Reading order#
| # |
Title |
Published |
Author |
Buy on Amazon |
| 1 |
The Fantastic Saint |
1982 |
Leslie Charteris |
Buy |
The Simon Templar Collections bring together short stories featuring The Saint that fall outside the main novel series. These anthologies collect tales that originally appeared in magazines or that share a common theme, offering fans additional adventures with Leslie Charteris’s famous gentleman outlaw.
The Fantastic Saint stands out as a particularly unique collection, gathering stories where Simon Templar encounters science fiction and fantasy elements. These tales show Charteris experimenting with genres beyond his usual crime and thriller territory, putting The Saint in situations involving the supernatural and speculative.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Fantastic Saint about?
The Fantastic Saint (1982) is an anthology that collects Simon Templar short stories with science fiction and fantasy elements. These tales show The Saint encountering unusual situations beyond his typical crime-fighting adventures, including stories with supernatural or speculative fiction themes.
How do the Simon Templar collections relate to the main series?
The Simon Templar collections gather short stories that originally appeared in magazines or were scattered across various publications. They provide additional adventures featuring The Saint that complement the main novel series, often with a thematic focus like the science fiction angle in The Fantastic Saint.
Should I read the collections before or after the main series?
The collections work best after you have read some of the main Simon Templar novels and are familiar with the character. They are supplementary material that assumes readers already know The Saint’s personality, methods, and supporting cast.