The Mask of Fu Manchu (Fu Manchu #5) by Sax Rohmer

After discovering the tomb of El Mokanna aka “The Veiled Prophet” in Egypt, and retrieving the historical relics buried therein, the famous archaeologist Sir Lionel Barton blows up the tomb. This has repercussions as the heretic sect faithful to Mokanna choose to interpret the resulting fireball as the second coming of their prophet. A violent uprising begins. The insidious Dr. Fu Manchu senses an opportunity to use the powerful relics for his own evil goals which include fostering an Islamic uprising that he hopes will sweep across the globe.

The fifth novel in the Fu Manchu series, written by Arthur Henry Ward under his Sax Rohmer pseudonym, is once again told from the first-person perspective of Shan Greville. (For the uninitiated, the first three books were from Dr. Petrie's perspective) This one is a direct continuation of the previous novel, The Daughter of Fu Manchu so I would urge that book be read first. Of course, Nayland Smith and Dr. Petrie are major characters as is Greville’s fiancé Rima, the niece of Sir Lionel. The action stretches from Persia to Cairo, then back to London.

When our heroes first encounter Dr. Fu Manchu this time around they are startled by his youthful and vigorous appearance. It seems his genius has discovered a way to harness the essence of an essential oil of a rare Burmese orchid and he now has a new lease on life. His daughter makes a couple of appearances, mostly to administer mind-control drugs to poor Greville resulting in his full cooperation and adoration of Fu Manchu and his evil deeds. Fortunately, that doesn’t last for more than a few hours, but it is enough to cause significant damage to any attempts to forestall Fu Manchu’s plans as well as the successful kidnapping of Rima. The ransom scene deep inside the Great Pyramid to get Rima back is extraordinary and a real highlight of the entire novel.

This is another fun read in the Fu Manchu saga although not all is explained. For example, after the ransom scene in the pyramid, Fu Manchu is effectively trapped by Nayland Smith and company. There is no way out. However, there is never any explanation provided for how he escapes, simply that he has done so. Such are the mysterious ways of Fu Manchu.

The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu (Fu Manchu #2) by Sax Rohmer

The second Fu-Manchu novel, originally published in 1916 by Sax Rohmer (Arthur Henry Ward) continues the tales of the “most diabolical evil genius of all time”. Published in the UK under the name, “The Devil Doctor”, the story is told once again from the first-person perspective of Dr. Petrie who acts as a sort of Watson to the more adventuresome Nayland Smith, a colonial police commissioner in Burma who has been granted a roving commission that allows him to utilize any group that can help him in his mission. When this book was written the western world was in the midst of the “Yellow Peril” and thus a diabolical mastermind intent on subjugating the West was a well-received idea.

Just as in the first book, this one is filled with the sort of idealized adventure often found in the pulps and it never lets up on the accelerator. It is sort of episodic in nature, reflecting the way in which the stories were first published so we bounce from one adventure to the next. Smith and Petrie come very close to catching their nemesis, but this is matched by the number of times they are themselves captured and must escape the clutches of Dr. Fu Manchu. 

A prominent character and one of Dr. Fu Manchu's primary agents is the "seductively lovely" Kâramanèh, a former slave to Egyptian flesh peddlers. A major question running through this book is whether or not Kâramanèh is really working for Fu Manchu or is trying to sabotage his efforts and assist Dr. Petrie whom she seems to be falling for. There are also some supernatural aspects to parts of the book (at least the main characters think so) including a jaunt through a haunted house as well as a visitation by a mummy!

As always with pulp books from that era, today’s readers will have to accept the inherent racism that dwells within these pages. If that can be done, there is a lot of fun adventure to be had.

The Insidious Doctor Fu-Manchu by Sax Rohmer

The first Fu-Manchu novel, originally published in 1913 by Sax Rohmer (Arthur Henry Ward) does an excellent job of introducing readers to the “most diabolical evil genius of all time”. Published in the UK under the name, “The Mysterious Fu-Manchu”, the story is told from the first person perspective of Dr. Petrie who acts as a sort of Watson to the more adventuresome Nayland Smith, a colonial police commissioner in Burma who has been granted a roving commission that allows him to utilize any group that can help him in his mission. When this book was written the western world was in the midst of the “Yellow Peril” and thus a diabolical mastermind intent on subjugating the West was a well-received idea.

The book is filled with idealized adventure much as one would find in the pulps and it never lets up on the accelerator. I like the way Dr.  Fu-Manchu scorns the use of guns or explosives in favor of thugs with knives, members of secret societies, or using "pythons and cobras ... fungi and my tiny allies, the bacilli ... my black spiders" and other natural chemical weapons. Perilous adventure for Dr. Petrie and square-jawed Nayland Smith to be sure.

Many readers today are unable to cope with the racism inherent in such a book, but I can take it as it was written and consider the times in which it takes place. I may cringe now and again but there is always a poisonous spider or deadly mold trap coming to take my mind away.

I’ve been reading similar pulp-era books for years but lately have made a plan to introduce myself to a new character each year. Last year was The Shadow and this year it’s Dr. Fu-Manchu. It’s a great way to expand my universe. Based on this first novel, it’s going to be a good year.