Mordenheim

Ravenloft #9

by Chet Williamson, Roger Loveless (Illustrator)

Two young necromancers agree to assist Victor Mordenheim in his efforts to revive his dead wife, but the doctor's previous creation is determined to stop their work.

Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Fiction, Dungeons and Dragons, Forgotten Realms, Role Playing Games, Horror Thriller

315 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published May 1, 1994

About the author

Chet Williamson has written horror, science fiction, and suspense since 1981. Among his novels are Second Chance, Hunters, Defenders of the Faith, Ash Wednesday, Reign, Dreamthorp, and the forthcoming Psycho Sanitarium, an authorized sequel to Robert Bloch's classic Psycho. Over a hundred of his short stories have appeared in The New Yorker, Playboy, Esquire, The Magazine of F&SF, and many other magazines and anthologies.

He has won the International Horror Guild Award, and has been shortlisted twice for the World Fantasy Award, six times for the HWA Stoker, and once for the MWA's Edgar. Nearly all of his works are available in ebook format.

A stage and film actor, he has recorded over 40 unabridged audiobooks, both of his own work and that of many other writers, available at www.audible.com. Follow him on Twitter (@chetwill) or at www.chetwilliamson.com.

Reviews

[NightAuditMan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Classic tale of Frankenstein retold as only Ravenloft can do it. A very graphic novel, lots of tidbits and details to keep the mind going. I would have liked a little more expansion on a few characters, but other then that I have no real complaints about this book. A definate reccomend to any fan of the Ravenloft series.

[PRJ Greenwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Effectively written re-telling of Frankenstein, transplanted into the Ravenloft milieu. No surprises anywhere in this book, but the characterisations within are a little stronger than what you usually find in a D&D novel.

[Daclaud Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many themes within the Ravenloft setting are basically a parody of classic gothic horror themes and Mordenheim is no different. They say never judge a book by it's cover, but the cover here by itself speaks a thousand words on what Mordenheim is about.

To summarize, this is basically Mary Shelly's Frankenstein set in the Dungeons and Dragons universe. So you can expect the same story of Victor Frankenstein (name changed to Victor Mordenheim) in that setting. You can expect magic, wizards and warrior as well as werewolves. It even features an "Igor" type of guy as the doctor's assistant who is a hunchback. So picture every Frankenstein movie ever made before 1994 and throw in second edition D&D lore and you have Mordenheim!

It's still a solid novel and a great retelling of the Frankenstein story.

[BRANDON · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of all the Ravenloft books I've read so far Mordenheim was my favorite. It has the least fantasy elements when compared with Vampire of the Mists and Knight of the Black Rose and that's kind of what I was looking for with Ravenloft. I wanted something reminiscent of the original Universal Monsters universe written for a modern audience (not that 94 is super modern) and Mordenheim came closest to that. That being said, I've whetted Ravenloft thirst for the moment.

[Necropenguin · Rating 3 out of 5]

About a 3 1/4 really.

The Ravenloft version of Frankenstein.

It's not bad, but it gets off to a very slow start. Gets a lot better at the end.

Worth a read if you're into Ravenloft, but if you just come upon it by chance - without being a Ravenloft or horror fan - it probably wouldn't be for you.

[Ronald Wilcox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good reinterpretation of the Frankenstein story, this time set in the Ravenloft campaign setting. Probably 4.5 stars. Some nice twists on the classic story, somewhat taking into account the D&D game but not to the extent I would have liked. Still a very worthwhile read

[Mikaël · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story is just a flat out ripoff of Frankenstein's Bride, down to shamelessly using the same exact names. It only starts veering off and getting somewhat interesting towards the end, and that's too little too late

[Ben Lathrop]

"Frankenstein" with spell saves. Fun Ravenloft novel that gives some good ideas for how to run mad science in D&D.

[Aaron Hepp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good Frankenstein in Ravenloft book.

[Kevin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can count on one hand the number of books I did NOT finish reading. This is one of them. It is TERRIBLE. A cheap rip-off of FRANKENSTEIN, only much, MUCH more boring.

[Chris Di Vitto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snowflake students claim Mordenheim's monster was 'misunderstood' – and is in fact a VICTIM?!?!

[Sonny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Frankenstein for kids. This was the last Ravenloft book I read, they are all blatant plagiarism.