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colorfulleo92's review against another edition
1.0
While reading classics there is always a chance of sexism, racist thinking and other problematic things. Often I can look past it by having in mind that it's a product of its time. But this one was to much, not sprinkled a little here and there as in most not being a huge plot point
latterature's review against another edition
2.0
The blurb promises a pair of protagonist akin to "an exotic Holmes and Watson", but "inept" would be more accurate. Smith and Petrie fumble along from one chapter to the next, tripping into every trap set for them and only escaping through dumb luck. The saving grace is that the titular Doctor does indeed have some brilliant traps to set and it is no wonder at all that Rohmer's villain is remembered today while his heroes are not. Some fun moments, but read Holmes instead.
emilybryk's review against another edition
2.0
Why would you read this when you could just read [b:Fantomas|8575586|Fantomas|Marcel Allain|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51XIO5M4gsL._SL75_.jpg|13444479] and be done with it, plus not feel awkward when you sit next to Asian people on the train?
lfro2013's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0
I actually really liked this one, though I did have to get over all the racism. It's a fun pulp-fiction sort of adventure and mystery story, and I thought it drew a really interesting picture of the times. Fu Manchu is a good villain, I'll admit, and I was surprised to learn his original character wasn't described as having that iconic mustache.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Xenophobia
throatsprockets's review against another edition
1.0
This was hard going. I knew in advance that it was going to be racist, but the sheer loathing was evident on every page. I read it because it was the beginning of one of the more popular series to be inspired by Dracula and Sherlock Holmes, but it doesn’t compare to either of those in terms of story, character, inventive action or prose. It was transparently a magazine series that was collected when it reached a suitable page count, so that the finale was clearly rushed out to make it seem like the book had an ending.
The protagonists seemed rather dimwitted and the book would have been far more interesting if it was about a heroic mastermind running colonial oppressors through a gauntlet as revenge for what the British did to the people of their empire. I won’t be returning to Sax Rohmer and I’m glad I listened to it for free as a series of readings on YouTube (which were actually quite well done) instead of paying for a copy of the book. It was a struggle to finish but it was worth it to give it one star and tell people to avoid it.
The protagonists seemed rather dimwitted and the book would have been far more interesting if it was about a heroic mastermind running colonial oppressors through a gauntlet as revenge for what the British did to the people of their empire. I won’t be returning to Sax Rohmer and I’m glad I listened to it for free as a series of readings on YouTube (which were actually quite well done) instead of paying for a copy of the book. It was a struggle to finish but it was worth it to give it one star and tell people to avoid it.
bushbabyninja's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
readerofdafuk's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.25
This book was annoying
So 1) this book as racist. Every moment used to wax evil poetics on Fu Manchu is 100% racist. It's an evil Chinese man spreading "the yellow wave" or whatever and is thought he was an evil ancient spirit that possessed a baby. So yeah, racist
2) the detectives are dumbasses. Everything they do they don't tell what they do or explain why til like 2 pages later. They are always on the backfoot/behind fu manchu. Like most of their successful attempts literally come from an inside man ratting out info on Fu Manchu from her decision
The only cool thing is literally Fu Manchu. Outside the racism he is actually a Very competent villain. Secret organization, ow. Agenda, knows chemistry and poisons, drug kingpin, competent minions. HE is the coolest guy. I get why he lasted long as a character. Unfortunately does not save the book.
So 1) this book as racist. Every moment used to wax evil poetics on Fu Manchu is 100% racist. It's an evil Chinese man spreading "the yellow wave" or whatever and is thought he was an evil ancient spirit that possessed a baby. So yeah, racist
2) the detectives are dumbasses. Everything they do they don't tell what they do or explain why til like 2 pages later. They are always on the backfoot/behind fu manchu. Like most of their successful attempts literally come from an inside man ratting out info on Fu Manchu from her decision
The only cool thing is literally Fu Manchu. Outside the racism he is actually a Very competent villain. Secret organization, ow. Agenda, knows chemistry and poisons, drug kingpin, competent minions. HE is the coolest guy. I get why he lasted long as a character. Unfortunately does not save the book.
rotorguy64's review against another edition
2.0
There's a certain romanticism, these days, surrounding pup literature. One does well to remember that not all of it is good, and that some books do not have a higher standing in literary circles because they're bad, not because they're too unpretentious to appeal to the academicians in their ivory tower. Some books stumbled into popularity by chance or because they appealed to some base instinct in their audience.
Every chapter of The Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu reads the same. They all follow the same formula, until the end of the book, when the thing is wrapped up:
Denis Nayland Smith and Dr. Petrie, the narrator, travel to the location of some person who knows too much, or who is the next target of Dr. Fu Manchu, or whatever. On the way, Smith hypes Dr. Fu Manchu and the existential threat he presents to the white race. On arrival, they, find the person they're seeking dead under mysterious circumstances, and go on to solve the mystery behind the murder. They find Dr. Fu Manchu sitting lazily behind his desk, which invariably scares Dr. Petrie to death. They charge towards him like fools, end in a death trap, then they're freed, usually by Karamaneh, Fu Manchus slave girl. Dr. Petrie and Karamaneh share some intimate moment, then Karamaneh flees, and then the plot is repeated. This happens over and over, one dopamine rush in the audience chasing another. No wonder this book became a hit. The formula is effective, but it's shallow. Perhaps ironically, it's the same one used in some early kung fu movies, in which fight scene chases fight scene, the plot serving only to hold them together.
This book is racist. Don't tell me it isn't. Arabs, Indians and other Asiatics flock under the banner of Dr. Fu Manchu, a Chinaman, to destroy the white race, which is a synonym for "the British". Don't tell me it's the spirit of the times, I've read my share of books from around Rohmers age and most weren't so racist. It's true ideas such as his were still current in the early twentieth century, particularly in the anglophone world and in Germany, but they were not inevitable. There is certainly no rational basis for believing that a Mandarin, a Thuggee and a Sheikh would work together to bring the downfall of the British Empire due to some asiatic racial consciousness they share. That idea is just preposterous, and it was as stupid in Rohmers day as it is now.
One cannot find a shred of higher thought in Sax Rohmers novel. There are no greater truths it reveals about the human psyche, civilization, the cosmos, or God. It's entirely shallow entertainment, not some forgotten classic. [a:Jack London|1240|Jack London|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1680473186p2/1240.jpg], [a:Robert E. Howard|66700|Robert E. Howard|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1210954603p2/66700.jpg], [a:H.P. Lovecraft|9494|H.P. Lovecraft|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1299165714p2/9494.jpg], those are great, these authors are remembered for good reason. Rohmer is not playing in the same league, not if this book is any indication.
Every chapter of The Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu reads the same. They all follow the same formula, until the end of the book, when the thing is wrapped up:
Denis Nayland Smith and Dr. Petrie, the narrator, travel to the location of some person who knows too much, or who is the next target of Dr. Fu Manchu, or whatever. On the way, Smith hypes Dr. Fu Manchu and the existential threat he presents to the white race. On arrival, they, find the person they're seeking dead under mysterious circumstances, and go on to solve the mystery behind the murder. They find Dr. Fu Manchu sitting lazily behind his desk, which invariably scares Dr. Petrie to death. They charge towards him like fools, end in a death trap, then they're freed, usually by Karamaneh, Fu Manchus slave girl. Dr. Petrie and Karamaneh share some intimate moment, then Karamaneh flees, and then the plot is repeated. This happens over and over, one dopamine rush in the audience chasing another. No wonder this book became a hit. The formula is effective, but it's shallow. Perhaps ironically, it's the same one used in some early kung fu movies, in which fight scene chases fight scene, the plot serving only to hold them together.
This book is racist. Don't tell me it isn't. Arabs, Indians and other Asiatics flock under the banner of Dr. Fu Manchu, a Chinaman, to destroy the white race, which is a synonym for "the British". Don't tell me it's the spirit of the times, I've read my share of books from around Rohmers age and most weren't so racist. It's true ideas such as his were still current in the early twentieth century, particularly in the anglophone world and in Germany, but they were not inevitable. There is certainly no rational basis for believing that a Mandarin, a Thuggee and a Sheikh would work together to bring the downfall of the British Empire due to some asiatic racial consciousness they share. That idea is just preposterous, and it was as stupid in Rohmers day as it is now.
One cannot find a shred of higher thought in Sax Rohmers novel. There are no greater truths it reveals about the human psyche, civilization, the cosmos, or God. It's entirely shallow entertainment, not some forgotten classic. [a:Jack London|1240|Jack London|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1680473186p2/1240.jpg], [a:Robert E. Howard|66700|Robert E. Howard|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1210954603p2/66700.jpg], [a:H.P. Lovecraft|9494|H.P. Lovecraft|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1299165714p2/9494.jpg], those are great, these authors are remembered for good reason. Rohmer is not playing in the same league, not if this book is any indication.
schwimfan's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
srreid's review against another edition
2.0
Not overwhelmed with this book, felt too episodey, lots of little bits of different stories rather than one single narrative. Does seem like a cheap knockoff of Sherlock Holmes, but not as smartly done.