The Circus of Dr. Lao (Magill’s Guide to Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature)
At a glance:
- Author: Charles G. Finney
- First Published: 1935
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Fantasy—mythological
- Time of Work: The 1930’s
- Setting: Abalone, Arizona
- Genres: Long fiction, Mythological literature, Fantasy
- Subjects: North America or North Americans, United States or Americans, Mythology or myths, 1930’s, West, U.S., Arizona, Southwest, Circuses or carnivals
- Locales: Arizona
The Plot
Charles G. Finney wrote The Circus of Dr. Lao after his travels to China during the 1920’s, when he served as part of a United States garrison stationed in Tientsin. Finney’s knowledge of Chinese mythology provides the backdrop for the more fantastic elements of the novel.
The Circus of Dr. Lao consists of three tiers of set pieces, or short scenes, that introduce and explore the circus and its attractions. Speculations on the nature of the circus prior to its arrival serve as the first tier of set pieces, during which most of the main...
[The entire page is 990 words long]
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