This book, #5 of 14 in the Fu Manchu series, is a direct continuation of the previous entry, "The Daughter of Fu Manchu." Thus, a reading of that earlier story is fairly essential when going into this one. Shan Greville again narrates, and all our old friends are back: Nayland Smith, Dr. Petrie, Orientalist Lionel Barton and his niece, Rima. Comm. Weymouth and Karameneh make only token appearances in this work. Thanks to the essential oil of a rare Burmese orchid, Dr. Fu has attained a new lease on life in this book, and is both stronger and more active than ever. You might call him a brand-new Fu! Fah Lo Suee, his evil but hot-blooded daughter, makes some nice eerie appearances in this tale, as well.The story this time concerns Fu's attempts to steal the so-called relics of El Mokanna from Sir Lionel. These relics will enable him to foster an Islamic uprising that will sweep the world. The action jumps from Persia to Cairo, to adventure on the high seas and then back to jolly old London. Mixed in with the usual fast pace we are treated to Ogboni killers, mind-control drugs, dervishes, metal dissolvers, a "ghost mosque," and amnesia. One of the high points of the novel is a midnight ransom meeting with Dr. Fu Manchu in the heart of the Great Pyramid; a very memorable sequence indeed. Rohmer even manages to throw in a nice sentimental ending of sorts to this story, in which Fu gets to show what a classy dude he is capable of being. I am docking the book a star because several of the events are not explained (how did Fu get out of the Great Pyramid, anyway?), and because the writing in one or two scenes was a bit fuzzy (I still can't figure out that Ogboni spider-thread pendulum trick). Still, these are minor quibbles. This is essentially a mighty fun read, and a worthy addition to the Fu saga.
Our old friend, the insidious evil doctor Fu Manchu, returns in "The Mask of Fu Manchu,” the fifth book in Sax Romer’s classic mystery series. Although a few of the Fu Manchu books are a bit "trite" in spots, and at times they certainly have the feel of the "pulp fiction" genre; nevertheless, the series is surprisingly well written. It has been a century since Sax Rohmer gave the world the gift of the incredibly intelligent, and yet so evil, Doctor Fu Manchu, one of literature’s great evil geniuses rivaling even Doyle’s Professor Moriarty. Romer’s Fu Manchu novels are worth the time to discover the great, intellectual (and stereotypical) evil genius who is Fu Manchu. My copy is a yellowed page paperback from 1966; however, some newer editions are currently being re-released in paperback and more are destined for the Kindle (e-readers) as well.Shan Greville again narrates, and all our old friends are back: Nayland Smith, Dr. Petrie, Orientalist Lionel Barton and his niece, Rima. Mysterious ancient lands, a “ghost mosque,” a meeting within the Great Pyramid, abductions, mind control drugs, assassins, and a deadly plot to incite a religious war propel the plot forward. After discovering the tomb of the Veiled Prophet and discovering the Prophet’s precious relics buried there, Sir Lionel Barton, the famous archeologist, blows up the tomb. The fireball is seen by a small group as their prophet's second coming, and like a wildfire, the message is spread across the idle east. Now Fu-Manchu senses an opportunity to use the “Prophet’s Mask” and other powerful relics for his own evil ends, and a struggle for world domination begins again.
Do You like book The Mask Of Fu-Manchu (2013)?
Though I've seen several Fu Manchu movies, this is only the 2nd Fu Manchu book I've read. It's fun but as an adventure story, it rather lacks in real action. Things happen at a distance, or are related as exposition. The title character is also kept at a distance--though we do meet him, his presence is minimal in the novel. This has almost nothing to do with the 1932 movie of the same name with Boris Karloff aside from the title mask, a plan to liberate the Asiatic people from their Western oppressors, and the character of the daughter who is far more evil (and interesting) in the movie.
—Michael Ritchie
