The Insidious Doctor Fu-Manchu (1913)

by Sax Rohmer

Other authors: See the other authors section.

Series: Fu Manchu (1)

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698	26	33,000	(3.25)	43
This first novel in Sax Rohmer's series, The Insidious Dr. Fu Manchu combined together previously written short stories into a single story about the dealings of this criminal mastermind. Master poisoner, chemist, member of the "Yellow Peril", and wearer of iconographic facial hair, Fu Manchu is "the greatest genius which the powers of evil have put on the earth for centuries." Although his dark purpose is not yet clear, Fu Manchu seems determined to abduct Europe's greatest engineers and take them back to China.… (more)

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Works Referenced in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (65)

Jones & Newman: Best Horror Books Further Recommended Reading (78)

Books mentioned in Julian Symons’ Bloody Murder (284)

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▾Member reviews

English (24) French (2) All languages (26)

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Showing 1-5 of 24 (next | show all)

Not altogether bad if you're looking for the written equivalent of one of the mindless detective shows that fill most television line-ups these days. Pacing and plotting pretty much mirrors that of radio dramas of the time. I can't fault it for lacking depth if depth was not what was called for, but I can't say it's really what I'd hoped either. (

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judeprufrock | Jul 4, 2023 |

Sherlock Holmes, but not quite as clever. Ok for a brief diversion, but more pulp than classic. The chronicler is even a doctor. In 21st century terms could be considered racist, probably also when it was written! Don't take it too seriously.

Some nice ideas and devices - chemical and biological weapons - for example. (

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Sandman-1961 | Mar 6, 2022 |

Despite being the first in the series it seems to contain everything one expects from a Fu Manchu story. Although some of the mysteries turn out a little lame. (

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wreade1872 | Nov 28, 2021 |

Holy crap, is this racist! I hope I'll be forgiven for having begun to read it. Coupling virulent racism with an implausibly incomprehensible story makes for bad reading. Perhaps a better story might have kept me reading despite the racism. Perhaps without the racism I'd have been able to keep wading through the poorly plotted story. But in this case, it's two strikes and you're out! (

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lgpiper | Jun 21, 2019 |

I thought I would give a Fu Manchu audiobook a go after finding the Christopher Lee films reasonably entertaining.

Was it originally written in weekly episodes for a pulp magazine? That's what it appears to be - there is no real objective or conclusion to the novel, it is just a collection of chase, capture, escape ...

Harrison, the reader, has a pleasant voice, but there was nothing about the tale to grab the attention. Give me Bulldog Drummond, any day! (

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Kindleifier | May 31, 2019 |

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▾Other authors

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Author name	Role	Type of author	Work?	Status
Sax Rohmer	—	primary author	all editions	calculated
Engle, Mort	Cover artist	secondary author	some editions	confirmed

▾Series and work relationships

Belongs to Series

Fu Manchu (1)

Belongs to Publisher Series

Masterpieces of Oriental Mystery

Mirabilia (104)

MysteriousPress.com/Open Road

Is contained in

The Fu Manchu Omnibus: Volume 1 by Sax Rohmer

Fu Manchu by Sax Rohmer

Has the adaptation

Fu Manchu/Zayat Kiss and the Severed Fingers by Sax Rohmer

▾Awards and Honors

Notable Lists

Haycraft Queen Cornerstones (Queen – 1913)

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▾Common Knowledge

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Canonical title

The Insidious Doctor Fu-Manchu

Original title

The Mystery of Dr. Fu-Manchu

Alternative titles

The Mystery of Fu Manchu

Original publication date

People/Characters

Sir Denis Nayland Smith

Karamaneh

(show all 6 items)

Important places

Limehouse, London, England, UK

New Scotland Yard, London, England, UK

Waterloo Station, London, England, UK

River Thames, England, UK

Strand, London, England, UK

(show all 6 items)

Important events

Related movies

Epigraph

Dedication

First words

"A gentleman to see you, Doctor."

Quotations

Last words

(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)

Disambiguation notice

Originally serialized in the Storyteller, October, 1912-July, 1913.

Please note: "Dr. Fu Manchu" (publ. Helge Erchsens Forlag, 1946) should NOT be separated. It's a Norwegian translation of "The insidious..".

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Original language

Canonical DDC/MDS

Canonical LCC

▾References

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English

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▾Book descriptions

This first novel in Sax Rohmer's series, The Insidious Dr. Fu Manchu combined together previously written short stories into a single story about the dealings of this criminal mastermind. Master poisoner, chemist, member of the "Yellow Peril", and wearer of iconographic facial hair, Fu Manchu is "the greatest genius which the powers of evil have put on the earth for centuries." Although his dark purpose is not yet clear, Fu Manchu seems determined to abduct Europe's greatest engineers and take them back to China.

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