Antibodies

by David J. Skal, Isaac Asimov (Introduction)

A young woman searching for immortality at the expense of bodily existence and an aging psychologist/writer who specializes in the shock deprogramming of cult-addicts come together for a bizarre confrontation of wills that erupts in a violent and graphic finale.

Genres: Science Fiction

220 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

David J. Skal became fascinated with monsters at the height of the 1962 Cuban missile crisis, when indestructible monsters like Dracula, Frankenstein and the Wolf Man provided a "nuclear security blanket" for a whole generation of youngsters.

Active as an editor and reporter on his high school newspaper, he was granted a journalism scholarship to Ohio University, Athens, where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1974. His work as film critic, arts reporter, arts editor and assistant managing editor of the Ohio University Post, one of the country's leading college papers,led to his three-season appointment as publicity director of the University-operated Monomoy Theatre on Cape Cod. Following his graduation, he served as a public affairs intern in the office of National Endowment for the Arts chairman Nancy Hanks, and went on to the position of Publicity Director at the Hartford Stage Company, where he oversaw all media relations while the regional company fund-raised, built and opened a major new facility in downtown Hartford. In 1978, he was staff writer for the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, with responsibility for the content of all printed materials. From 1979-1982 he was Publications Director of Theatre Communications Group, a national service organization in New York City. From 1982 to 1992 he was president and creative director of David J. Skal Associates, Inc. (later Visual Cortex Ltd.), a Manhattan-based, nationally oriented design and marketing consultancy with clients ranging from the Metroplitan Opera to regional theatre, dance and music organizations.

A published writer of short fiction since his early college years (he was one of the youngest students ever admitted to the celebrated Clarion Writers Workshop in fantasy and science fiction), he authored three well-received science fiction novels: SCAVENGERS (1980), WHEN WE WERE GOOD (1981) and ANTIBODIES (1987). His long-standing interest in Dracula and his extensive contacts in the theatre world led to his first nonfiction book, HOLLYWOOD GOTHIC: THE TANGLED WEB OF DRACULA FROM NOVEL TO STAGE TO SCREEN (1990), followed by THE MONSTER SHOW: A CULTURAL HISTORY OF HORROR (1993). Many other books followed, including V IS FOR VAMPIRE (1995); DARK CARNIVAL: THE SECRET WORLD OF TOD BROWNING (1995,with Elias Savada); the Norton Critical Edition of Bram Stoker's DRACULA (1996, co-edited with Nina Auerbach); SCREAMS OF REASON: MAD SCIENCE AND MODERN CULTURE(1997); and the monumental anthology VAMPIRES: ENCOUNTERS WITH THE UNDEAD (2001, the largest such illustrated/annotated compendium ever published.

Skal began his work as a documentary filmmaker writing and co-producing segments for the A&E Network's award-winning series "Biography," and contributed scripts chronicling the lives and careers of Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney, Jr. and Angela Lansbury (with whom he had worked during his theatre career). In 1999, he wrote, co-produced and co-directed a behind-the-scenes chronicle of the Academy Award-winning film GODS AND MONSTERS. The same year, he was tapped by Universal Studios Home Video for a series of twelve original DVD documentaries exploring the legacies of the studio's classic horror and science fiction films. His DVD work has continued with Disney Home Video's "Jules Verne and Walt Disney: Explorers of the Imagination" (2003) and the feature commentary for Warner Home Video's special-edition release of Tod Browning's FREAKS (2004).

His current projects include CITIZEN CLONE: THE MORPHING OF AMERICA (Faber and Faber, 2005)and CLAUDE RAINS: AN ACTOR'S VOICE, a biography based on the acclaimed character actor's never-published reminiscences, written in collaboration with the actor's daughter, Jessica Rains.

David Skal is a member of the Authors Guild. He lives and writes in Glendale, California.

Reviews

[Angus McKeogh · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the near future there’s a war between humans and robots. Or rather a movement to turn against the human flesh and upgrade into fused technology. Really interesting read, very well executed, and superbly written. All from an author I’d never heard of who is mostly out of print. Will definitely have to hunt down his other stuff.

[Frederick Bodine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not at all what I expected from the title. I don't get surprised often but this book got me. It was very worth it!

[UmBlogueSobreLivros · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review completa em UmBlogueSobreLivros
Opinião | "Anticorpos" de David J.Skal

OH MY GOD

Já tinha achado Um Demónio no Cérebro um livro bastante gráfico mas este Anticorpos... wow...

Escusado será dizer que ADOREI o livro e que foi dos melhores que me passou pelas mãos este ano. Não será de certeza um livro que agrade a toda a gente, tal como o Srpski Film não agrada mas, o que posso dizer ? Entre isto e uma história de am❤r ou um daqueles livros de auto-ajuda da treta, sei muito bem aquilo que escolheria ... e não estaria relacionado com amor nem auto-ajuda.

Neste Anticorpos, somos transportados para Manhattan, onde um culto underground chamado Templo Cibernético « oferece salvação pessoal. O Templo Cibernético combina Religião com Ciência. O Templo Cibernético oferece ao homem moderno uma hipótese de escapar às limitações do corpo físico. A tecnologia para isso existe »

Este foi um dos melhores livros que li em 2018 e só lamento que David J.Skal não tenha escrito muito mais. Ainda assim, tenho perfeita noção que um livro com fetos mutilados e vivissecções possa ser considerado de mau gosto ... sobretudo nos dias de hoje, em que toda a gente se sente ofendida com tudo e mais alguma coisa.

Anticorpos será assim, para uns, doentio e deliberadamente provocante. A roçar o mau gosto e o exagero. Para outros, será uma espécie de previsão daquilo que está para vir, à medida que tentamos derrubar as barreiras entre o Homem e a Máquina.

Passem pelo blogue para lerem a review completa! :)
Opinião | "Anticorpos" de David J.Skal

[Eric · Rating 2 out of 5]

I will occasionally pick a book at random from a used bookstore and see what I discover; sometimes I find a gem and sometimes I find a bomb. This book was not particularly good and not particularly bad but had some pretty disturbing concepts and images. I am glad I finished it if only for confirmation of the ending I saw coming.

It is an intriguing idea of technology and human depravity.

This book was written in 1989 and even so the commentary on society and technology is very pertinent and damning.