Subject
Diamonds -- Fiction Books
Best books
Beatrice Grimshaw
The Sorcerer's Stone
"The Sorcerer's Stone" by Beatrice Grimshaw is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story revolves around two main characters, an adventurous Australian named Flint and a French marquis, both of whom are on a quest related to magic and indigenous cultures in remote New Guinea. The narrative is likely to blend themes of adventure, local sorcery, and the complexities of cross-cultural encounters. The opening of the story sets a dark and tense atmosphere inside a New Guinea temple where the protagonists observe local customs and evince an impending sense of danger. The Marquis, passionate about studying magic, engages in a mesmerizing dance that catches the attention of a young local girl, much to Flint's dismay as he is wary of the hostile potential of their surroundings. The plot quickly escalates as the girl appears to fall under the spell of the Marquis’ dance, leading to unexpected consequences connected to local sorcery and the enigmatic sorcerer Mo. This inciting event indicates that the narrative will explore themes of cultural tension, the allure and risks of the supernatural, and the quest for a powerful artifact – the titular sorcerer's stone.
J. S. (Joseph Smith) Fletcher
The Orange-Yellow Diamond
"The Orange-Yellow Diamond" by J. S. Fletcher is a novel set in the early 20th century, specifically around 1921. The story follows the struggles of Andrew Lauriston, a young literary aspirant whose life is marked by poverty and ambition. As he experiences the challenges of making a name for himself in London, he becomes entangled in a mystery involving pawnbrokers, precious jewels, and a suspicious death. At the start of the novel, we find Lauriston in a dire situation, having exhausted his funds and on the brink of hunger. He decides to pawn his father’s gold watch to alleviate his immediate financial concerns. In the pawnbroker's shop, he encounters Zillah, the attractive granddaughter of the pawnbroker, who makes an impression on him. Shortly thereafter, Lauriston discovers the lifeless body of the old pawnbroker, Daniel Multenius, leading him into a web of suspicion and intrigue involving a potential murder. This opening portion sets the tone for the mystery that unfolds and introduces key characters, highlighting Lauriston's desperation and the complex social dynamics at play.
Roy Rockwood
Lost on the Moon; Or, in Quest of the Field of Diamonds
"Lost on the Moon; Or, in Quest of the Field of Diamonds" by Roy Rockwood is a science fiction novel likely written in the early 20th century. This adventurous tale centers around two boys, Jack Darrow and Mark Sampson, who embark on a quest inspired by a Martian newspaper article suggesting the existence of diamonds on the moon, referred to as "Reonaris." The boys, along with their mentor, Professor Henderson, are eager to explore this possibility and intend to build a spacecraft for their lunar journey. At the start of the story, Jack and Mark engage in an animated debate about the authenticity of a newspaper article they brought back from Mars, which claims that a field of diamonds was discovered on the moon. They bring in their professors to help interpret the article, confirming their suspicions. Excited by the prospect of the expedition, they start planning their journey to the moon. However, there is a twist as Mark later disappears after exploring a mysterious nearby old house, leading to Jack's growing concern for his friend. This early setup introduces elements of adventure, exploration, and an intriguing hint of danger, which foreshadows the challenges they will face on their journey.
Winston K. (Winston Kinney) Marks
The Incredible Life-Form
"The Incredible Life-Form" by Winston K. Marks is a science fiction novella written in the early 1950s. The story explores the concept of life and self-awareness through the fictional creation of a unique life-form by a sentient diamond named Prime on the planet Earth. The narrative serves as a thought experiment on the nature of existence, egotism, and the responsibilities that come with creation. The plot revolves around Tone Seng Froot, an investigator who observes Prime's progression in creating animal life and ultimately self-aware humans. Initially amused by Prime's ambitions, Froot soon finds the ramifications of these creations dire, as humans possess an insatiable drive for self-preservation that leads to their own destruction through nuclear warfare. Prime, seeking vengeance for being worshipped and then abandoned by his creations, ultimately decides to destroy the last human but is manipulated by her pleas for life. The story culminates in a startling realization about the complexities of creator and creation, ultimately questioning the ethics and unintended consequences of playing god with life.
J. S. (Joseph Smith) Fletcher
Kellanpunainen timantti
"Kellanpunainen timantti" by J. S. Fletcher is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story is set against the backdrop of London's poorer districts, highlighting social contrasts and the struggles of its characters. The main protagonist, Andrew Lauriston, is a young writer facing dire financial difficulties, and the narrative follows his interactions as he navigates the challenges that arise from his situation. At the start of the novel, readers are introduced to Andrew Lauriston, who is at the brink of starvation and desperate for money. He contemplates pawning his father’s pocket watch to pay his overdue rent to his landlady, Mrs. Flitwick. Despite his initial reluctance to visit a pawnbroker, he musters the courage to do so after an interaction with Mrs. Flitwick, which leads him to a young and charming pawn dealer's assistant named Zillah. As Lauriston's struggles deepen, the narrative introduces a sinister turn when Lauriston finds the pawnbroker dead in his shop shortly after he attempts to seek help, which complicates his situation further. The opening sets the stage for a mystery infused with themes of poverty, desperation, and the unexpected entanglements that life presents.
Emilio Salgari
Il tesoro del Presidente del Paraguay
"Il tesoro del Presidente del Paraguay" by Emilio Salgari is a novel published in 1894. During the Paraguayan War, European sympathizers send President Solano Lopez a shipment of weapons and seven million in diamonds. When a naval blockade prevents delivery, three men escape in a hot air balloon carrying the treasure. They crash in Patagonia and must survive hostile tribes, treacherous terrain, and betrayal while attempting to reach the President with his fortune across thousands of miles of dangerous South American wilderness.
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