Reading List: Frankenstein - Mary Shelley

Hello readers and welcome back to another installment of the Reading List. As mentioned previously I am trying to work in more BIPOC and female authors onto this list. To that end I decided to go with one of the most famous works in literature that I had ashamedly never read, Mary Shelley’s 1818 work Frankenstein, also known as the first science fiction novel.

This was a phenomenal read for many reasons, not the least of which are the use of a rip roaring story to get us into the action and horror that awaits. I suppose it’s well known now that this story was the result of a bet that took place in Geneva, Switzerland among several writers and Mary Shelley’s is the one we commonly remember today. Also probably well known is the plot, although if you haven’t read it you may be surprised at some instances. For example, one of the most moving parts of the novel for me is when the “monster” is telling his tale to his creator Victor Frankenstein. I had no idea that it would be so eloquent and understanding, while it is the world that is not compatible with his hideous nature and overbearing stature. And of course, like Heart of Darkness after it, the entire story is told from the perspective of another character, a shipping captain attempting to make it to the North Pole who stumbles upon the near-dead Frankenstein in pursuit of his mad creation. There were all sorts of twists and turns I wasn’t expecting, such as the “monster” requesting his creator to make a female companion that I thought was the stuff of later films and adaptations. But no, Victor almost goes through with it before destroying the second corpse created body to ensure nothing like this can walk the earth ever again (however thus unfortunately sealing his own fate).

As stated above, this was a great, rollicking tale as I have discovered many works written in the 19th century to be. Of course I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention some of the major themes, which would be: the destructive power of science if in the wrong hands, as well as the comfort of friends and family on said soul. Victor is constantly worried about the “monster” attacking his friends and family for his refusal to see it as an equal, and in the end after various violent events he is left with almost no one. It is quite a reversal and told with some of the greatest Romantic era flourishes of emotion that could be seen in a novel of this magnitude. And once again this book proves that women own at least as much of the science fiction realm as men, if one really goes back and sees its beginnings.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who has just seen film adaptations or other types of works based on this essential novel, as when one gets into the actual meat of the story it is vastly compelling and overly mesmerizing. I would hold this one up there with Dracula (another favorite of mine) as to the creation of the modern SciFi / Horror cannon. Thanks as always for joining me on this reading adventure.