Originally published in French in 1911, this title has also been translated as The Silent Executioner. It is the second installment in the series FantOriginally published in French in 1911, this title has also been translated as The Silent Executioner. It is the second installment in the series Fantômas, which I stumbled upon a few years ago. I think not many series are named after the criminal rather than the detective. As such, we know that the criminal Fantômas doesn't get caught by Juve, the police investigator whose life work seems to be in catching him.
Both of these characters are masters of disguise. The reader is not supposed to know which named character is Fantômas - I did think I had a bead on him, but there was a surprise for me anyway. Juve reveals himself to his journalist sidekick Fandor. Juve and Fandor are always a step behind Fantômas, who is not only a diabolical criminal, but also finds the chase itself exhilarating.
The story, of course, is all plot and the characterizations are pretty superficial. The prose is OK for the genre, and especially that it was first published more than 100 years ago. I was surprised that the dialogue isn't stiff. I'll be happy to read another installment of the series - they are quick and a fun read. Still, they aren't more than a middlin' 3-stars.
I didn't enjoy this, but I'm not sure it is the author's fault. I may just have chosen to read it at the wrong time. I remember the previous two in thI didn't enjoy this, but I'm not sure it is the author's fault. I may just have chosen to read it at the wrong time. I remember the previous two in the series as being rather improbable and so I found it fun to watch the detectives always one step behind Fantomas.
This was not much different except that I had a harder time following it. That, and there was also a clue about midway that pretty much told me who I should be looking out for. I don't have any others planned and I think I'll just not read any more....more
This is a work of French crime fiction from a century ago. Barely into it, I realized that Fantômas is the name the newspapers and detectives have givThis is a work of French crime fiction from a century ago. Barely into it, I realized that Fantômas is the name the newspapers and detectives have given to the perpetrator of a number of gruesome crimes.
I am frightened, because Fantômas is a being against whom it is idle to use ordinary weapons; because he has been able to hide his identity and elude all pursuit for years; because his daring is boundless and his power unmeasureable; because he is everywhere and nowhere at once and, if he has had a hand in this affair, I am not even sure that he is not listening to me now! And finally, M. de Presles, because every one whom I have known to attack Fantômas, my friends, my colleagues, my superior officers, have one and all, one and all, sir, been beaten in the fight! Fantômas does exist, I know, but who is he?
There is a detective, Juve. It is just possible he was the inspiration for Hercule Poirot, although there are many dissimilarities. But Juve is the brightest of them, and solves many cases. The question is, of course, will he solve this one? And, if he does, will he be right? And then, even, will he have the man in jail and convicted?
Deceit, disguise, duplicity - you'll find them all in this. It was more fun than I anticipated. I thought I might leave my pursuit of Fantômas with this one novel, but now I am enticed to read more. I don't know how many of the series has been translated, but be assured I will be investigating....more
Elizabeth (Alaska)
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Books:
fantomas
(3)
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