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Creatures: The Legacy of Frankenstein
A new anthology bringing together five great new and established writers to explore the world of Mary Shelley’s all-time classic, Frankenstein
“My spirit will sleep in peace; or if it thinks, it will not surely think thus. Farewell.”
Victor Frankenstein was the first to unlock the key to life, but he would not be the last. Through two centuries of scientific enquiry and relentless advancement, five more minds found the secret, and five more creatures were made. Five more stories ended in tragedy.
From the 1840s to the modern day, from the race to publish the first anatomy to the desperate search for weapons to win the Second World War, telling the stories of the creatures that never were.
“My spirit will sleep in peace; or if it thinks, it will not surely think thus. Farewell.”
Victor Frankenstein was the first to unlock the key to life, but he would not be the last. Through two centuries of scientific enquiry and relentless advancement, five more minds found the secret, and five more creatures were made. Five more stories ended in tragedy.
From the 1840s to the modern day, from the race to publish the first anatomy to the desperate search for weapons to win the Second World War, telling the stories of the creatures that never were.
300 pages, Paperback
First published October 16, 2018
62 people are currently reading
198 people want to read
About the author
David Thomas Moore
13 books24 followersA lifelong fan of science fiction and fantasy, an avid roleplayer and LRPer, an enthusiastic if unskilled swordfighter and a passable cook, David Thomas Moore is the author of several short stories and one roleplaying supplement, and the editor of a number of anthologies. He is the Fiction Commissioning Editor at Rebellion Publishing.
Born and raised in Australia, he lives in Reading in the UK with his wife and daughter.
Born and raised in Australia, he lives in Reading in the UK with his wife and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
September 13, 2018
Creatures is a fantastic collection of five stories from five relatively unknown authors, each one contributing a top-notch masterful piece of literature. If you think a book about Frankenstein stories is going to be some cheap Seventies-era paperback trash, you're wrong. The depth and literary quality of each and every one of these five tales is impressive. Based on Mary Shelley's fascinating tale of a mad scientist playing God by building a new creature from body parts, these authors have captured the mad doctor/ mad scientist essence, but taken the idea in wildly different directions. There's a story about mad experiments by doctors in a secret prison room, creating something from body parts. There's a story about introducing a new creature, the first new woman, an Eve if you will, into high society and to ballroom affairs. Eve is nothing like you'd expect such a creature to be. There's a story about a lonely boy in the English countryside during the Second World War, a coming of age tale, that touches on horror. There's a story featuring a British detective searching for the thief who stole a corpse's arm right out of the grave behind the church. Elementary, my dear Watson. And, there's the story about the Doctors Without Borders cruise, the strangest, most magical boat ride ever imagined. Each of these stories is poetic in imagery, evocative in mood, and beautifully written. Not your classic scary horror because, of course, we readers have some idea about the creatures being designed. But, fully imaginative and worth reading more than once.
Many thanks to the publisher for providing a copy for review. A surprising gem.
Many thanks to the publisher for providing a copy for review. A surprising gem.
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October 10, 2020Collection of stories based round Frankenstein (the book itself not just the popular concept). Anthologies on the same theme can get dull very fast (see every collection of riffs on Sherlock Holmes ever); this avoids that by having the stories set in different time periods, in chronological order, and loosely linked to be in the same world (or at least the first two clearly are and there's hints in the last two; I wasn't sure what the third was doing in the book at all). I'd have liked that more developed because it was clever.
As ever with anthos, a mixed bag: the first two stories are excellent and the fifth thoroughly creepy.
As ever with anthos, a mixed bag: the first two stories are excellent and the fifth thoroughly creepy.
February 7, 2019
This was a very interesting collection of stories that were all inspired by Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection and can definitely see myself going back and reading it again.
• Kaseem’s Way – London 1800s, 2 individuals working in a prison become interested in a certain person’s work on bringing a man back to life.
• The New Woman – 2 girlfriends, one an artist, one a scientist, interpret Frankenstein’s work and bring to life their ‘Eve’. Set during the final days of 1899
• Reculver – A different take on creation during a summer of WW2
• Made Monstrous – From the POV of a police DI talking about a ‘monster’ of a priest from his childhood and then a monster of a rapist. A woman is killing monstrous men, but to what end?
• Love Thee Better – A husband and wife go on a long cruise after he loses his arm in a construction accident. The cruise ends up being for those who want to get rid of their limbs and those who want to get a new limb. A great tie-in to ‘Kaseem’s Way’.
I would highly recommend this collection to anyone that enjoys reading about the darker side of the human psyche, and those who really appreciated Frankenstein for its psychological and philosophical undertones.
Received via Netgalley and reviewed of my own accord.
• Kaseem’s Way – London 1800s, 2 individuals working in a prison become interested in a certain person’s work on bringing a man back to life.
• The New Woman – 2 girlfriends, one an artist, one a scientist, interpret Frankenstein’s work and bring to life their ‘Eve’. Set during the final days of 1899
• Reculver – A different take on creation during a summer of WW2
• Made Monstrous – From the POV of a police DI talking about a ‘monster’ of a priest from his childhood and then a monster of a rapist. A woman is killing monstrous men, but to what end?
• Love Thee Better – A husband and wife go on a long cruise after he loses his arm in a construction accident. The cruise ends up being for those who want to get rid of their limbs and those who want to get a new limb. A great tie-in to ‘Kaseem’s Way’.
I would highly recommend this collection to anyone that enjoys reading about the darker side of the human psyche, and those who really appreciated Frankenstein for its psychological and philosophical undertones.
Received via Netgalley and reviewed of my own accord.
October 23, 2018
3 Stars
Review:
*I received an ecopy of this book via NetGalley. This has not influenced my review.*
I feel like I should preface this review by saying I don’t read a lot of anthologies because short stories don’t always work well for me. But I LOVE Frankenstein retellings—the original is a book with so many thought-provoking aspects to explore—so this anthology in particular had so much potential for me, and I couldn’t pass it up. Especially since these stories are on the longer side, which means more chance for me to connect with them and for them to leave an impression.
As is usually the case with anthologies, I liked some stories more than others. More thoughts on the individual stories are in the hidden section below, but there were two that stood out to me the most: “Made Monstrous” was my favorite for its story, characters, and mystery, and “Love Thee Better” had the most creative take on the Frankenstein idea and was easily the most disturbing of the bunch.
*SPOILER ALERT: My thoughts on the individual stories may contain mild spoilers.*
*END SPOILER*
One of the things I liked about this anthology overall was that there was a lot of inclusivity/diversity/representation. The first story had POC main characters (Black and Hindu). The second had LGBT+ main characters (a F/F couple). The third had a disabled main character (a limp). The fourth had a main character who was a survivor of sexual abuse and possibly had PTSD or something similar from it, and it was also very feminist.
I also appreciated that each story had a connection in some way to the original story, whether through theme or actually attaching body parts together, although some had a stronger connection than others.
There was also a lot of variety. Each story was set in a different time. They varied a bit in genre too; if I were to classify, I’d say two were sci-fi, one was horror, one was mystery, and one was mostly just historical fiction. And all the stories had different premises.
Unfortunately, altogether, the anthology fell flat for me. A couple of the stories captured some of that disturbing quality of the original, one pulled me in with a great mystery, and one was creative in a horrifying way, but I wanted more from this book. More of the sci-fi/horror element. More disturbingness or thought-provokingness or emotion. Maybe I was expecting too much from short stories. Or maybe I just didn’t understand the meaning in each one and what the authors were trying to convey. All I know for sure is that I wasn’t gripped by most of these. But I think each story did have its merits, and other readers may enjoy this book more than I did.
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes short stories, a variety of genres, and Frankenstein-inspired stories.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
Review:
*I received an ecopy of this book via NetGalley. This has not influenced my review.*
I feel like I should preface this review by saying I don’t read a lot of anthologies because short stories don’t always work well for me. But I LOVE Frankenstein retellings—the original is a book with so many thought-provoking aspects to explore—so this anthology in particular had so much potential for me, and I couldn’t pass it up. Especially since these stories are on the longer side, which means more chance for me to connect with them and for them to leave an impression.
As is usually the case with anthologies, I liked some stories more than others. More thoughts on the individual stories are in the hidden section below, but there were two that stood out to me the most: “Made Monstrous” was my favorite for its story, characters, and mystery, and “Love Thee Better” had the most creative take on the Frankenstein idea and was easily the most disturbing of the bunch.
*SPOILER ALERT: My thoughts on the individual stories may contain mild spoilers.*
*END SPOILER*
One of the things I liked about this anthology overall was that there was a lot of inclusivity/diversity/representation. The first story had POC main characters (Black and Hindu). The second had LGBT+ main characters (a F/F couple). The third had a disabled main character (a limp). The fourth had a main character who was a survivor of sexual abuse and possibly had PTSD or something similar from it, and it was also very feminist.
I also appreciated that each story had a connection in some way to the original story, whether through theme or actually attaching body parts together, although some had a stronger connection than others.
There was also a lot of variety. Each story was set in a different time. They varied a bit in genre too; if I were to classify, I’d say two were sci-fi, one was horror, one was mystery, and one was mostly just historical fiction. And all the stories had different premises.
Unfortunately, altogether, the anthology fell flat for me. A couple of the stories captured some of that disturbing quality of the original, one pulled me in with a great mystery, and one was creative in a horrifying way, but I wanted more from this book. More of the sci-fi/horror element. More disturbingness or thought-provokingness or emotion. Maybe I was expecting too much from short stories. Or maybe I just didn’t understand the meaning in each one and what the authors were trying to convey. All I know for sure is that I wasn’t gripped by most of these. But I think each story did have its merits, and other readers may enjoy this book more than I did.
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes short stories, a variety of genres, and Frankenstein-inspired stories.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
November 1, 2018
I read this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
A collection of stories about Frankenstein's Monster, published right in time for the 200th anniversary of the original monster's conception, offers a rich range of reinterpretations and rewritings. Themes of monstrosity are a given, but we have the relationship between creator and creation, too, and sexism, and autonomy, and consent. And I was, for the most part, impressed with the five authors' takes.
The first story, Tade Thompson's "Kaseem's Way", was my surprising favourite. It was markedly not my kind of story, but regardless of that, and despite its relatively straightforward relationship with the source text, the story impressed me on the strenght of the writing and thematic resonance. This tale of racially discriminated outcasts devoted to the goal of creating life by artificial means, interspersed with 1st person fragments concerning Victor Frankenstein's original creature, still alive after all these years and looking for his brother, was detailed and rich, with well-fleshed characters and a coherent narrative.
By contrast, I'm afraid I found Rose Biggin's "The New Woman" thorougly disappointing. Yes, I know the references, I see the significance of the title, but still, this sapphic re-telling focused on desire, misogyny and the intersection between art and science somehow became flimsy and shallow, and vague. Its characters (other than the sculptor) were two-dimensional, and their relationships felt contrived. Its worldbuilding was haphazard and spoilt suspension of disbelief. A waste of an imaginative and promising point of departure.
The third text was better, but not by much. In "Reculver" by Paul Meloy, the writing worked, and the narrative was stronger and with a good sense of place, but I disliked the ending.
Emma Newman's "Made Monstrous" is an alright detective story and a good character study, but feels underdeveloped. I thought the final plot twist didn't work because of how obvious it was, and yet treated like a revelation for a reader. There was not enough mystery in the entire narrative, and using an established backstory for the finale just didn't have the punch, particularly when the confrontation took place at the beginning. I still like Newman, but I don't think this was her strongest showcase.
The final story wasn't my favourite and I wish some elements thereof had been edited down or out. It deals with consent, and yet doesn't quite have much to say on the subject. But the atmosphere of "Love Thee Better" by Kaaron Warren and her use of the original's material made it perhaps the best fitted for this anthology. Sent on an endless and oneiric cruise with her one-armed husband, the protagonist gradually reveals the horrors of this trip, as boundaries between natural and unnatural, dead and living, autonomous and enslaved, innocent and complicit become porous and unreliable. I didn't like the ending, or not quite, but it engaged well with Frankenstein.
My overall grade may not seem high, but I look forward to reading more from both Thompson and Warren.
A collection of stories about Frankenstein's Monster, published right in time for the 200th anniversary of the original monster's conception, offers a rich range of reinterpretations and rewritings. Themes of monstrosity are a given, but we have the relationship between creator and creation, too, and sexism, and autonomy, and consent. And I was, for the most part, impressed with the five authors' takes.
The first story, Tade Thompson's "Kaseem's Way", was my surprising favourite. It was markedly not my kind of story, but regardless of that, and despite its relatively straightforward relationship with the source text, the story impressed me on the strenght of the writing and thematic resonance. This tale of racially discriminated outcasts devoted to the goal of creating life by artificial means, interspersed with 1st person fragments concerning Victor Frankenstein's original creature, still alive after all these years and looking for his brother, was detailed and rich, with well-fleshed characters and a coherent narrative.
By contrast, I'm afraid I found Rose Biggin's "The New Woman" thorougly disappointing. Yes, I know the references, I see the significance of the title, but still, this sapphic re-telling focused on desire, misogyny and the intersection between art and science somehow became flimsy and shallow, and vague. Its characters (other than the sculptor) were two-dimensional, and their relationships felt contrived. Its worldbuilding was haphazard and spoilt suspension of disbelief. A waste of an imaginative and promising point of departure.
The third text was better, but not by much. In "Reculver" by Paul Meloy, the writing worked, and the narrative was stronger and with a good sense of place, but I disliked the ending.
Emma Newman's "Made Monstrous" is an alright detective story and a good character study, but feels underdeveloped. I thought the final plot twist didn't work because of how obvious it was, and yet treated like a revelation for a reader. There was not enough mystery in the entire narrative, and using an established backstory for the finale just didn't have the punch, particularly when the confrontation took place at the beginning. I still like Newman, but I don't think this was her strongest showcase.
The final story wasn't my favourite and I wish some elements thereof had been edited down or out. It deals with consent, and yet doesn't quite have much to say on the subject. But the atmosphere of "Love Thee Better" by Kaaron Warren and her use of the original's material made it perhaps the best fitted for this anthology. Sent on an endless and oneiric cruise with her one-armed husband, the protagonist gradually reveals the horrors of this trip, as boundaries between natural and unnatural, dead and living, autonomous and enslaved, innocent and complicit become porous and unreliable. I didn't like the ending, or not quite, but it engaged well with Frankenstein.
My overall grade may not seem high, but I look forward to reading more from both Thompson and Warren.
November 3, 2018
I absolutely love Frankenstein retellings and I think I've only read one before that I didn't adore ...but unfortunately I'm going to have to add this anthology to that list. None of the stories were really amazing and although it's only been a few days since I read this, only one of them really stands out in my memory in any way. Weirdly enough the three stories by female authors were the ones that I liked while the two by male authors I thought were pretty lacking. I don't know if it was because of the short length of the stories or something else but I just couldn't get into this as much as I wanted to.
October 19, 2018
4.5 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2018/10/19/cr...
I’m not shy about telling all and sundry prepared to listen (or too polite to make a hasty departure) that short fiction is not usually my thing. I don’t know why, other than usually I find that I’m just becoming involved and the conclusion happens. However, I have also found recently that when a book, short or otherwise, adds to an already developed story, or continues using the original story for inspiration then I enjoy it much more. Monstrous Little Voices was the first such book that led me down this path of enjoyment (a book that uses Shakespeare for inspiration and where all the short stories are interconnected in some way). The same can be said for Creatures.
Before I even start this review my immediate thoughts were that I loved the idea behind Frankenstein and his legacy. This collection of five tales is the perfect way to keep this story thriving in a really original way. I love the classics but I understand that some people like a more modern style of writing – here you find an updated story that brings a classic into the 21st century. The stories make their way throughout history beginning around the 1850s (I think) and progressing into the modern day. All the stories have a different concept and yet all are brought together, not only by the common thread of ‘playing God’ or discovering immortality but by the inclusion of something familiar in each story. I’ll try not to give away too much in case of spoilers but due to the chronology of the stories and also the way they’re woven together I would suggest that readers tackle this in a straightforward story (unlike most short story collections where you can pick any story at will). To be clear, I’m not saying you can’t pick and choose at will but I think the stories will be better enjoyed read in the order they’ve been published.
So, we have five tales and undoubtedly readers will like some more than others. What I really like is that these stories take the work created by Shelley and through the collection bring it uptodate whilst shining a light on some modern nuances that I didn’t expect.
Kaseem’s Way is the start of the collection and harks back to a time in London when grave robbing was not uncommon. Cadavers were needed for research purposes as demand outweighed supply sometimes gruesome deeds were committed in the name of science. This is a perfect start to the story with it’s dark feel and fog enshrined streets. We read of Kaseem and his fascination with anatomy. He undertakes ‘research’ in secret within the close confines of Newgate Prison. His benefactor is a doctor at Guy’s Hospital who seeks to make a name for himself and seems to have an interest in the reanimation of the dead. Meanwhile we meet a character known as Adam. Adam is full of hate, he’s also full of loneliness and is desperately sad. On top of that, and quite unfairly, he seems to be slowly dying. I really enjoyed this story, it contains nods to the original work (although I’m sure I probably missed more than I picked up upon) and it is definitely something of a tragedy.
The New Woman takes us forward in time to 1899 – Christmas time and the last days of the year before a new year and indeed a new era is about to begin. A group of friends are enjoying Christmas dinner, bohemians one and all, artists, actresses, scientists and like minded. Their discussion gives rise to the birth of an idea in the minds of one of the guests. Fran and her partner Christine come up with a way to combine art and science. Their creation is Eve. This was a period that was strangely beguiled by the curious and the odd. Collections of wonders and the like were sought after and Fran and Christine’s ‘creation’ is highly desired to turn what was going to be a wondrous New Year party into, quite possibly, THE event of the year. This is a tale that starts off as the coming together of two minds to create something beautiful. Unfortunately, neither of them really expected their idea to come to fruition and didn’t have the first clue what to do when they succeeded. Ultimately, their creation created a rift where a jealous wedge found a perfect home. A story that takes a careful look at ‘rights’. Does the ‘creature’ have rights – should it/she be treated as human or is she simply a ‘thing’.
Reculver. The third tale is a curious one and takes a slightly different tack. Set during the Second World War this story is told by a now elderly gentleman as he recounts a period during his youth in which he met two strangers. One, was Barnes Wallis – who was responsible for inventing the Bouncing Bombs – later known as the Dam Busters. The other stranger was the one that graces the pages of each of these stories. This is a tale of violence – and surprisingly during a time of war does not focus on the battlefield. This is about domestic violence and looking at the monsters who live amongst us. I was puzzled about the inclusion of Barnes §Wallis (although I admit it’s a nice touch) but then I figured he’s the scientist of the story. As the the other tales there is a recurring theme of sadness and loss I’m still not quite sure what to make of the ending and think I might need to read it again.
Made Monstrous brings us into the 80s where a slightly jaded detective and his young rookie investigate the stealing of limbs. This story really gripped me. I’m not going to give too much away – it’s not a murder mystery because the bodies that are stolen from are already dead, but nonetheless it is a mystery. At first the jaded detective takes almost a half hearted stance into the mystery of it all until the young policewoman starts to uncover certain similarities that eventually lead the two on a strange mission. I found this story really gripping. I wasn’t expecting a police procedural to be included amongst these stories and yet it fits really well. Again, there are monsters of differing guises included in the story just giving more fuel to the ‘who was really the monster’ discussion.
Love Thee Better. The final story is all about obsession. I’m not quite sure when this is set – present day or a near future but it’s all about the way people obsess about their body. Poor self deception and thinking that the cut of a knife will make things better. Set aboard a strange cruise ship that never seems to call in at port this is a heady mix of people enjoying themselves quite wildly and with absolute abandon and then almost becoming saturated with it all. It’s a story of people wanting to lose parts of themselves and others wanting to have those parts. It’s a very unusual and even a little bit disturbing story of people swapping body parts almost as casually as they would change their hair style – but, there’s more underlying this story. Dr Firth seems to have a project of his own and it’s quite horrifying.
I really enjoyed this collection. I would give two provisos. I don’t think this is supposed to be scary so if you go into it with such expectations then you might be setting yourself up for disappointment – it is however horror, maybe not blood soaked and visceral but horror nonetheless. That being said I don’t think Frankenstein is a scary story. I think both are meant to be thought provoking and that brings me to my second suggestion – read these stories with care. If you race through these you will miss the cleverness that is taking place here.
Overall, I still don’t like short stories – but, when they’re brought together like this, a set of stories that told together make a whole – well, really, it’s a wonderful creation.
I received a copy courtesy of the publishers through Netgalley, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
https://lynns-books.com/2018/10/19/cr...
I’m not shy about telling all and sundry prepared to listen (or too polite to make a hasty departure) that short fiction is not usually my thing. I don’t know why, other than usually I find that I’m just becoming involved and the conclusion happens. However, I have also found recently that when a book, short or otherwise, adds to an already developed story, or continues using the original story for inspiration then I enjoy it much more. Monstrous Little Voices was the first such book that led me down this path of enjoyment (a book that uses Shakespeare for inspiration and where all the short stories are interconnected in some way). The same can be said for Creatures.
Before I even start this review my immediate thoughts were that I loved the idea behind Frankenstein and his legacy. This collection of five tales is the perfect way to keep this story thriving in a really original way. I love the classics but I understand that some people like a more modern style of writing – here you find an updated story that brings a classic into the 21st century. The stories make their way throughout history beginning around the 1850s (I think) and progressing into the modern day. All the stories have a different concept and yet all are brought together, not only by the common thread of ‘playing God’ or discovering immortality but by the inclusion of something familiar in each story. I’ll try not to give away too much in case of spoilers but due to the chronology of the stories and also the way they’re woven together I would suggest that readers tackle this in a straightforward story (unlike most short story collections where you can pick any story at will). To be clear, I’m not saying you can’t pick and choose at will but I think the stories will be better enjoyed read in the order they’ve been published.
So, we have five tales and undoubtedly readers will like some more than others. What I really like is that these stories take the work created by Shelley and through the collection bring it uptodate whilst shining a light on some modern nuances that I didn’t expect.
Kaseem’s Way is the start of the collection and harks back to a time in London when grave robbing was not uncommon. Cadavers were needed for research purposes as demand outweighed supply sometimes gruesome deeds were committed in the name of science. This is a perfect start to the story with it’s dark feel and fog enshrined streets. We read of Kaseem and his fascination with anatomy. He undertakes ‘research’ in secret within the close confines of Newgate Prison. His benefactor is a doctor at Guy’s Hospital who seeks to make a name for himself and seems to have an interest in the reanimation of the dead. Meanwhile we meet a character known as Adam. Adam is full of hate, he’s also full of loneliness and is desperately sad. On top of that, and quite unfairly, he seems to be slowly dying. I really enjoyed this story, it contains nods to the original work (although I’m sure I probably missed more than I picked up upon) and it is definitely something of a tragedy.
The New Woman takes us forward in time to 1899 – Christmas time and the last days of the year before a new year and indeed a new era is about to begin. A group of friends are enjoying Christmas dinner, bohemians one and all, artists, actresses, scientists and like minded. Their discussion gives rise to the birth of an idea in the minds of one of the guests. Fran and her partner Christine come up with a way to combine art and science. Their creation is Eve. This was a period that was strangely beguiled by the curious and the odd. Collections of wonders and the like were sought after and Fran and Christine’s ‘creation’ is highly desired to turn what was going to be a wondrous New Year party into, quite possibly, THE event of the year. This is a tale that starts off as the coming together of two minds to create something beautiful. Unfortunately, neither of them really expected their idea to come to fruition and didn’t have the first clue what to do when they succeeded. Ultimately, their creation created a rift where a jealous wedge found a perfect home. A story that takes a careful look at ‘rights’. Does the ‘creature’ have rights – should it/she be treated as human or is she simply a ‘thing’.
Reculver. The third tale is a curious one and takes a slightly different tack. Set during the Second World War this story is told by a now elderly gentleman as he recounts a period during his youth in which he met two strangers. One, was Barnes Wallis – who was responsible for inventing the Bouncing Bombs – later known as the Dam Busters. The other stranger was the one that graces the pages of each of these stories. This is a tale of violence – and surprisingly during a time of war does not focus on the battlefield. This is about domestic violence and looking at the monsters who live amongst us. I was puzzled about the inclusion of Barnes §Wallis (although I admit it’s a nice touch) but then I figured he’s the scientist of the story. As the the other tales there is a recurring theme of sadness and loss I’m still not quite sure what to make of the ending and think I might need to read it again.
Made Monstrous brings us into the 80s where a slightly jaded detective and his young rookie investigate the stealing of limbs. This story really gripped me. I’m not going to give too much away – it’s not a murder mystery because the bodies that are stolen from are already dead, but nonetheless it is a mystery. At first the jaded detective takes almost a half hearted stance into the mystery of it all until the young policewoman starts to uncover certain similarities that eventually lead the two on a strange mission. I found this story really gripping. I wasn’t expecting a police procedural to be included amongst these stories and yet it fits really well. Again, there are monsters of differing guises included in the story just giving more fuel to the ‘who was really the monster’ discussion.
Love Thee Better. The final story is all about obsession. I’m not quite sure when this is set – present day or a near future but it’s all about the way people obsess about their body. Poor self deception and thinking that the cut of a knife will make things better. Set aboard a strange cruise ship that never seems to call in at port this is a heady mix of people enjoying themselves quite wildly and with absolute abandon and then almost becoming saturated with it all. It’s a story of people wanting to lose parts of themselves and others wanting to have those parts. It’s a very unusual and even a little bit disturbing story of people swapping body parts almost as casually as they would change their hair style – but, there’s more underlying this story. Dr Firth seems to have a project of his own and it’s quite horrifying.
I really enjoyed this collection. I would give two provisos. I don’t think this is supposed to be scary so if you go into it with such expectations then you might be setting yourself up for disappointment – it is however horror, maybe not blood soaked and visceral but horror nonetheless. That being said I don’t think Frankenstein is a scary story. I think both are meant to be thought provoking and that brings me to my second suggestion – read these stories with care. If you race through these you will miss the cleverness that is taking place here.
Overall, I still don’t like short stories – but, when they’re brought together like this, a set of stories that told together make a whole – well, really, it’s a wonderful creation.
I received a copy courtesy of the publishers through Netgalley, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
July 16, 2023
I love Frankenstein and I had high hopes for these stories but in the end I think it's a fairly so-so collection.
Kaseem's Way by Tade Thompson was basically a retelling of Frankenstein but modelled as a kind of sequel. An anatomist is tasked with trying to copy Dr Frankenstein's notes, discovered by his employer, and so he creates a monster with the help of his assistant. It doesn't do anything new or exciting but it was fine.
The New Woman by Rose Biggin was, again, basically a retelling, except this time the monster is treated more as a work of art. I quite liked this one, especially the queer twist, but the timeframe of the story was ridiculously short for the amount of things that happen. It stretched my incredulity that the characters would have the idea that resurrecting a person was possible and then the very next day figure out a method and successfully achieve reanimation. If you can look past this, though, it's one of the stronger stories. My second favourite.
Reculver by Paul Meloy was the most tenuously connected to the Frankenstein theme but I did enjoy this story of wartime tragedy. The ending was a bit too ambiguous for me and I didn't fully understand what I was supposed to take away from it, but I enjoyed the journey.
Made Monstrous by Emma Newman was my favourite story in the collection. It was a fresh take, setting up a police procedural where a detective and a police constable investigate a series of corpse mutilations where body parts have been removed from morgues and, in one case, a grave. It was a mini murder mystery, nicely paced, and I enjoyed the main characters' dynamic.
Unfortunately I couldn't finish Love Thee Better by Kaaron Warren. The writing was choppy and the scenes were very short, jumping all over the place. Maybe the payoff was worth it but I didn't have the patience to slog through it and find out.
Kaseem's Way by Tade Thompson was basically a retelling of Frankenstein but modelled as a kind of sequel. An anatomist is tasked with trying to copy Dr Frankenstein's notes, discovered by his employer, and so he creates a monster with the help of his assistant. It doesn't do anything new or exciting but it was fine.
The New Woman by Rose Biggin was, again, basically a retelling, except this time the monster is treated more as a work of art. I quite liked this one, especially the queer twist, but the timeframe of the story was ridiculously short for the amount of things that happen. It stretched my incredulity that the characters would have the idea that resurrecting a person was possible and then the very next day figure out a method and successfully achieve reanimation. If you can look past this, though, it's one of the stronger stories. My second favourite.
Reculver by Paul Meloy was the most tenuously connected to the Frankenstein theme but I did enjoy this story of wartime tragedy. The ending was a bit too ambiguous for me and I didn't fully understand what I was supposed to take away from it, but I enjoyed the journey.
Made Monstrous by Emma Newman was my favourite story in the collection. It was a fresh take, setting up a police procedural where a detective and a police constable investigate a series of corpse mutilations where body parts have been removed from morgues and, in one case, a grave. It was a mini murder mystery, nicely paced, and I enjoyed the main characters' dynamic.
Unfortunately I couldn't finish Love Thee Better by Kaaron Warren. The writing was choppy and the scenes were very short, jumping all over the place. Maybe the payoff was worth it but I didn't have the patience to slog through it and find out.
Read
April 13, 2021(c/p from my review on TheStoryGraph) A mixed bag, as all books of short stories tend to be, but I overall really liked it. I think, unsurprisingly, I enjoyed the second story (which is sapphic) the best. But the first and fifth stories are also favorites. The other two didn't do it for me as well, particularly the third one. Overall I'm super glad I own this book (Thanks Erika!) because I will for sure revisit at least three of these stories.
TW for this book include: Violence, Death, Blood, Gore, Medial Trauma, and Body horror
TW for this book include: Violence, Death, Blood, Gore, Medial Trauma, and Body horror
September 13, 2018
I was looking forward to this book, but unfortunately I found it overall ok. Each writer seemed to have the same style, & honestly I found every story kind of boring because of it. There was just no excitement or intrigue for me at all. Sorry!
October 15, 2018
‘Creatures’ is an anthology of five short stories all of which have been inspired by the story of Frankenstein. Much like all anthologies there is a mix of fantastic, average and not so good.
Because of that mix I have given this collection 3 stars overall but also would add the caveat that this collection is probably only going to really appeal to those who like or are interested in stories about Frankenstein.
While some have a ‘creep’ factor, there is nothing particularly scary about any of the stories and also the nuance of the message that Mary Shelley was trying to convey about playing god is lost with some of them. But then, it’s a bit hard to present such a complex theme via the short story medium and some of the stories have a bash at a very decent message of their own.
The stories are arranged in a chronological manner as follows:-
‘Kaseem’s Way,’ set in London in the mid 1800’s about a young man working in a prison who becomes interested in the cadavers for more than the traditional sense of scientific research.
‘The New Woman,’ also set in London in the final days of 1899 where a bohemian artist and her doctor girlfriend decide to embark on creating a new ‘Eve’ to impress their outlandish ‘friends.’
‘Reculver,’ an old man reminisces about a strange summer in Kent during the Second World War when he was a young boy and a peculiar ‘man’ he met.
‘Made Monstrous,’ a policeman in the 80’s and a helpful young policewoman investigate a recent spate of body part thefts from a graveyard and morgues.
‘Love Thee Better,’ in the here and now a couple go on a cruise ship that specialises in medical procedures allowing people to donate pieces of their body that they don’t want to those who do. Meanwhile the Captain partakes in an unusual hobby of his own.
So what did I find fantastic, average and not so good?
In terms of ‘not so good’:-
I think my least favourite was ‘Reculver.’ In all honesty I didn’t see the connection of it to the other stories but then I found myself skimming this one as it wasn’t the most engaging. There is a very brief moment where the creature is met (but motives are strangely unclear) and aside from that I was unsure of how this fit as it was a more a ‘coming of age’ story and the reminiscing of events that occurred during the war.
‘The New Woman’ was my next least favourite. It started slow, a group of pretentious bohemian artiste friends gathering around for Christmas dinner with discussions of the next steps of avant garde art. It kicks up when two women decide to mix science and art and create a beautiful creature of their own, ready to be displayed as a moving performance piece at their hostess’ next party. After their creation is successful one displays a guilty conscience at the treatment of their sentient new life but begins a slightly disturbing sexual relationship with her. I don’t know. It was supposed to be erotic but I’m not seeing sex with a dead body, however reanimated, as a sexy thing.
What was ‘average?’
‘Love Thee Better’ was enjoyable (if that’s the right word?) because it was genuinely disturbing in showing how, in modern times, science needs moral boundaries and regulatory bodies to monitor what people do with their intellect and technology. The claustrophobia heightens as things go from fun to not so fun and then from bad to worse on a cruise ship no one can seem to escape from. However the introduction of a ‘creature’ didn’t seem necessary as the purpose of the ship was creepy enough and unfortunately I found the narrator rather passive and highly irritating in her denial of events.
I know I didn’t include it as a category but this one was good.
‘Kaseem’s Way’ was a look at the abandonment of creator to their creation or father figure to their child. Kaseem is a street urchin found on the streets as a child by a science professor and adopted by him. Kaseem takes a keen interest in cutting up bodies for research and puts this to good use. This is interspersed with the actual creature of Frankenstein’s (in this world a real person) who laments the death of his ‘father’ and his prior cruel abandonment. Their paths cross and the creature himself abandons a creation of his own.
What did I think was ‘fantastic’?
‘Made Monstrous,’ is a clever police investigation story with a twist. We have a grizzled older policeman and a plucky younger policewoman who is constantly passed over for promotion on account of being a woman. Our policeman doesn’t believe in that nonsense and they both set out to investigate a case of grave-robbing and body stealing. The story is well paced and well written containing both a dark sense of humour, camaraderie, and a truly sad and painful message; that sometimes humans are the most monstrous.
Like I said, it’s a mixed bag (of body parts, haha. I’m so punny) but I would recommend it to you if you crave stories inspired by Frankenstein. If not, then it may not be for you.
Because of that mix I have given this collection 3 stars overall but also would add the caveat that this collection is probably only going to really appeal to those who like or are interested in stories about Frankenstein.
While some have a ‘creep’ factor, there is nothing particularly scary about any of the stories and also the nuance of the message that Mary Shelley was trying to convey about playing god is lost with some of them. But then, it’s a bit hard to present such a complex theme via the short story medium and some of the stories have a bash at a very decent message of their own.
The stories are arranged in a chronological manner as follows:-
‘Kaseem’s Way,’ set in London in the mid 1800’s about a young man working in a prison who becomes interested in the cadavers for more than the traditional sense of scientific research.
‘The New Woman,’ also set in London in the final days of 1899 where a bohemian artist and her doctor girlfriend decide to embark on creating a new ‘Eve’ to impress their outlandish ‘friends.’
‘Reculver,’ an old man reminisces about a strange summer in Kent during the Second World War when he was a young boy and a peculiar ‘man’ he met.
‘Made Monstrous,’ a policeman in the 80’s and a helpful young policewoman investigate a recent spate of body part thefts from a graveyard and morgues.
‘Love Thee Better,’ in the here and now a couple go on a cruise ship that specialises in medical procedures allowing people to donate pieces of their body that they don’t want to those who do. Meanwhile the Captain partakes in an unusual hobby of his own.
So what did I find fantastic, average and not so good?
In terms of ‘not so good’:-
I think my least favourite was ‘Reculver.’ In all honesty I didn’t see the connection of it to the other stories but then I found myself skimming this one as it wasn’t the most engaging. There is a very brief moment where the creature is met (but motives are strangely unclear) and aside from that I was unsure of how this fit as it was a more a ‘coming of age’ story and the reminiscing of events that occurred during the war.
‘The New Woman’ was my next least favourite. It started slow, a group of pretentious bohemian artiste friends gathering around for Christmas dinner with discussions of the next steps of avant garde art. It kicks up when two women decide to mix science and art and create a beautiful creature of their own, ready to be displayed as a moving performance piece at their hostess’ next party. After their creation is successful one displays a guilty conscience at the treatment of their sentient new life but begins a slightly disturbing sexual relationship with her. I don’t know. It was supposed to be erotic but I’m not seeing sex with a dead body, however reanimated, as a sexy thing.
What was ‘average?’
‘Love Thee Better’ was enjoyable (if that’s the right word?) because it was genuinely disturbing in showing how, in modern times, science needs moral boundaries and regulatory bodies to monitor what people do with their intellect and technology. The claustrophobia heightens as things go from fun to not so fun and then from bad to worse on a cruise ship no one can seem to escape from. However the introduction of a ‘creature’ didn’t seem necessary as the purpose of the ship was creepy enough and unfortunately I found the narrator rather passive and highly irritating in her denial of events.
I know I didn’t include it as a category but this one was good.
‘Kaseem’s Way’ was a look at the abandonment of creator to their creation or father figure to their child. Kaseem is a street urchin found on the streets as a child by a science professor and adopted by him. Kaseem takes a keen interest in cutting up bodies for research and puts this to good use. This is interspersed with the actual creature of Frankenstein’s (in this world a real person) who laments the death of his ‘father’ and his prior cruel abandonment. Their paths cross and the creature himself abandons a creation of his own.
What did I think was ‘fantastic’?
‘Made Monstrous,’ is a clever police investigation story with a twist. We have a grizzled older policeman and a plucky younger policewoman who is constantly passed over for promotion on account of being a woman. Our policeman doesn’t believe in that nonsense and they both set out to investigate a case of grave-robbing and body stealing. The story is well paced and well written containing both a dark sense of humour, camaraderie, and a truly sad and painful message; that sometimes humans are the most monstrous.
Like I said, it’s a mixed bag (of body parts, haha. I’m so punny) but I would recommend it to you if you crave stories inspired by Frankenstein. If not, then it may not be for you.
October 7, 2018
I have read a few of the collections in this series so far and this one does not disappoint. Following the legacy of Frankenstein, the five offerings here provide insights into the people inspired by the doctor's macabre experiments to attempt their own forays into the world of medical regeneration. Each tale takes place in a different time period, ranging from the 1850s in Tade Thompson's fantastic and tragic 'Kaseem's Way' through to the present in Kaaron Warren's wonderful 'Love Thee Better', which I think was my favourite story in the collection, dealing with a cruise ship for those who hate their bodies and those who want replacements. The tragedy of Shelley's novel is writ large amongst the pages of this collection and the tone is suitably sombre. The 'monster' is often in the background, lurking in the shadows, but his presence can be felt on every page and all in all, I thought this was a wonderful collection paying homage to one of the best horror/science fiction novels ever written.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
October 13, 2020
This reminded me why I don't read many anthologies and why I'm always so shocked when one is good.
So I read Tade Thompson, Emma Newman and Kaaron Warren's stories. Tade Thompson and Emma Newman are authors that I know and love but I have to say the only one I truly read comfortably, without feeling it too slow or too long. I did like Thompson's, specially because he is a doctor and I was very curious to see how he would talk about "medicine" but I wasn't immediately hooked (quarantine brain, I'm sure). Warren's beginning was great but then it kind of dragged for me, which was a shame.
I didn't get on with the other stories so I dnf-ed them.
So I read Tade Thompson, Emma Newman and Kaaron Warren's stories. Tade Thompson and Emma Newman are authors that I know and love but I have to say the only one I truly read comfortably, without feeling it too slow or too long. I did like Thompson's, specially because he is a doctor and I was very curious to see how he would talk about "medicine" but I wasn't immediately hooked (quarantine brain, I'm sure). Warren's beginning was great but then it kind of dragged for me, which was a shame.
I didn't get on with the other stories so I dnf-ed them.
January 15, 2019
This was a brilliant anthology of 5 unique and brilliantly wrote stories, based on Mary Shelly's Frankenstein. I don't usually get on well with anthologies as a struggle to connect with the characters in such a short time but each story in this collection was a great length, not the snippets of stories you usually find in other short story collections.
Obviously, with all collections, some of the works stand out as masterpieces while others fall flat. But overall this was a good collection and will make brilliant reading for any Frankenstein super fans.
Obviously, with all collections, some of the works stand out as masterpieces while others fall flat. But overall this was a good collection and will make brilliant reading for any Frankenstein super fans.
February 5, 2019
Anthology with 5 novellas looking at those who followed in Frankenstein’s footsteps including tales from Emma Newman and Tade Thompson
Full review https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
Full review https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
January 2, 2020
This is a very strong collection: what the stories as a whole lack in inter-relatedness and consistency, they make up for in terms of the sheer breadth of the Frankenstein experience that they cover between them. There's no simple moralities here, no clear answer to questions about scientific progress, life and death, revenge and forgiveness, or the condition of otherness which the original story deals with so successfully. Equally, with the possible exception of "Kaseem's Way", these are all stories that I think would work even for readers unfamiliar with the original: each stands alone, narratively speaking, and these are universal themes. Whether or not you're a fan of Shelley's 200-year-old masterpiece, Creatures is a worthy, varied anthology.
Full review at Nerds of a Feather: http://www.nerds-feather.com/2018/10/...
Full review at Nerds of a Feather: http://www.nerds-feather.com/2018/10/...
April 24, 2019
I'm on a Frankenstein binge, so when I found this book existed, and was only ninety-nine cents, I gave it a read. Creatures, edited by David Thomas Moore, is five stories that pay homage to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. As usual with anthologies like this, some stories are better than others, but I found them all worth reading.
The stories are presented in chronological order, ranging from the mid-19th century to the present day. None of them knocked me over, but I found the second story, "The New Woman," by Rose Biggin, to be the most ambitious. Set in 1899, it has two women scientists create resurrect a dead woman, making her an object of art. A cameo by Shelley's Frankenstein, sensing another like him, seems out of place and could have been cut.
The first story is "Kaseem's Way," by Tade Thompson, set in the 1840s. Kaseem is a London street urchin who is taken in by a doctor and mentored by him. He begins experiments in Newgate prison, digging up the executed and making himself a human. In first person, Shelley's Frankenstein hunts down the new creation, as again, he senses there is another like him.
"Reculver," by Paul Meloy, set in Britain during World War II, is the memory of a boy who likes to explore a town that has been evacuated. He has a crush on a beautiful girl, but she goes missing, just after her boyfriend is found murdered. The boy will also see a creature, whom he describes as "the creature of my dreams, I had no doubt. It was Guilt incarnate, something formed of matter from the shame of my preoccupations." In this story the creature is a metaphor, but perhaps he always is, just a different metaphor.
Emma Newman is the author of "Made Monstrous," which is a mystery story about body parts going missing. A world-weary detective and his eager assistant begin to piece together (no pun intended) just who is swiping these body parts and why. I don't want to spoil the ending, but it turns out that all the men who have "donated" parts are monsters in their own right.
The last story is odd, because it is very ambitious in plot but strangely written. The author is Kaaron Warren, and her style is at times confusing, at other times just seeming like bad writing. Her transitions are awkward, and at times the thread of the plot is either dropped or repeated. In any event, the idea is terrific--a cruise ship, never docking, hosts people who are either in need of a body part or wanting to get rid of one (I have heard of people who irrationally want to have limbs amputated). The story also leaves a mystery--the narrator, who is married to a man who loses his arm in a construction accident, frequently refers to herself as deformed in some way, but we never know how.
Frankenstein means many things to many people, as this collection shows. It's a must for the enthusiast, but for those who care not a whit about the original novel it might prove tedious.
The stories are presented in chronological order, ranging from the mid-19th century to the present day. None of them knocked me over, but I found the second story, "The New Woman," by Rose Biggin, to be the most ambitious. Set in 1899, it has two women scientists create resurrect a dead woman, making her an object of art. A cameo by Shelley's Frankenstein, sensing another like him, seems out of place and could have been cut.
The first story is "Kaseem's Way," by Tade Thompson, set in the 1840s. Kaseem is a London street urchin who is taken in by a doctor and mentored by him. He begins experiments in Newgate prison, digging up the executed and making himself a human. In first person, Shelley's Frankenstein hunts down the new creation, as again, he senses there is another like him.
"Reculver," by Paul Meloy, set in Britain during World War II, is the memory of a boy who likes to explore a town that has been evacuated. He has a crush on a beautiful girl, but she goes missing, just after her boyfriend is found murdered. The boy will also see a creature, whom he describes as "the creature of my dreams, I had no doubt. It was Guilt incarnate, something formed of matter from the shame of my preoccupations." In this story the creature is a metaphor, but perhaps he always is, just a different metaphor.
Emma Newman is the author of "Made Monstrous," which is a mystery story about body parts going missing. A world-weary detective and his eager assistant begin to piece together (no pun intended) just who is swiping these body parts and why. I don't want to spoil the ending, but it turns out that all the men who have "donated" parts are monsters in their own right.
The last story is odd, because it is very ambitious in plot but strangely written. The author is Kaaron Warren, and her style is at times confusing, at other times just seeming like bad writing. Her transitions are awkward, and at times the thread of the plot is either dropped or repeated. In any event, the idea is terrific--a cruise ship, never docking, hosts people who are either in need of a body part or wanting to get rid of one (I have heard of people who irrationally want to have limbs amputated). The story also leaves a mystery--the narrator, who is married to a man who loses his arm in a construction accident, frequently refers to herself as deformed in some way, but we never know how.
Frankenstein means many things to many people, as this collection shows. It's a must for the enthusiast, but for those who care not a whit about the original novel it might prove tedious.
November 5, 2020
In the late eighteenth century, the scientist Victor Frankenstein harnessed the power of electricity to restore to life a creature composed of the parts of multiple dead bodies. Horrified by his creation, he drives it away; it then commits many crimes against its creator. Frankenstein eventually pursues the creature to the North Pole, where he tells his tale to a Captain Walton before dying. The creature, saddened by his creator's death, departs, telling Walton it would kill itself. It is this point that Creatures follows.
Creatures collects five novelettes set at roughly fifty-year intervals following the original story by Mary Shelley. In each story, the consequences of Frankenstein's creation of life play out, whether through attempts by others to build a new creature, in medical science, in criminal activities, or through the survival of the creature, sometimes called Adam, into later times. The stories vary quite drastically, perhaps most notably in Emma Newman's police procedural, "Made Monstrous", but they are all interesting in their own ways. Tade Thompson picks up the story in the mid-nineteenth century and uses the concept to talk about race in Victorian London. Rose Biggin, at the turn of the twentieth century, looks at Bohemian artists and scientists and how the concept of the creature fits in there. Paul Meloy's story is more meditative, reflective, on life in wartime Britain and the creature's appearance there. Emma Newman has a police detective in 1980 investigate missing body parts as the reader has some suspicion where they might be going. Kaaron Warren investigates the medical consequences of Frankenstein's secret knowledge.
I liked all of the stories, although I certainly have my favourites. Biggins' "The New Woman" is delightful in its depiction of arty, turn-of-the-century society and its dark side. Warren's "Love Thee Better" is wonderfully creepy. And I like both police procedurals (while recognizing that they function as propaganda for a justice system that isn't working) and Emma Newman, so obviously I liked "Made Monstrous". I found the nineteenth-century style language of Thompson's "Kaseem's Way" a little hard going, although I liked the story; and I thought "Reculver" by Meloy had too simple a plot to which the creature was just attached, although the writing was beautifully atmospheric. It's a fascinating collection, often creepy, always atmospheric, usually interesting. Keep it in mind next spooky season, or just make all of your seasons spooky and read it whenever.
Creatures collects five novelettes set at roughly fifty-year intervals following the original story by Mary Shelley. In each story, the consequences of Frankenstein's creation of life play out, whether through attempts by others to build a new creature, in medical science, in criminal activities, or through the survival of the creature, sometimes called Adam, into later times. The stories vary quite drastically, perhaps most notably in Emma Newman's police procedural, "Made Monstrous", but they are all interesting in their own ways. Tade Thompson picks up the story in the mid-nineteenth century and uses the concept to talk about race in Victorian London. Rose Biggin, at the turn of the twentieth century, looks at Bohemian artists and scientists and how the concept of the creature fits in there. Paul Meloy's story is more meditative, reflective, on life in wartime Britain and the creature's appearance there. Emma Newman has a police detective in 1980 investigate missing body parts as the reader has some suspicion where they might be going. Kaaron Warren investigates the medical consequences of Frankenstein's secret knowledge.
I liked all of the stories, although I certainly have my favourites. Biggins' "The New Woman" is delightful in its depiction of arty, turn-of-the-century society and its dark side. Warren's "Love Thee Better" is wonderfully creepy. And I like both police procedurals (while recognizing that they function as propaganda for a justice system that isn't working) and Emma Newman, so obviously I liked "Made Monstrous". I found the nineteenth-century style language of Thompson's "Kaseem's Way" a little hard going, although I liked the story; and I thought "Reculver" by Meloy had too simple a plot to which the creature was just attached, although the writing was beautifully atmospheric. It's a fascinating collection, often creepy, always atmospheric, usually interesting. Keep it in mind next spooky season, or just make all of your seasons spooky and read it whenever.
October 16, 2018
Creatures The Legacy of Frankenstein is an anthology collection of five stories inspired by the infamous scientist and monster tale crafted by the genius Mary Shelley.
As a fan of Shelleys creation I was excited to read this anthology expecting this collection to be filled with gruesomely inspired takes on the creation of life, death, the moral implications, dark scenes and unique monster ideals.
While I'll admit there were some great parts from each story only one really grabbed my interest and really gave a new inspired look that I was hoping to find in this collection that I seek in many similar "Frankenstein" collections though I applaud all the authors on thier ideas and styles included in the collection.
I felt so much potential was untapped with this collection many of the stories fell short and we're somewhat lacking that dark undertone or grittyness.
The exception was "Made Monstrous" by Emma Newman this inspired unique tale was great I really enjoyed the female written perspective a 1920s tale of two women who reanimate a woman together for a combined art/science project as a detective investigates the disapearance of body parts. This story was really good so dark and gritty and I enjoyed the female focused aspect.
I really enjoyed the gruesome factor and give props to the respective authors for incorporating the medical matters and encompassing body part theft and expert discussion on huhuman anatomy a true nod to Shelleys masterpiece.
I want to thank Netgalley for providing me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
As a fan of Shelleys creation I was excited to read this anthology expecting this collection to be filled with gruesomely inspired takes on the creation of life, death, the moral implications, dark scenes and unique monster ideals.
While I'll admit there were some great parts from each story only one really grabbed my interest and really gave a new inspired look that I was hoping to find in this collection that I seek in many similar "Frankenstein" collections though I applaud all the authors on thier ideas and styles included in the collection.
I felt so much potential was untapped with this collection many of the stories fell short and we're somewhat lacking that dark undertone or grittyness.
The exception was "Made Monstrous" by Emma Newman this inspired unique tale was great I really enjoyed the female written perspective a 1920s tale of two women who reanimate a woman together for a combined art/science project as a detective investigates the disapearance of body parts. This story was really good so dark and gritty and I enjoyed the female focused aspect.
I really enjoyed the gruesome factor and give props to the respective authors for incorporating the medical matters and encompassing body part theft and expert discussion on huhuman anatomy a true nod to Shelleys masterpiece.
I want to thank Netgalley for providing me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 10, 2018
Can I just say that fall is my favorite season? There's just something about falling temperatures, the crisp smell in the air, and the Halloween decorations that's just my right up my alley. I've always been a fan of suspense, and horror so whenever this time of year rolls around I'm always looking for something nice and creepy to read. Creatures: The Legacy of Frankenstein really fit the bill. I was provided a copy of this book for the purpose of reviewing it but, as always, this has no bearing on my opinions.
Fans of Shelley's original monster, like me, will be interested to see him reappear in different ways within each of the five short stories included in this collection. My two favorites involved a reanimation cruise and a mystery involving a grave robber. Each story tells a tale about reanimation and being an outsider in an increasingly more modern setting so you get to follow the monster through time. Even though Frankenstein is a tale that is often re-imagined I enjoyed reading a few new takes on the tale.
As with any short story collection some of these stories were better than others but I think that most of them are worth a read. While none of them are particularly scary, all of the stories had a gloomy, sombre tone much like the original and they really are great to sit down with on an October night. Creatures will be available on October 16th and if you're looking to get into the Halloween spirit with a quick but interesting read I recommend it.
Fans of Shelley's original monster, like me, will be interested to see him reappear in different ways within each of the five short stories included in this collection. My two favorites involved a reanimation cruise and a mystery involving a grave robber. Each story tells a tale about reanimation and being an outsider in an increasingly more modern setting so you get to follow the monster through time. Even though Frankenstein is a tale that is often re-imagined I enjoyed reading a few new takes on the tale.
As with any short story collection some of these stories were better than others but I think that most of them are worth a read. While none of them are particularly scary, all of the stories had a gloomy, sombre tone much like the original and they really are great to sit down with on an October night. Creatures will be available on October 16th and if you're looking to get into the Halloween spirit with a quick but interesting read I recommend it.
November 14, 2018
My Rating : 3.5🌟 overall for all the stories
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Will upload the individual stories's soon!
This book is a collection of 5 stories which have Frankenstein as one of their ideas! And boy oh boy was it entertaining!
The first thing I loved about this book is how each story is unique in its own way and in no way related to the actual classic! It may have the concept of Frankenstein but never in a same way! Each story had its charm and I absolutely loved that fact!
Second of all, it's no wonder I loved this book, I am a fan of horror/thriller and this book was right up my alley!
As I said before, each story was different! And if you look even closer, you can classify them into different genre! Especially I loved the last 2 stories! You can call them realistic horror fiction! And they were amazing! Since it's a collection of stories by different authors, you can almost identify the writing style.
Though I loved few, I had issues with few. Overall, I loved the concept and how the stories were written. If you a fan of retellings, gothoc fiction, horror or thrillers, definitely give this book a shot!
*Thankyou Netgalley for providing an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
.
Will upload the individual stories's soon!
This book is a collection of 5 stories which have Frankenstein as one of their ideas! And boy oh boy was it entertaining!
The first thing I loved about this book is how each story is unique in its own way and in no way related to the actual classic! It may have the concept of Frankenstein but never in a same way! Each story had its charm and I absolutely loved that fact!
Second of all, it's no wonder I loved this book, I am a fan of horror/thriller and this book was right up my alley!
As I said before, each story was different! And if you look even closer, you can classify them into different genre! Especially I loved the last 2 stories! You can call them realistic horror fiction! And they were amazing! Since it's a collection of stories by different authors, you can almost identify the writing style.
Though I loved few, I had issues with few. Overall, I loved the concept and how the stories were written. If you a fan of retellings, gothoc fiction, horror or thrillers, definitely give this book a shot!
*Thankyou Netgalley for providing an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
April 18, 2019
Tossing an idea out to a group of authors can be risky: you don't know what you're going to get back. The fun side of it, of course, is that you don't know what you're going to get back!
This collection loosely follows the track of Frankenstein's monster across some two hundred years, encountering would be imitators of various sorts along the way. The assortment of different writers results in an effect not unlike the original monster itself - something of a patchwork of different styles and viewpoints. As a reader, I found it challenging to keep adjusting to these. But on the other hand, there's no denying the impressive range of imaginative vision on show.
My favourite story in the collection was 'Made Monstrous' by Emma Newman. I am in any case something of an Emma Newman fan, but I particularly liked her methodical investigation of a Frankenstein inspired crime.
Overall, though, 'Creatures' is a clever and intriguing speculation as to what might have happened to the (so-called) monster.
This collection loosely follows the track of Frankenstein's monster across some two hundred years, encountering would be imitators of various sorts along the way. The assortment of different writers results in an effect not unlike the original monster itself - something of a patchwork of different styles and viewpoints. As a reader, I found it challenging to keep adjusting to these. But on the other hand, there's no denying the impressive range of imaginative vision on show.
My favourite story in the collection was 'Made Monstrous' by Emma Newman. I am in any case something of an Emma Newman fan, but I particularly liked her methodical investigation of a Frankenstein inspired crime.
Overall, though, 'Creatures' is a clever and intriguing speculation as to what might have happened to the (so-called) monster.
September 28, 2018
As so often happens when I read short story anthologies, I'm at a bit of a loss as to how to rate "Creatures". Some of the stories in here are absolutely stunning. I loved Emma Newman's "Made Monstrous", focusing on a detective trying to solve the mystery of a series of body part thefts. The 1920s tale of two women who reanimated a woman together as a project of science and art combined was also fabulous. However, some of the other stories were less to my taste. Perfectly serviceable fiction, but nothing which really caught my imagination. Not to mention my squeamishness over medical matters definitely is a hindrance when trying to read a story about the first treatise on human anatomy. Definitely would recommend to anyone who is a fan of the original novel, it's well worth a read.
Thank you Netgalley for giving me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Netgalley for giving me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 14, 2018
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Creatures is a fascinating anthology in honor of one of the greatest Gothic books in the history of literature, Shelley's Frankenstein. A series of imaginative stories based on Shelley's original concept, creatures is well constructed, with the stories of different authors fitting together very well.
There was, sincerely, no boring parts in this anthology. All stories were original, well written and enjoyable. This is a book I would recommend to all fans of the Gothic literature genre, and it is also a must-have for fans of the original Frankenstein.
Creatures is a fascinating anthology in honor of one of the greatest Gothic books in the history of literature, Shelley's Frankenstein. A series of imaginative stories based on Shelley's original concept, creatures is well constructed, with the stories of different authors fitting together very well.
There was, sincerely, no boring parts in this anthology. All stories were original, well written and enjoyable. This is a book I would recommend to all fans of the Gothic literature genre, and it is also a must-have for fans of the original Frankenstein.
October 18, 2018
This felt a lot more like copying Shelley than being inspired by her... I love Frankenstein and I wanted to love this, too, but I just didn't feel that it did the original justice. Even down to the authors' voices... they all seemed to be mimicking Shelley's. I mean, I haven't read anything else from these authors, so I can't speak to what their styles are like outside of this anthology, but it just felt a little bit canned and disingenuous.
She's the mother of science fiction, and I don't think this lives up to that expectation. If this is her legacy, I'm disappointed.
Thanks to Netgalley for the free ARC. I wish I liked it more, but these are my honest thoughts.
She's the mother of science fiction, and I don't think this lives up to that expectation. If this is her legacy, I'm disappointed.
Thanks to Netgalley for the free ARC. I wish I liked it more, but these are my honest thoughts.
December 10, 2018
Waiting within the pages of this anthology are five new stories taking Mary Shelley's story of Frankenstein and giving it a unique twist. Spanning different time periods from the 1850's with Kaseem's Way, to the present day with Love Thee Better, each tale keeps to the solemn voice of the original.
Some stories resonated more with me than others but they all managed to sustain the feeling of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. The authors have all taken the mad doctor's ideology of reanimation and molded it into their own monstrous creation, terrifying yet piteous.
Read more at Cats Luv Coffee
Some stories resonated more with me than others but they all managed to sustain the feeling of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. The authors have all taken the mad doctor's ideology of reanimation and molded it into their own monstrous creation, terrifying yet piteous.
Read more at Cats Luv Coffee
December 22, 2018
The heritage of Shelley's Frankenstein is obvious in this anthology, but each story brings its own life and original direction to the concept. They explore rather than copy. The stories are longer than the usual short story, allowing quite a depth to each of them. I enjoyed this anthology and found it to be far more diverse and original than I had expected.
I received my copy through NetGalley. My review is my honest opinion.
I received my copy through NetGalley. My review is my honest opinion.
October 25, 2021
What a great little collection of books. Each story related to the legend of Frankenstein in someway, whether it's trying to replicate the recipe in the late 1800s or trying to build the perfect companion now. Each story was simply wonderful.
I'd have rated it 5 stars but I wasn't thrilled with the middle story Reculver, I found that it just didn't fit with the rest. Yes, there was a "Frankenstein" creature but sadly it wasnt as enjoyable for me as I would have hoped.
I'd have rated it 5 stars but I wasn't thrilled with the middle story Reculver, I found that it just didn't fit with the rest. Yes, there was a "Frankenstein" creature but sadly it wasnt as enjoyable for me as I would have hoped.
April 15, 2024
This collection exceeded my expectations, with some stories aspiring to literature. Each has a very different tone and none were predictable. I love the concept, too, of fresh interpretations on a well-worn story.
October 13, 2018
Ultimately an inconsistent but enjoyable read! Like with most short story compilations there were some stories I enjoyed more than others. A proper review will be coming soon!
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