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cryptix's review
adventurous
medium-paced
3.0
This was one of my first Shadow reprints. It's... okay.
"Chinese Disks" is a decent story with a couple very cool scenes, but it's best enjoyed after you've gotten to know all the characters involved.
"Malmordo" meanwhile is just not much fun to read.
Both stories contain some racist elements.
"Chinese Disks" is a decent story with a couple very cool scenes, but it's best enjoyed after you've gotten to know all the characters involved.
"Malmordo" meanwhile is just not much fun to read.
Both stories contain some racist elements.
skjam's review
4.0
Another exciting pair of novel length stories of the Shadow, one from relatively early in the series, the other from near the end.
"The Chinese Disks" features the return of one of the Shadow's earliest foes, and the Shadow expanding his network of agents to cope with this mastermind's plot. Among other things, this is when Shrevvy the cabbie joins the team. It's fun to see two master plotters working against each other.
"Malmordo" takes place in the aftermath of World War Two, as international criminals seek new opportunities in America. It's a thrilling yarn, with a particularly weird villain (who speaks Esperanto!) and a conclusion that while foreshadowed comes out of left field for the reader.
Some readers may find the depiction of "Gypsies" in Malmordo to be offputting, especially early on before their purpose in the story is explained.
For other pulp reviews, see http://www.skjam.com/tag/pulp/
"The Chinese Disks" features the return of one of the Shadow's earliest foes, and the Shadow expanding his network of agents to cope with this mastermind's plot. Among other things, this is when Shrevvy the cabbie joins the team. It's fun to see two master plotters working against each other.
"Malmordo" takes place in the aftermath of World War Two, as international criminals seek new opportunities in America. It's a thrilling yarn, with a particularly weird villain (who speaks Esperanto!) and a conclusion that while foreshadowed comes out of left field for the reader.
Some readers may find the depiction of "Gypsies" in Malmordo to be offputting, especially early on before their purpose in the story is explained.
For other pulp reviews, see http://www.skjam.com/tag/pulp/
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