Lee Cushing's Blog - Posts Tagged "crime"
The Saint In London Review
This is the 13th installment in the Saint series, and like the previous books, this is a compilation of three novellas that originally appeared in magazines. These stories date to the early 1930, which readers need to keep in mind to understand some of the references to the then-current events.
In the first story, Simon once again encounters the arch-villain Rayt Marius, perhaps for the final time. Marius has been told he has only a short time left to live and has decided to take Simon with him. He sends his memoirs to Simon, detailing his exploits and naming names. He has also his former cohorts mentioned in the book that Templar has evidence against them, leaving Simon with the challenge of living long enough to finish the book.
The second story involves Simon infiltrating the enemy's camp in disguise to a damsel in distress, needing to fight not a dragon but panther to the day, and incidentally once infuriating Inspector Teal.
The final story involves Simon suffering from his own fame. A copycat has begun leaving behind Simon's apparently well-known calling card, leading the police to assume that Simon has been quite busy.
Readers need to keep in that these stories are about 80 years old to understand the 'current event' references the technology of the thirties, and the attitudes of that time. When these stories were written, the character of Hoppy, Simon's sidekick, was seen as a harmless stooge meant to provide some needed muscle and comic relief. In today's more politically correct times, readers might see Simon's relationship with Hoppy not as evidence of Simon's good-natured tolerance but as cold-hearted exploitation of a mentally handicapped man with a drinking problem.
If the reader can get past these holdovers from the past and simply enjoy the story for what it is - a great adventure where there is never any real question as to whether or not our hero will not prevail.
In the first story, Simon once again encounters the arch-villain Rayt Marius, perhaps for the final time. Marius has been told he has only a short time left to live and has decided to take Simon with him. He sends his memoirs to Simon, detailing his exploits and naming names. He has also his former cohorts mentioned in the book that Templar has evidence against them, leaving Simon with the challenge of living long enough to finish the book.
The second story involves Simon infiltrating the enemy's camp in disguise to a damsel in distress, needing to fight not a dragon but panther to the day, and incidentally once infuriating Inspector Teal.
The final story involves Simon suffering from his own fame. A copycat has begun leaving behind Simon's apparently well-known calling card, leading the police to assume that Simon has been quite busy.
Readers need to keep in that these stories are about 80 years old to understand the 'current event' references the technology of the thirties, and the attitudes of that time. When these stories were written, the character of Hoppy, Simon's sidekick, was seen as a harmless stooge meant to provide some needed muscle and comic relief. In today's more politically correct times, readers might see Simon's relationship with Hoppy not as evidence of Simon's good-natured tolerance but as cold-hearted exploitation of a mentally handicapped man with a drinking problem.
If the reader can get past these holdovers from the past and simply enjoy the story for what it is - a great adventure where there is never any real question as to whether or not our hero will not prevail.
