Cocteau, Colette, and Picasso were avid readers, and subsequent generations of artists, writers, and musicians have drawn inspiration from this enduringly stylish and suspenseful novel.įantomas/ Pierre Souvestre, Marcel Allain 1964 The original pulp fiction, its appeal transcended every level of society. The first volume in a series of wildly popular French thrillers, Fantômas created a sensation in pre-WWI Europe. One man has sworn to bring the phantom killer to justice: Inspector Juve, who ventures from dark alleys to brilliant salons in his relentless pursuit of the evil genius. Everyone recognizes the deeds of Fantômas, a master of disguise whose daring and diabolical crimes paralyze Parisians with terror. That one, to me, is a full-square masterpiece and vastly superior-so different from the musical (no romance, all shadow and gossip, smoke, mirrors, theatrical mayhem)-& it has all that this 'Phantom'as seems to sadly lack.įantômas (Fantômas #1), Marcel Allain, Pierre SouvestreĪ noblewoman is hacked to death in her chateau, a Russian princess is boldly robbed at a posh hotel, and a lord's lifeless body is found stuffed into a trunk.

There, everything comes together like a delicious dessert table at the Paris, Las Vegas buffet.you know, with those strawberry things and mini crème brule.

But get this, fellow bookworms: read the exemplary 'Phantom of the Opera' instead.

Honestly though, the Shakesperean tableus make you realize the literary form this landmark novel is taking. there's blatant overexplanations PLUS a constant betrayal of the reader (the tricks are overused and, dare I say, useless). But, alas, it (the idea), like its labyrinthine plot (you know exactly whodunit from the get-go.Boo!), becomes un-horrific and quirky. like in William Peter Blatty's exorcist novels. The true scare is the hint that Fantomas, or, early Michael Myers, is possibly many people. The list of suspects grows, aptly, and the archetypes pile up nicely. It's a delight to read the stages of the chase: here, of the mouse and cat AND dog. Antiheroes and villains are our new heroes & superstars). The hero/villain dynamics and the inherent sensationalism that the both inspire are explored & interesting questions do pop up (like, who are we REALLY rooting for? I mean, the Joker won the Oscar-Batman, zilch. Train-hopping, fake identities (including transvestites), bluffs, double bluffs, Bentillon dynamometers (rudimentary CSI), slit throats and gruesome violence, insane Victorians, specters, the beginnings of witness protection, schedules and time frames- this is in that same category of classics like W. What began as an expected, plain, elementary Whodunit becomes quite a crafty convolution in the end.

Allain souvestre