Although modern fictional texts may be strongly influenced by past ones either by imitation or by counteraction, they may also be strongly affected by historical events in politics, economics, and social affairs. Specters of fear are particularly effective in this way: The smashing victory of the Japanese over China in the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 caused much concern in Europe. This was especially true in Germany where Kaiser Wilhelm II was pursuing his "Neue Kurs" ("New Course") by building an army, a navy, and an empire. As a result of the Japanese victory he envisioned the rise of what he called "die gelbe Gefahr" ("the Yellow Peril"). That is, he saw the teeming millions of Asia — Chinese, Mongols, Manchus, and Koreans — led by their Japanese masters, conquering all Christian Europe. This specter of the "Yellow Peril" became the theme of a thriller by the...