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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Arch-Villain Dr. Nikola, the Rival of Professor Moriarty, January 30, 2005
Guy Boothby's novel 'A Bid for Fortune or Dr. Nikola's Vendetta' (1895) is an apt choice for the short-lived Oxford Popular Fiction series, which shed a spotlight on the now forgotten novels. Few people read these novels today, but they were once very popular, and if you read the book, you will see the reason.
Boothby's novel, which was serialized in 1895 (2 years before the publication of 'Dracula'), follows the adventure of our hero/narrator Hatteras, a white raised in the South Seas, who literally saves a beautiful lady (named Phyllis) from ruffians, falls in love with her, encounters the arch-villain Dr. Nikola, and tries to save the day. Really. The novel includes the globe-trotting story that leads us from Australia to the South Seas via Egypt, and the narration is full of incredible dangers.
And Dr. Nikola, first-rate mastermind of evil schemes, remains in the shadow all through the story, hatching plans ala Dr. No or Spectre in 007 series. Shrewd Dr. Nikola, always one step ahead of the brave hero, uses even mesmerism to make the targeted victim listen to what he says. His attire is always that of gentleman, with a jet-black cat perched on the shoulder watching you!
Boothby hit the right mood to create this kind of cliff-hanging thriller, providing set-pieces of suspence to each chapters, which is followed by another. While you read, do not think about the plot. It is like Eugene Sue (if you know his 'The Wandering Jew'), with ultra-fast-paced suspence.
Now forgotten, and perhaps undeservedly so, Boothby's 'Dr. Nikola' is still interesting today. Pity that he couldn't keep up with the pace (he made sequels, none of which are as good as this, according to John Sutherland, the editor of Oxford edition), but the first entry is very entertaining. Try it if you like John Buchan or that kind of thrilling novels.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Australian SF Reader, July 31, 2007
Dr Nikola is an enigmatic supervillain type, with his own strange code of honor. Unfortunately for him, he crosses paths with a bored adventurer on holiday, and life becomes more difficult for him. A fun, straightforward, clear adventure on one hand, with the enigmatic Nikola in the background.
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