On the Verge of Lunacy

Dean Koontz's take on the aftermath of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus novel takes the reader into the darkest corners of one man's insane and grand design to rid the world of humanity. Two hundred years after Victor Frankenstein's death, his first creation who now calls himself Deucalion, sensed that Victor was still alive somewhere and that he must stop him. His worst fears were confirmed when he finds out that Victor has been working secretly for many years refining his techniques and perhaps had achieved immortality. Prodigal Son introduces Deucalion who has changed profoundly through the years. Calmer and wiser now he nevertheless feels that he is still the monster Victor created him to be. But he learned that he has gifts which made him question the purpose of his existence. His discovery of Victor's whereabouts strengthened his conviction that he survived because his mission is unfinished. He is not alone in this quest. Ca...

Instead of just focusing on the narration of events, this classic horror highlighted instead the emotional and psychological trauma of the characters. Victor Frankenstein went on a frenzied creative episode and lived to regret it. His creation (he didn't have any name) was so hideous that even the hands that created him found him so repulsive. The creature left. Since then Victor wallowed in misery and found nothing joyful in life although he came from a loving family and had good friends. After a while he forgot about his creation but every time he felt happy, he is reminded of what he did. He could not tell anyone about it too because it would be like admitting a crime and he did not want to put his loved ones in danger or reject him when he confessed. He felt like the victim of what he did. The creature, according to his version of the story in the later part of the book, does not seem like he is the monster that Victor made him up to be. Yes, he had reflexes and streng...