Customer Reviews

THE CIRCUS OF DR LAO.

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Finney writes as though he had been possessed by the spirit of Ambrose Bierce, and to me, that's a GOOD thing. More of a short story than a novel (I last read it in the space of a single afternoon), "The Circus" shines light in many directions and is best appreciated after more than a single reading. Frankly, I'm astonished that it got published in the first place, and even more surprised that it here receives what amounts to a "Criterion Collection" sort of treatment, including reproductions of the illustrations by Boris Artzybasheff from the first edition.

The citizens of Abalone (plus a few visitors) are scathingly protrayed in amazingly understated passages. Presented with actual unicorns, satyrs, sea serpents, mermaids, and other "fabulous" creatures and miracles, hardly any of the townspeople can muster more than a yawn and a shrug. The ultimate spectacle, the sacrifice of a virgin to the giant bronze god of the rotten-to-the-core city of Woldercan, is absolutely a gem.

The use of several racial epithets does nothing to reflect on Finney - it doesn't take a super-astute reader to understand Finney is reflecting on his *characters*, yes, even in 1935.

As most reviewers have noted - this is NOT a children's book. And while the Tony Randall film of 1960 has some of its own charm (thank you, Barbara Eden!!), it is a kiddy-fied, watered-down version of this story. It was probably Finney's experience as a newspaperman that soured him on human nature - it must be an occpational hazard, since he shares that experience with the afore-mentioned Bierce as well as with another arch-cynic, Cyril Kornbluth of "Marching Morons" fame. The writing style varies (intentionally) from pulp to inspired to crisp and concise, sometimes all on a single page. Obviously not a book for everyone, but I find it refreshing, enlightening, and supremely entertaining.

Into the drab, sleepy world of Abalone Arizona, where each resident thinks he's seen it all, comes a circus run by a "Chinaman" featuring, not elephants and bears, but the mermaid, the roc, the Hound of the Hedges and the ancient city of Woldercan. This astonishing short novel's narrative ranges from rustic yarn to elegant scientific speculation to bizarre flights of fancy. Added fun comes in the index featuring commentary on every human, animal and morsel of food mentioned in the story. Ignore the Tony Randall movie; the book beats it by miles.

the seven faces of doctor Lao was a favorite movie of mine as a child and i was very happy to see that the book far outshone the movie. it was a beautifully rendered snapshot of the most unusual circus on earth. Finney creates for us a place we would like to visit while giving us local characters who manage to be both satiric and realistic. I was sad to see that a few readers found the book to be inadequate....but it's bound to happen...due to the media of the day people can no longer understand anything that isn't spelled out for them and then cleanly ended, people don't want to have to think about what they've read or make even the smallest attempt at pondering it.
and a note on the derogatory or racist terms used in the book for anyone who was upset by them....notice that they are not often used by the author but by the inhabitants of the town during a time when many people were very much against foreigners of any kind....they speak in a racist manner because a lot of people were that racist....we can't pretend they were all well bred and politically correct . it would be a lie.

Reading the other reviews here reminds me of the old saw about the blind men and the elephant -- how one (feeling its legs) describes it as resembling a tree; one (feeling its trunk) describes it as like a rope; et cetera. The simple fact is you can't experience this particular elephant unless you read it for yourself. It is truly sui generis.

As for the negative comments that some have lobbed at this book, I can only laugh bitterly & loudly. For the whole concept of the book is about a small-minded town that's exposed to an act of real & genunine magic -- and how the town misses the point utterly. They're limited by their blinders, and perceive only that which can be easily categorized within their existing worldviews. Draw what parallels you may....

Be warned that despite its labelmates in the Bison series, this "Circus" has as much in common with William S. Burroughs as Edgar Rice... and psychedelic / anarchist philosopher Robert Anton Wilson owes this slim tome a debt of gratitude. (His "catalog" of characters and ideas at the back of his "Illuminatus! Trilogy" is an obvious homage to the similar catalog appendixed here.)

The "Circus" is luminous and lyrical, shifting gears from rhapsodic flights of fantasy to bitter and insightful jibes at humanity's foibles. And it's probably my all-time favorite book, ever. It invites and withstands re-reading after re-reading.

And somebody out there really needs to reprint Finney's even harder-to-find (and even more peculiar) short novel, "The Unholy City." If you love "Circus," track it down.

_It came as a surprise to me to find that one of my favorite films as a boy was actually based on a novel. It was even more of a surprise to find that the novel was written in 1935. It was a further surprise to find that it was written by a newspaperman that had served as an enlisted man in the old 15th Infantry in China back before WWII. Finally, it was a surprise that I actually liked this little book even more than the film.

_The story centers around the most unusual circus of Dr. Lao. The good doctor's circus is his own personal world- and seems to obey no laws of man or nature but his own (and that of his junior partner, Apollonius of Tyana.) This is an appropriate partnership, for Apollonius was perhaps the wisest man of the classical West, while Lao, if I am not mistaken, is patterned on Lao Tzu, wisest man of the classical East. Between them, they have assembled a remarkable collection of creatures from all places and times for their little show: a Chimera, a Unicorn, a Sphinx, a Sea Serpent, a mermaid, a werewolf, a hedge hound, the Golden Ass, a medusa, a satyr, a faun, nymphs, a Roc, and much, much more. All of this for the edification of the inhabitants of the sleepy, ordinary, little town of Abalone, Arizona during one hot, dusty August during the Great Depression. Everything is intended to wake the little town from its slumber, for everything reflects the great dance of life in all its appetite and lust, its wonder and terror. Yet, above it all, and in control of it all, are the two great sages.

_Many of the inhabitants of Abalone are left in wonder or in denial. Either way, most of them will never be the same again....

My only regret upon reading this book is that I didn't discover it earlier. The imagery in this book will transport you into the author's universe - a bizarre circus full of equally bizarre creatures. When the main character, Dr. Lao, delivers his lectures on these unique beasts, the author's eloquent use of the English language is stunning.

There is one point that I feel needs to be clarified, however. This book may not be suitable for all children. Although it engages the reader's imagination, it can be at times a very dark book. The appearance of Satan in the circus lashing a very pretty young witch comes to mind. Also, the use of derogatory racial epithets is something that most parents would probably not want to expose young children to. Finney's use of these words reminded me of William Faulkner's use of these words. They may seem gratuitous when you read them the first time, but later you realize that the author was in fact revealing a serious moral flaw in the character who was saying them. Overall, I feel that an intelligent older child would probably gain much from reading this book. The pros far outway the cons in this fantastic work of fiction.

Much as I love the movie, the book is so much better, more mysterious, more idiosyncratic, more cynical and even funnier. I have loved this book dearly for 40 years now. You can read it in two hours, if that, and then reread it an infinite number of times. I've bought 3 or 4 editions over the years as I keep wearing them out, but this new edition, a facsimile if the first edition with the bizarre original illustrations, is a thing of beauty, an edition worthy of this great classic. READ THIS WONDERFUL BOOK!

Here are comments by high-school students in the class I teach:

Charles G. Finney creates in his book, The Circus of Dr. Lao, a story of magic touching the disbelieving townspeople. This book is more of a collection of short stories rather than a novel. There is no one central plot, nor is there one protagonist, and there certainly isn't an antagonist. Finney doesn't add in any divisions in the book such a chapters, nor does he make use of foreshadowing or allusions. The fact that there was no central theme or plot bothered me when I was reading the book. Accepting a book such as this was hard, but once you realize that one should just enjoy the sardonic humor instead of hunting for a plotline, the read becomes a lot more enjoyable.
I could sum up all of the happenings of this book without giving away any of it. Hard to believe, but in The Circus of Dr. Lao, each encounter that a human has with an animal can be described in very few words. It is not the twists in events that make this story interesting, but rather, the vivid descriptions of their actions, of their form, of their words. The rather unique character of Dr. Lao is especially humorous, often switching from the eloquent speech of a sophisticated individual to the stereotypical vernacular of a "chinaman." An interesting and light read, with characters to please minds of all ages.


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I would like to comment on the review by Babytoxie from 2002. I have not seen the movie and thus cannot speak to the differences between it and the book, but I can address some of Babytoxie's criticisms of the novel. To begin with, Babytoxie states that the locals "play no worthwhile part in the story." Without the locals, there hardly is a story. The story lies in the locals' reactions to the animals, which offer a great deal of insight into the minds of these ordinary people as they are confronted with the extraordinary. Far from being "cardboard locals" with no personalities, they present numerous perspectives and characteristics, which their reactions to the mythical creatures and seemingly impossible events of the circus display to the reader. The author's concise and understated description of the locals cuts right to the core of the natures of the characters and, by extension, of humanity as a whole.
This is more of an extended short story than a novel, and it does not fit the standard mold of a novel. While it could probably be extended into a more developed novel, in the process it would lose much of what sets it apart from most books. The book's current format invites readers to explore the characters and the situations presented, draw their own conclusions about them, and search for the underlying message. The message may not be blatant, but neither is it inaccessible. By trying to make this story fit the confines of a standard novel, one cannot help but lose sight of its value as a unique and intriguing tale offering insights into humanity.

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While The Circus of Dr. Lao is certainly a very cleverly-written little book, it has no driving plot or particularly inspiring scene or character. Rather, it is simply a brief glimpse at a strange episode that happens to occur in Average Town, U.S.A., with the range of characters that one might expect to find there - drunken college students, a repressed schoolteacher, a wealthy old man, and many other middling sorts of people. Development-wise, the story just kind-of floats along, and then it ends. But despite this lack of conventional set-up, as the author shows this bizarre occurrence touching the lives of all the characters, the book turns out to be a rather interesting and hilarious examination of human nature. As an actual book, there is no reason to recommend it, because there is no hook, nothing truly attention-grabbing about it. However, I have decided to recommend it just the same, because it is one of those books that make its reader think. With no final resolution or grand declaration of purpose, it is left to the reader to try to figure out what the Hell is going on, and whether the characters are actually going to learn anything from this encounter.


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At first glance, it is easy to see why a reader might dismiss The Circus of Dr. Lao as racist, nonsensical tripe. This book does, after all, focus on the interactions between the largely racist population of a small town (Abalone, Arizona) and a circus of mythical creatures that, it seems, only a Classics professor would love. For some, this may be a hard premise to accept. Well, to each his own opinion. For my part, I thought that this was an excellent book.
Finney's writing is both amusing and insightful: while the townspeople try to figure out what type of creature is in a cage ("It's a man", "No, it's a bear", "It's a Russian"), Finney both illustrates the way the people of Abalone try to rationalize the miraculous things they see before them and pokes fun at their ignorant ways of thinking. If you're looking for a book to read to your five-year-old (as, it seems, many reviewers are), or if you always hated ancient mythology in school, this book is not for you. For the rest of us, it is a treasure.

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An Amusing Read!!!

Books serve many different purposes: some are meant to teach, others are meant to convey life lessons, and still others are simply meant to be enjoyed. "Dr. Lao" seems to be a brilliant example of a book intended to be enjoyed. Boasting a plethera of miracles and comic relief wielded as if by Shakespeare himself, "Dr. Lao" makes a magnificent read. "Dr. Lao" shows a complete lack of regard for any type of cohesive plot.
The book seems to reveal at a slightly dramatic level that humanity is simply beginning to deny the fact that miracles exist. Finney portrays the people of Abalone to be stubborn folk who don't believe that there is any such thing as magic. One would think in a town as mundane as Abalone people would be relieved to have a break from daily life, and indeed most of the people overcome by curiosity do indeed go view the parade and then circus. They are paid back in full for the efforts each of them witnessing amazing acts of magic or viewing an assortment of rare creatues. Whether they witness Apollonius raises the dead, or Medusa makes a statue out of a townswoman, or even a Roc egg hatch, the people of Abalone remain unphased. They take all such encounters as nothing more than particularly dry gossip.
Finney creates a wonderful environment easily allowing minds to wander in and among the circus tents privately viewing all the inhabitents for any lenght of time. He does so by giving such vivid descriptions of both the physical aspects of the creature and also of their temperments. Finney does a wonderful job describing everything and anything in this book; from the exciteable Dr. Lao, to the pensive Apollonius or even the agressive attitude of the fearless sea snake. Everything human or otherwise adopts a personality and connects with the townspeople in different ways. This book needs no plot with so many other brilliant attributes. It's hard to get bored reading about so many different rare creatures and their affect on the hard to impress townsfolk. All in all "Dr. Lao" is a magnificent read, with characters that keep the pages turning.


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Interesting Read


Being not a big reader I generally stray away from books. I tend to only read books for school and often hate reading the whole time. This book, however, was an outstanding book. Although the plot and story line are a little vague, the book is always turning a corner and keeping you reading. Dr. Lao is the ring master of a odd circus that comes to Abalone. The people of the town do not know what they are in for.
Dr. Laos' Circus is definitely one of a kind. With great descriptions of ancient creatures such as a chimera and the hound of the hedges the circus gets everyone interested. All of the creatures also have human like personalities and interact with the people that are visiting the circus. The creatures hold up conversations with the visitors, argue, and tell stories of mystic places and adventures. Magic is done and in the final show of the circus the the animals all go wild and the devil is even raised.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is looking for something exciting and that will keep them reading. For all the non readers out there like me I also recommend it for you because it is definitely interesting and it is also short so it can be finished in an afternoon. This book is a Casas and shouled be read by everyone looking for a book that is out there and that will keep them reading. I give this book two thumbs up.


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Charles Finney's "The Circus of Doctor Lao" is a novella about a circus
full of magical creatures that stops in Abalone, Arizona during the
depression. Finney's dead-pan prose - a delight to read - reveals both
the banality of Abalone's citizens and the casual viciousness of Dr. Lao's
attractions (the conversation between Mr. Etaoin the proofreader and the
sea snake provides a particularly sharp juxtaposition). For readers
interested in mythology, this story is full of treats.

However, those interested in tight plotting or climactic action
should pass "Dr. Lao" by, as it has neither. The story consists in a
series of vignettes, connected only by place and theme. If you require
certain conventional literary forms - such as an overarching conflict or
an indentifiable protagonist - to enjoy a work, "Dr. Lao" will only
frustrate you. In addition, some characters employ racist language; if
this bothers you, so will significant portions of the book.

I recommend "Dr. Lao" with the above reservations.

It is difficult to describe the wonder of this book. It is a short book of a little over a hundred pages. The category that it has been sold under is science fiction. The book has no plot but tells of a strange circus setting up in a small town. The owner of the circus Dr Lao is a Chinese man who changes between being a strange 1920's racist caricature to a person of the clear flowing oratory.

The book develops as the residents of the small town visit each of the exhibits. Each exhibit opens up a world of magic. The author attempts to satirise the residents of the town by contrasting their mundaneness with a world of passion and mystery.

The one exception to this is a dialogue between a sea monster and an office clerk. The sea monster is so large that it could destroy any other creature with a flip of its tale. Its power is dwarfed by the power of the clerk who is unremarkable but representative of the power of humanity as a collective mass.

The climax to the book is one of the most humours pieces of writing in science fiction. This book is now sadly out of print and will probably never be published again. Yet it is a work that deserves to endure for ever.

...Not everything is, or should be, written for children. This is elegant sardonic fantasy at its finest. If there are racist characters, they are consistently portrayed as ignorant, and the fact that the Doctor speaks like a carnival "chinaman' to them, yet like a wise and brilliant metaphysicist to the characters willing to listen to him says a lot about the author's attitude. The author, on the small drab stage of Abalone, Arizona, brings forth an astonishing spectacle of history and imagination; everything from the wars in China, to ancient Greece, to the outlands of tall tale and myth, to the overarching cycle of birth, spawn and death. This book is brilliant, if one cares to read it like an adult.