Monster, 1959

by David Maine

From the critically acclaimed author of The Preservationist and The Book of Samson, Monster, 1959 is an extraordinary tale of 1950s America---flawed, conflicted, and poised to enter the most culturally upended decade of the century. The United States government has been testing the long-term effects of high-level radiation on a few select islands in the South Pacific. Their efforts have produced killer plants, mole people, and a forty-foot creature named K. Covered in fur and feathers, gifted with unusable butterfly wings and the mental capacity of a goldfish, K. is an evolutionary experiment gone very awry. Although he has no real understanding of his world, he knows when he’s hungry, and he knows to follow the drumbeats that lead him, every time, to the tree where a woman is offered to him as a sacrifice by the natives. When a group of American hunters stumble across the island, it’s bound to get interesting, especially when the natives offer up the guide’s beautiful wife to K. Not to be outdone, the Americans manage to capture him. Back in the States, they start a traveling show. The main K.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Horror, Speculative Fiction

256 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2008

About the author

I was born and raised in Connecticut but spent much of my adult life overseas, living in Morocco from 1995-98 and in Lahore, Pakistan from 1998-2008. Since 2008 I have been living and teaching in Honolulu. I began getting published in 2004, with The Preservationist, a retelling of the Noah story from Genesis. This was followed by Fallen, which reexamined the stories of Eve/Adam and Abel/Cain. In 2006, my novel The Book of Samson was released. All three books were published by St Martin's Press in the US and Canongate in the UK.

My first non-Biblically-oriented story, called Monster, 1959, was published in February 2008. It generated a lively mix of responses. My next "literary fiction" novel, An Age of Madness, will be forthcoming in 2012 from Red Hen Press.

In my immediate future is the summer 2011 release of an eBook through my agent at Folio Literary Management, and available at all the likely places (Amazon, B&N, the Apple store, etc). The new book is entitled The Gamble of the Godless and it is an epic fantasy in the Lord of the Rings tradition, complete with sorcerers, talking animals, telepathic owls, drug-addicted cheetahs and (of course) a threat to the entire known world. It's all tremendously fun, and although it represents a new direction for my publishing career, it's actually a return for me to the type of books I grew up reading--and loving.

I'd like to thank the readers and reviewers of this site for their many responses, even the negative ones. As a writer, I would much rather have someone read my book and respond negatively to it, than feel no response at all. And of course, thanks for the many positive responses too!

More info about me, my life, my writing and much else can be found at davidmaine.blogspot.com . Come take a look. I'm also on Facebook, so come friend me up. Thanks a lot, and cheers.

Reviews

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine the story of King Kong told through the eyes of the big ape. Or how about if the Godzilla movies were seen from Gojira's perspective? And finally, what was the Creature from the Black Lagoon thinking when he spied Julie Adams doing sexy water aerobics in his pond? Do fish get boners? We'll never know because all these movies kept their monsters mute and enigmatic.

Here's a book that attempts to give voice to all those crazy monsters that emerged (mostly) from 1950s cinema. An amalgam of three iconic movie creatures (see above), K is brought to the U.S. as a sideshow attraction. Yes, there's a pretty girl. Yes, he busts loose in New York City. And yes, he falls to his death from atop one of that city's famous landmarks. But this time we get a peek inside the monster's head.

Don't expect great bursts of insight, however. K is a simple beast, preliterate and prelingual. Sensation is his vocabulary. But despite these limitations, the author does a great job of bringing his creation to life.

K may not be smart, but this book isn't dumb. Funny and well written, MONSTER, 1959 is recommended for everyone who held back a tear when King Kong fell to his death from the Empire State building.

[Dan Duran · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting idea (basically king kong from the monster's point of view) bogged down significantly by the author's ham-fisted exertion of political essays in the narrative.

[MJ · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was a chore to finish this book. The author strains for a Vonnegutian tone of lighthearted cynicism, but falls very short. As a result, we are left with a pointless, humourless pastiche of King Kong, with occasional jarringly incongruent political asides.

Really, there ought to be a way to assign 0 stars.

[Fishface · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wild ride! A very different take on a very familiar story. Funny, horrible, well-researched and well-thought-out for a work of fiction. Well worth your time.

[Matthew Krause · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forty feet tall, covered with fur and feathers, massive nonviable butterfly wings on its back, and dumb as a bag of hammers. This is the monster K., who lives on an isolated island in the South Pacific, the product of excess levels of radiation from numerous nuclear tests conducted by the United States government. K. exists to eat, sleep, and defecate, the only interruption in his mundane schedule occurring when the local natives play their drums, luring him to a massive wall where a woman is offered to him in sacrifice. Soon, American hunters arrive on the island, but when the natives sacrifice the beautiful blonde wife of their hunting guide to K. ... well, you’ve seen this movie before. What separates the K.’s story from that of the more famous island monster with the same first initial is that we view the action through K.’s eyes. At first glance, this may not seem the most innovative literary device, but K. has the IQ of a turnip, and David Maine takes pains to capture this:

“He is not [lost in thought]. He is simply lost. Or more properly, he is waiting for stimulus, internal or external, to prod him into motion. Perhaps hunger, or the approach of the flying lizard who occasionally torments him, or the need to relieve his bowels, or a thunderstorm. K. sits patiently, chewing without thinking. Waiting, like one of Pavlov’s now-famous slobbering dogs, for something to happen.”

Taking this further, nearly all human interactions are viewed as mere stimulus to K., whose mind cannot process what is happening to him or evaluate a situation, and yet we need few clues to determine that pretty much every human being in the story is a cretin. This is a bone of contention for some readers--an absence of one person they can like, an “entry point” character, so to speak. I, on the other hand, believe we should meet the story on its own terms.

I do read some complaint about Maine’s habit of stepping outside the story to cite statistics and make bold political statements. I had no problem with this. In one short chapter, Maine lists numerical facts pertaining to the Shah of Iran, the Palestinian debate, Negro segregation, the uprising in Hungary, the racism of Winston Churchill, and the $40.8 billion/year defense budget from 1955-1957, but then he goes on to punctuate this list by stating that K. is “ignorant of any of these numbers and any others.”

Sadly, I was ignorant as well, as I imagine were most readers. We are not that much more aware than K. is, I guess. Is that why so many people find this novel uncomfortable? Whatever the case, it worked for me.

[Terry Mulcahy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The comparison to the stories about Kong, the giant gorilla ripped out of his jungle is obvious, and indeed, the central character is simply named K. He is not a gorilla, but a fictional product of very real nuclear testing in the 1950s. He is, however, very large, one of a kind, and there is a woman he tries to save from what he sees as danger, leading to his own capture. The similarities continue, as he becomes a drugged side-show attraction, hauled by train around the country for people to gawk at.
Inevitably, there is a slip-up, and K is free, in New York, of course. However, this is not Kong's story, or even just K's story, or simply a story about greed and callousness.
It concerns, not only man's obvious selfish disregard for earth's non-speaking creatures but humankind itself. Interwoven into the story are facts, facts hidden from public view for decades, or simply glossed over and forgotten. These are real facts, not alt-facts, documented and annotated: the removal of the Iranian Prime Minister and replacement with the Shah by the United States. The forcible removal of Palestinians from Palestine by a well-liked and respected Israeli leader who not only claimed that: "There is no such thing as a Palestinian people," but that "THEY DID NOT EXIST." Capitalization mine. The deadly Tuskeegee Syphilis study performed on people who were simply lied to and allowed to die. The rarely acknowledged blatent racism displayed by Winston Churchill with regard to the justifiable displacement of people, such as Native Americans, Palestinians, etc. when done by "...a higher grade race".
No, this is not your grandparent's King Kong, or your parent's King Kong, or even your Kong, it is a story about a monster, but with some context, eminently readable, and worth the read.

[Daniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting pastiche on "King Kong" and '50s monster movies is marred by anachronisms (having Sinatra singing "New York, New York" more than 25 years before the song was written; "Fiddler on the Roof" playing on Broadway six years before it opened). That might be forgiven as plain laziness by the writer, but the repeated inclusion of completely extraneous anti-Israel slurs (such as comparing them to Nazis) marks Maine as a writer with an agenda I do not wish to encounter again. Even referring to "Palestinians" is anachronistic as the local Arabs certainly weren't calling themselves that in the 1950s, and the West Bank and Gaza were being occupied not by Israel at the time but Egypt and Jordan. In his closing credits Maine references classic Israel bashers like Noam Chomsky and a Palestinian website. If the book was focusing on Maine's anti-Israel bias, his claims and distortions could be discussed and shot down. Instead he inserts these references into the text like a Hamas suicide bomber sneaking into an Israeli supermarket or college cafeteria. Why he would deface his novel -- which has NOTHING to do with this subject -- with this propaganda suggests his political agenda trumps his ability to tell a story.

[Corey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Monster, 1959 has a fair amount of...excitement, and Maine expertly layers this with K.'s dawning sense of his self as a being rather than a collected series of impulses sheathed in animal muscle. K. never becomes fully cognisant and therefore a complete individual, but in places he gains what only can be described as insight: "Now what? K. wonders wordlessly, not recognizing this as a breakthrough: he has learned to expect things to happen."

Maine, however, wants to thrust his subtext forward to garner equal coverage to the beast, and that's where Monster, 1959 falters, not fatally, but substantially. Maine has a point of view, mocking the world through his presentation of K. and juxtaposing his plight with those of displaced cultures the world over, most notably the Palestinians. And there is nothing inherently wrong with this, but Maine's B-movie plot structure cannot hold up under the deadly seriousness of his agenda.

Read the entire review here.

[Joshua Hair · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried and tried to get into this book and just couldn't do it. How can a novel about a giant mutated monster possibly be boring? I found myself asking that over and over while reading Monster, 1959. The premise was super cool, the monster sounded awesome, and yet I kept finding myself bored by the drawn-out and often times unnecessary monologues.

[Grace · Rating 1 out of 5]

While the writing and plot are interesting, they are not enough to save this book. The characters are kept at arms reach which prevents them from being likable. There are several unnecessary sex scenes that do nothing to further the plot. It just makes the character less likable. I would not recommend this book to anyone.

[Terra · Rating 3 out of 5]

un po' di king kong, un po' di godzilla e un po' della bella e la bestia. non basta parlare di esperimenti nucleari o di palestinesi scacciati dalla loro terra per riscattare una storia già vista in mille salse, anche se certi commenti sugli eventi degli anni '50 sono interessanti. l'altro libro che ho letto di maine - il diluvio - è molto meglio.

[Paul S · Rating 3 out of 5]

A strange read, the question "who is this for" did cross my mind a few times but I enjoyed the satire and skewering of imperialism and 1950s nostalgia. Maybe a bit too ambitious at points and tries too hard to be edgy here and there.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had this novel sitting on my shelf for several years now, and finally this year made it part of my annual To Be Read Challenge.

As a kid, I loved all of the Giant Monster movies playing on TV on the weekends. Mostly the Godzilla movies, but also the classic 1950s flicks about giant ants and octopi and the like. Stop motion animated monsters, men in rubber monster suits ... it didn't matter to me, they were all great. And of course, there was the original King Kong and Son of Kong. So naturally, the plot of this book, combining the Atomic Radiation of the 50s films with the setting and main plot of Kong, called to me.

It's not a straight-forward read at all: the POV shifts between a number of characters, including the very limited mentality of the title monster. But it's an interesting read. The style keeps the reader as off-kilter as I would imagine a giant monster from a secluded south pacific island would feel.

K., the title monster, is a creative of impulse and short memory spans. He doesn't know why he does what he does, he just does it. By contrast, as the book goes on we get to understand why the human characters do what they do, and with possibly two exceptions, K. comes across as more likeable and human despite his limited cognizance.

As for the humans: Maine plays with all of the stock types: the damsel-in-distress, the rugged adventurer, the jaded businessman, the affable cop, the cynical seaman, the naive sidekick. They're all here, just as they would be in a movie of the time. Some rise above their "type," briefly, and some do exactly what we expect them to do.

The omniscient narrator sees into everyone's heads, and also shares what's going on in the "real world" during the four years the novel spans. Including these real world events gives more backdrop to the fictional proceedings, and allows the author to use the fiction to comment on the way things really were back then. And again, it's all done in a way that keeps the reader uncertain of your footing, forcing you to really think about what you loved about those old movies and whether anything has really changed since they came out.

Fun, thought-provoking, a challenging read.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went to NYC on Feb 19th and got the chance of a lifetime... I sat and chatted with David Maine for an hour, one on one, discussing his past novels, writing quirks, and favorite authors/novels in the coffee shop of the Barnes and Nobles on Broadway and 82nd.

I began reading this novel that night, (as it had only just hit the shelves that day)... I couldnt drive home from the city fast enough!!

For those of you who may not be familiar with Maines work, (shame on you all)he has three previously published novels, all biblical fiction. This is his first non-biblical work. And it was a breath of fresh air.

Set in the mid to late 50's, Maine introduces us to K. A King Kong/Godzilla-esque monstrosity living on an island that was at one time used as a testing site for nuclear bombs.

Written in true campy, B-movie style, Maine shows us the world from K's view. A uniquely refreshing, if at times, saddening, perspective. His thoughts, or lack thereof. His painfully limited understanding of the world in which he lives... and how he reacts when faced with the tiny human intruders who turn his life upside down.

A cool spin on a classic horror flick, in part as told by K, if he had the knowledge and capability of speech and was able to tell his tale.

**Each chapter begins a new year, and with that year, Maine also lays out the political events that will unfold during that time. Here is where I am not ashamed to admit I get a little lost. I know these are mentioned as a way of sometimes connecting K.'s storyline to those of the expolited or persecuted political figures, but having no real 'news/history knowledge' of those times(slight blushing of cheeks here), I cannot say I got it all. If you are like me, You will at least take away a sense of what that time period was like. And learn a little history in the process. (end blushing, cue girlie wink and smile).

[Sean · Rating 2 out of 5]

David Maine's three previous novels all concerned Biblical figures - Noah, Cain and Sampson. In each he humanised these characters by taking the reader inside their minds. Maine repeats this process with Monster 1959, but this time goes into the consciousness of a monster loosely based on King Kong or Godzilla. The only problem with this is that it's a monster with little intelligence, so we're privy to it constantly forgetting what it learns, not understanding anything, and falling victim to everyone. This point is also laboured too heavily at the beginning of the book and makes it hard work to get into.
As anyone who has read Maine would expect, there are some very fine moments of writing.
"Alensha's head pops off like the cork of a champagne bottle."
"Admittedly, he has a penis, pink and alert, nosing the air from its sheath like a terrier in a wealthy woman's handbag."
There are many other lines just as good as these, so it's not the writing that lets this book down. The problem is the author's agendas, and his inability to communicate them with subtlety.
The inherent racism within the King Kong story and the crass society of America are revealed very well, but his asides on the history of Israel and its ramifications upon the Palestinians is inelegant to say the least.
There is also a whopping mistake. On p139 a character imitates Sinatra singing New York New York. But this is 1959. New York New York wasn't even written until 1977, and Sinatra didn't record it until 1979.
I'm a fan of Maine's work, but I can see why this novel was not a great success. It's unevenly paced, all the character are pretty unlikeable, and some are nothing more than just names on the page. It's a good idea, but perhaps it should have been a short story.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting book. It's sort of like "King Kong" sort of from the ape's point of view. A monster (the result of radiation testing on an unknown island in the South Pacific) is one day drawn to the drums of the natives. This has happened before and each time, he's been greeted with a sacrifice (not that he eats them, but the natives don't know this). This time, things turn out slightly different. K. doesn't know it, but when he absconds with his sacrifice, he is followed by a group of men on safari. And soon, they have bigger plans for him than revenge.

I don't know what it is with me expecting these last few books I've read to be funny, but I expected it again with this one. That was definitely not the case. This is a very serious look at the politics of monsters and sideshows and the things our government does and keeps from us. It was a small book, quick read, but very interesting and well done. I'm really interested to read Maine's other titles. It looks like he has a trilogy of novels based on the Bible, so I imagine those will be really interesting. Maine is nice in that he is able to make social commentary without coming across heavy-handed. I'll definitely look for his other work.

[Nicole D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A familiar tale, uniquely Maine ...

I am a huge fan of Maine's and was naturally quite excited to see he had a new book out. As with his biblical fiction, he has taken a well-known story and made it his own (this one just happens to not be from the bible.)

Maine's writing is top notch, and his word-play is one of the things I most enjoy when reading his books. His humor is my favorite aspect of his writing, and this book contains some gems.

As with his other books, Maine is not shy about sharing his opinions, sometimes overtly, sometimes subtly. In the scope of this "Monster Movie" tale there is just enough commentary to keep you thinking. I'd be hard pressed to find a topic that wasn't at least briefly touched on (money, power, greed, sex, the media, etc. etc.)

I probably wouldn't recommend this as a first exposure to Maine, unless you are a fan of the monster movie genre. The Preservationist is a great introduction to Maine's work, but once a fan I think you'd agree that he could write the copy on a cereal box and make it unique and interesting.

[Braden A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending to "Monster, 1959" was kind of...eh.

Maine ends it on this "flash forward" to 2059 and this tribal story that's just a repeat of a scene which occurred near the beginning of the book, in which Maine just makes a few very pedestrian "points" about story telling and its importance in culture and society.

I felt the ending of the book would have been much more affecting without that.

Maine's writing is so-so. He uses a lot of similes and metaphors that felt like quite a reach, and others that were like eighth grade lit. class examples (stuff like "soared like an eagle" and "howled like a wolf" - you couldn't think of a more interesting way to say that? Or just say "soared" and "howled"?)

I really enjoyed the semi-psychological take on the monster and the way it viewed the world. That, to me, was the most interesting aspect of the book.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, I'm not sure whether I like this book or not. On one hand, I liked Maine's writing style. I liked the K., the monster (I've always had a soft spot for misunderstood monsters). I hated almost everyone else. It appears Maine did too, as practically no human main character is sympathetic, and the most sympathetic character (to me, at least) ends up caught in an "uncomfortable" position.

The plot is familiar: monster lives on island; monster captures girl; monster is hunted and captured by man; monster is brought to the U.S., sedated, and forced to tour around the country; and, finally, monster goes on rampage through NYC. Monster is misunderstood and innocent; humans are morally corrupt or seriously flawed.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting new tale from David Maine! A departure from his previous Biblical storytelling -- or was it really?? -- this novel is told as if it were a script for a 50's monster movie. Although I didn't find the characters to be likable or sympathetic, they weren't supposed to be. In the manner of monster flicks, the story itself was the point. In a way, if you've seen one of those movies, this book holds few surprises as to story line. But the richness comes from getting inside the monster's head and also in the details of American life headline news (and what DIDN'T make the headlines!)in that era. I recommend this book, although it's a bit graphic at times. Mr. Maine has a very inventive mind and a unique ability to get inside the thoughts and motives of his characters.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Take King Kong, science fiction movies and popular culture from the 1950, then add in a healthy dose of sarcastic, biting humor and you have David Maine's "Monster, 1959." It could be construed as an allegory to the excess and avarice of the United States and our prevailing attitudes toward the rest of the world as we are represented as both a superpower and beacon of democracy. The most fascinating character in the book is K., the 40-foot hybrid monster creature that is taken from his island home to become a circus-like attraction back in America. How he came about is equally as fascinating as his existence in this world. I thought some of the characters were cut-out in nature, but overall it was an entertaining read.

[Don Massi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book, I did enjoy it. If I could have given it 3 1/2 stars, I would have. As others have noted this is essentially a reinterpretation of the King Kong story. And it's that familiarity that kept me from giving this book four stars. What we get is a cool monster on a dangerous tropical island who fights dangerous enemies and is captured and brought to the modern world. But we get a monster that emotes, that has slowly emerging feelings and understanding. We also get to see the motivations of the people that surround the monster. And there's some mighty strange characters involved with the monster K.!
All the while this story is set against the turbulent 50s complete with all kinds of B movie monster references!

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have given this book 4 stars, but there was something about the last 1/5 of the book that slowed it down for me. The writing is good, not amazing, but solid. The story is old, worn out and pretty much dead, but wait! David Maine somehow pulls this off.

I think it may be in the tension he is able to create, the inevitability of it all that I enjoyed the most. This aspect of the writing reminds me of Stephen King. There are also hints of Vonnegut with a strong helping of pulp writing thrown in for good measure. Considering the story this makes perfect sense.

I recommend this to anyone looking for a good laugh/ cheap entertainment, this is chock full of both.

[Tony Calder · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is, at its most basic level, the story of King Kong told from Kong's perspective. But it is more than that - the best science-fiction uses the setting to explore humanity, and in this book David Maine uses the giant monster setting to turn a critical eye on 1950s America. He has done his research, and paints an accurate picture, but I couldn't help feeling that the juxtaposition between adventure story and social commentary was somewhat jarring. Overall, a pleasant and enjoyable read, but nothing exceptional.

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this book follows a King Kong like script it is actually different in many ways. This can actually be looked at as an examination of the times and the horrible ways in which mankind treats one another. All while telling a Kong like story. So with that in mind form your own opinions here. I cannot faithfully and wholeheartedly recommend this book. While it is an O.K book as it is a short read I just feel if I were to recommend it I may not be treating my fellow human race properly. Now I have to go plant a tree to save the planet, or some such green agenda thing.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was an intersting monster movie novel, which is just the King Kong story, told through the monsters eyes. The creature has all the elements and look of the 1950's creatures (pink wings?). While enjoyable, the hero character has this strange...sexual obsession which I won't get into, but it stops the book for me during those scenes, especially at the ending (which I still can't get out of my head).

[Natelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was not too bad. It was interesting even though completely unbelievable. I would have given it a higher ranking but most of the characters had tendencies toward inappropriate things with the author described in some detail. (Consider that my warning not to read it if you don't like reading about immoral acts.)

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book, and by and large I did. I think this novel tries to be equal parts homage, parody and social commentary, and it's in that last capacity that it stumbles. This miscalculation weakens what is otherwise a very entertaining and original sendup of the monster movie genre.

[Your Excellency · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh. Awful. Some good perspectives on life from a movie-monster's point of view, but other than that, no redeeming features. Fallen was one of my favorites, and this is a polar opposite!

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked it up because I liked the cover and I thought it might be a tongue-in-cheek ode to B-movies. Which it is, sort of. It's a mix of history, pop culture (of the 1950s), B-movie references, radiation testing, and King Kong. I found it to be unusual and interesting and I enjoyed it.