Just Finished Reading: The Poison Belt by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (FP: 1913) [103pp] 

It all began with a mysterious ‘blurring’ of Fraunhofer’s Lines in the visible spectra. Confusion reigned in the press with scientists, and others, supporting various theories and attacking others. But one letter in particular stood out – from the famous, or some would say infamous, Professor Challenger recently returned from an expedition. The ‘blurring’ was something that could not be ignored. More so, it presaged a cataclysmic event in Earth’s history and could not be easily avoided. Called to his residence outside London, journalist and friend Edward Malone is asked only one thing: Bring Oxygen. Intrigued, he acquires some only to find that his two companions from previous adventures have been tasked to do likewise. What is Challenger up to this time? Why does he think the Earth is in mortal peril and why the need for oxygen? All will be revealed, in all its horror, once they arrive – if they can make it in time! 

I picked up this slim volume some months ago because it looked like an interesting departure from the usual Conan Doyle fare. I’m a BIG fan of the author (more later!) so was expecting to be entertained and I was. Stories from this age often have an ‘otherworldly’ feel to them anyway – being both strange and familiar simultaneously – but this took that to a whole new level. Being so short (essentially a long short story or a slim novella) the action began quickly and moved on at a fair clip from then on. Without giving too much away there’s a global disaster complete with cities burning, governments falling and piles of bodies in the streets. The descriptions of these events, especially with our experience/knowledge now of two World Wars and multiple disasters played out on our TV screens, makes it all the more realistic. No doubt those who read this story would have remembered it in stark terms as they experienced gas attacks on the Western Front and read government advice (delivered along with the gas mask) in the run-up to World War Two. It must have been quite disturbing in the year before the Great War descended with all of its horror to read about the streets of London, arguably one of the greatest capitals of the world, brought low so quickly with the bodies of men, women and children in such abundance. I’m sure it would have caused more than a few nightmares at the time! 

Being so short this was a quick read – only a single day for me – and I can say that I really did enjoy it (especially towards the end). The ‘twist’ was to be expected but was handled reasonably well although maybe with a bit too much stoicism. There are, inevitably, a few instances of unthinking racism which I wrinkled my nose at but books of that age can’t but help convey the beliefs of the time. Knowing that such things are now, thankfully, far rarer is a sign of progress. The fact that the master of the house essentially ignored the well-being of his staff, knowing what was coming, was almost funny in its assumed superiority – again reflecting attitudes of the time. So, with a few historical and cultural caveats, this is well worth your time if you’re a Conan Doyle fan or one of early ‘Science-Fiction’. Recommended. 

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