The Tremendous Event

by Maurice Leblanc

A classic novel blending romance, adventure, and science fiction, The Tremendous Event is sure to appeal to fans of LeBlanc's detective fiction, which includes such books as Arsene Lupin and Arsene Lupin vs. Herlock Sholmes.

Genres: Fiction, Science Fiction, France, Classics, French Literature

168 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1920

About the author

Maurice Leblanc (1864 - 1941) was a French novelist, best known as the creator of gentleman thief (later detective) Arsène Lupin.

Leblanc began as a journalist, until he was asked to write a short story filler, and created, more gallant and dashing than English counterpart Sherlock Holmes.

Reviews

[Warren Fournier · Rating 2 out of 5]

"It'll be fine," I told myself. I mean, what could go wrong? I was always fascinated behind the controversy behind the creation of a tunnel across the English Channel, one that literally spanned an entire century. So I thought this would be an interesting scifi tale from an author who lived when the idea was itself still a fantasy. I thought that 1924's "The Tremendous Event" by French author Maurice Leblanc was supposed to be about the trials and tribulations of bridging the gap between two nations, and it is usually cited as one of the classic examples of Radium-Age science fiction. But oh no, it certainly was not "fine" at all. I found this awkward and thoughtless thriller to contain too many elements that would rightfully turn modern readers off.

The whole book centers around an unlikable protagonist, Simon, who chases around a dopey fiance and her overbearing elitist snob of a father.

Dopey fiance runs away with Simon to France to get away from her overbearing elitist snob of a father, who has a peerage and does not approve of Simon because he is not of royal blood. They insist on taking a boat across the English Channel despite warnings that seismic activity has led to unstable sailing conditions and numerous sinkings. But they're like, "It'll be fine."

So they end up as the sole survivors after their ship, "The Queen Mary," is predictably sunk by a giant waterspout. They end up in a cozy little hotel in Dieppe. What happens then? Dopey fiance abruptly decides to leave. No reason whatsoever. She just decided to go back home to daddy. She doesn't even have the decency to explain herself in person, and just leaves him a nonsensical note. And how does dopey fiance think she is getting back to England? By the Channel where she almost drowned of course! Because "It'll be fine!"

Unfortunately she doesn't drown, despite the titular "Tremendous Event" violently forcing up a new landmass in her wake, which eventually connects France and England via a sandy isthmus. Simon is the first Frenchman to cross the Channel by foot back to England, where he meets back up with no other than dopey fiance and overbearing elitist snob of a father, neither of whom seem delighted at his safety or his recent accomplishment.

"The Queen Mary" ends up washed ashore on the new isthmus. Simon is asked by dopey fiance if he could please risk his life crossing the Channel again because all of her pretty-rich-white-girl things may be still on the ship. When he gets back to the wreck, he finds a note that dopey fiance and overbearing elitist snob of a father were already there!

I guess dopey fiance changed her mind yet again and decided to get her stuff her own self. But then why did her overbearing elitist snob of a father go along rather than hire some professionals to retrieve the valuables? Seems like something an overbearing elitist snob would do rather than go all "Sanford and Son" digging through junk to find a few sentimental yet costly baubles. But they're like, "It'll be fine!"

But it's not fine, as an old friend of Simon turns out to be a ruthless villain and serial killer who is hot on the trail of dopey fiance. Thank goodness for noble and not-at-all stereotyped savage "Lynx-Eye" and his silent "redskins" who are there to help Simon save the day.

Or will they? It's a fight for survival on a new frontier of a virgin landmass! Who, oh who will emerge victorious?

At this point, do you even care? Just say to yourself "It'll be fine."

The only reason I rated this two stars instead of one was because the early descriptions of the shipwrecks, as well as the chaos of the earthquakes were written quite well. But I could not invest in any of these wooden and abrasive characters making stupid decisions in an outrageously ridiculous and hollow plot that devolved into just another shoehorned detective mystery to save another dopey damsel-in-distress.

Radium-Age scifi at its almost absolute worst.

[Gabriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Le Formidable Événement might be my benchmark of a "good bad book": stuffed with clichés like a good, full pillow, with unforgettable characters who have the psychological depth of a rainpond, full of plot twists with no suspense at all... A great way to pass an afternoon, and to remember that reading isn't meant to always be "serious": enjoy that deliciously silly book!

[William McConnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sort of like Tintin. Old, entertaining, and racially insensitive

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful entertaining listening 🔰😀

Another will written British romantic thriller adventure fantasy novella by Maurice LeBlanc LeBlanc. A story about love 💘 during an earthquake filling in the English Channel and the greed that happens. But love 💘 prevailed. I would recommend this novella to readers of adventure fantasy. Enjoy 2021 🏰 🗼

[Tyler Oremus · Rating 3 out of 5]

commentaire social: est la raison pour laquelle vous devriez lire ce livre. soyez conscient des préjugés et des normes de genre masculins et féminins qui sont exprimés dans ce livre. faites attention à la façon dont le sujet de la race est traité.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting to think about.

[Petremann Michel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un dystopie sans excès (à part le Formidable événement, tout le reste est d époque)

[Mika Seves]

Je ne comprends pas

[Two Envelopes And A Phone · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a blast, an awesome SF adventure brought to us from 1920. As such - alas - we get some dated, now-purged terms for the Native Americans in the story; Washington’s NFL team recently dropped such a term from their name, and The First Doctor on Doctor Who, in the very first episode, used a similar term despite being an enlightened alien from an advanced race. Plus, the N-word occurs once. It’s a shame, because it’s such a terrific read despite all this crap.

The book gets going with a high body-count and harrowing occurrences early; earthquakes and tidal waves, horrible consequences - and one unexpected change to world geography: a new landmass rises from the waves, to link France and England. This formerly underwater wasteland is the star of the show. It swiftly becomes a nightmare realm that the curious, and the greedy, want to explore before the governments of two countries can begin the official battle for it. There are myriad exposed shipwrecks spread over the treacherous plains, and the worst of the worst quickly turn this awful new place into what feels like a ‘Mad Max’-ish, post-apocalyptic wasteland.

Our hero, Simon, braves the quicksand pits and harrowing river crossings to find Isabel, who has gone out onto the horrible vastness on her own quest. Pretty big of Simon to do what he does, since the lady’s pop forbids the marriage…but love is love. That said, a bizarre love triangle blossoms, thanks to Dolores, one of the plucky little team who assists Simon.

This old tale has many twists that I did not see coming, as well as terrific villains - solo cads, and packs of roving scumbags - but as mentioned, the soggy, scary landscape itself is perhaps the highlight of this corpse-strewn tour…that, and the most disturbing descriptions being saved for the ending. And thankfully, the insulting and dated terminology disappears after being briefly used, once the supporting characters’ names are known and they exist as individuals - acceptably well-drawn characters, IMO, though I suppose that’s a matter of personal viewpoint.

[ℳatthieu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quasiment un siècle après sa parution ce récit de style merveilleux-fantastique se lit très bien.
Certes désuet, cette épopée à travers un no man's land rempli de bandits nous tient néanmoins en haleine. Simon Dubosc notre héros doit secourir sa belle et résister à la jolie tentatrice latina (instantanément séduite soit dit en passant). L'aventure (avec une pointe de far West) est là, à travers les épaves, les pillards, l'or et de nombreux cadavres.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un court roman sympathique qui se lit très bien ! L'intrigue est prenante quoiqu'assez classique (à l'image des personnages clichés), agréable à lire si on aime bien Leblanc et la littérature d'aventure de cette époque. Intéressant pour ses quelques éléments d'anticipation.

[Allenj3210 · Rating 5 out of 5]

It doesn't have Lupin in it, but it is still an enchanting read

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story of a challenge, and the tremendous event of the title which leads to an adventure in a fantastic land.