unrecognizable
as real Asian. In fact its almost like they aren't people but
monsters in human form sometimes.
It reminded me a good deal of Ming the Merciless from
Flash Gordon.
If you read it looking to be offended, you might be but it
serve you better to remember that Fu-manchu is often described
as a super villain. Others describes as such include Lex Luther, M. Bison
and Thanos.
the first in the series.
It might be an unpopular opinion, but I didn't
find it as "problematic" as others.
The bad guys are painted with a broad stereotyped
brush but it reads to me as:
The bad guys are so horrible as to be unrecognizable
as real Asian. In fact its almost like they aren't people but
monsters in human form sometimes.
It reminded me a good deal of Ming the Merciless from
Flash Gordon.
If you read it looking to be offended, you might be but it
serve you better to remember that Fu-manchu is often described
as a super villain. Others describes as such include Lex Luther, M. Bison
and Thanos.
June 13, 2019
This is a terrible book. Not just for the racism, as I understand that that was the mood of the time, but the style, the construct, the characters... pretty much everything.
If I didn’t know better, I’d say this book had been written as screenplay for a mediocre thriller meant for the afternoon slot. Just terrible.
This is a book that probably should be read for the racist content, but then again, there are better out there if that be the reader’s intent.
My recommendation: give it a miss. Anything is a better use of your time than this.
If I didn’t know better, I’d say this book had been written as screenplay for a mediocre thriller meant for the afternoon slot. Just terrible.
This is a book that probably should be read for the racist content, but then again, there are better out there if that be the reader’s intent.
My recommendation: give it a miss. Anything is a better use of your time than this.
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