#sumuru

The Million Eyes of Sumuru (1967) Lindsay Shonteff

“The Fire Goddess” by Sax Rohmer   (Gold Medal Books, 1952)    cover artist unknown

Forgotten today, the Sumuru series was (after starting out as a short lived radio series in 1946) made up of short novels by Sax Rohmer, the creator of Fu Manchu that concerned a female super villainess and her attempt to take over the world appearing between 1950 and 1956.

Her unique take on that trope was that she was going to do it with an all-female secret society. Or more to the point an all beautiful female society as Sumuru was affected with a major case of Lookism as while it would be all female rulers in her new world order, they are had to be beautiful by the standards of the old patriarchy.

Most of her schemes seemed to be warmed over Fu Manchu plots with the sword and mask of Genghis Khan becoming a mystic gem belonging to King Solomon.

Of interest during the five novels in the series the only people who knew her as Sumuru were we the readers, her main foe Chief Inspector Gilligan of Scotland Yard and his aids. To her followers she was known as Madonna.

So who knows, based on a true story? She did also have that longevity thing going on like the Devil Doctor.

While none of the books have been published sense the mid-70s they can be found via E-Book.

The books have appeared under different titles:

Nude in Mink / The Sins of Sumuru (1950)

Sumuru / Slaves of Sumuru (1951)

The Fire Goddess / Virgin in Flames (1952)

Return of Sumuru / Sand and Satin (1954)

THIS IS YOUR BLESSING FOR THE CHARACTERS YOU WANT BOOS. YOU GOT THIS. YOU GOT THIS GAME.