Books like The circus of Dr. Lao by Charles G. Finney
The quiet town of Abalone, struggling to survive the Great Depression, is upended when the circus of Dr. Lao arrives. Expecting merely a sideshow, the citizens discover a host of living myths—a chimera, Medusa, talking sphinx, sea serpent, witches, the Hound of the Hedges, a werewolf, a mermaid, an ancient god, and an ever‑changing Dr. Lao himself. The spectacle weaves magical and dark strands through the community, challenging love, destiny, desire, and the boundary between the living and the dead.
"The Circus of Dr. Lao" blends fantasy, folklore and philosophical themes within a speculative fiction framework, earning acclaim as a novel that has influenced writers such as Ray Bradbury.
First publish date: 1935
Genre: Fantasy/Dark Fantasy
Authors: Charles G. Finney
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