Review: An Early Villian out to Conquer the World Story
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 14, 2013
I rate this one five stars.  I base this on originality of the story line, plot, pacing and action, and, a some extra credit again for originality.  This may be the very first modern "villain out to conquer the World" story.  Update the plot with some gratuitous sex and violence and it is ready for the next James Bond movie.  The parallels between this story and the plot of some of the classic Bond thrillers are striking; a dauntless hero, a fair maiden in distress, evil genius out to ruin the British Government, Ian Flemming couldn't have formulated the plot better.  The fact that the hero is an American and not a member of the British Secret Service is only a minor sticking point.  Written in 1919 and set in that time frame, this story is miles away from the typical drawing room murder mysteries of that era.  A good read, and a story way ahead of it's time.