Frankenstein According Spike Milligan

According to Spike Milligan

by Spike Milligan

How Can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or delineate the wretch whom with such infinte pains and care I had endeavoured to form? There was a bolt that affixed his neck to his spine, there were screws holding his forehead to his skull; but now was the moment of truth. I plunged the electrodes into his rectum and switched on the current. He gave a groan and he was alive! He spoke as he sat up, 'Have you got a fag mate?' My God, I had given birth to a nicotine junky! I handed him a cigarette which I lit, then leaping off the table he stood there. But, alas, we had forgotten one thing, he had no support for his trousers which fell to the floor revealing his manhood in all its glory. If any women saw them they would be leaving their husbands in thousands. Quickly I got some string round his trousers. What had I done? No mortal could support the horror of that countenance! I rushed downstairs, to seek refuge in a cupboard where I remained during the rest of the night walking up and down in great agitation, something difficult to do in a cupboard.

Genres: Humor, Fiction

127 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Terence Alan Patrick Seán Milligan, known as Spike, was a comedian, writer and musician. He was of Irish descent, but spent most of his childhood in India and lived most of his later life in England, moving to Australia after retirement. He is famous for his work in The Goon Show, children's poetry and a series of comical autobiographical novels about his experiences serving in the British Army in WWII. Spike Milligan suffered from bipolar disorder, which led to depression and frequent breakdowns, but he will be remembered as a comic genius. His tombstone reads 'I told you I was ill' in Gaelic.

Reviews

[Roland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although most people don't know it, this is actually the funniest book ever written. I pissed myself laughing all the way through because it's so funny. If you didn't like it then you have a shit sense of humour and you can piss off and read fucking Hardy or something else miserable.

[Dane Cobain · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is literally Spike Milligan’s take on Frankenstein, essentially a retelling that’s told in his unique brand of humour. Because of that, you’re probably going to want to read Mary Shelley’s original before you read this one, though I suppose it isn’t mandatory.

Milligan’s humour is farcical and funny, at least to me, and I’m also a pretty big Frankenstein fan and so I thought I should go ahead and dive in. It’s strange, as you might expect, but it’s also pretty good. If you’re into the Mel Brooks style of comedy horror, you’re probably going to like it. It certainly made me laugh a few times.

[Dane Cobain · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is literally Spike Milligan’s take on Frankenstein, essentially a retelling that’s told in his unique brand of humour. Because of that, you’re probably going to want to read Mary Shelley’s original before you read this one, though I suppose it isn’t mandatory.

Milligan’s humour is farcical and funny, at least to me, and I’m also a pretty big Frankenstein fan and so I thought I should go ahead and dive in. It’s strange, as you might expect, but it’s also pretty good. If you’re into the Mel Brooks style of comedy horror, you’re probably going to like it. It certainly made me laugh a few times.

[Dark-Draco · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the classic gothic horror story told with Milligan's unique twist - lots of bawdy jokes, random poems and quirks of the english language. Some of the puns are a bit dated, but it can still bring a smile to the face. Not something to read all in one go, but to be dipped in and out of when you're feeling a bit down.

[Tosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spike Milligan is a lunatic and genius of sorts. One of the brains behind The Goons, the radio comedy group that also had Peter Sellers as a member. Here Milliagn rips through "Frankenstiein" and makes it is own. A must of course.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and amusing take on the original Mary Shelly story.

[Seán · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having recently read Frankenstein there seemed like no better time to read this book. Left any longer, I'd be likely to forget the plot and details and the jokes wouldn't land. It seems like Milligan probably had the book fresh in his mind too, that or he read a chapter, wrote a chapter. The book is surprisingly faithful to the plot of the original, except in a couple of places where he seems to get bored a jumps ahead, which speeds things along.

I certainly found myself laughing regularly as a I read, especially in the first few chapters. Eventually the mirth did dry up a bit, but the book is short and amusing throughout.

I borrowed this from Richard when I visited him in Brighton.

[Mavis Hewitt · Rating 2 out of 5]

It would definitely help to have the same sense of humour as Spike Milligan, and a good knowledge of the original book might make this one more funny. I didn't laugh out loud but did smile in many places.

[Amy Gibbs · Rating 2 out of 5]

funny

[Toms Murnieks · Rating 3 out of 5]

All through the book I couldn't make up my mind whether I like it or not. I definitely liked the schizophrenic way the book was written but on the other hand, the plot was so chaotic and I was reading the book in so many split episodes in various places and various states of mind that I totally lost myself in the lack of logic and radical changes of events.
I can totally understand the people who hate this book, but I myself with the dark mind of mine still had a strong like towards some nuances.

[Lee Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frankenstein according to Spike Milligan -

A bit slow going to start with, lots of letters written from Robert Walton. Robert rescues a stranger whom he tells his sister about in a letter “The stranger, whose name is Victor Frankenstein, is still travelling on the ship with me and his intellect is very satisfying; he speaks two languages - good and bad..”

[Glen Boothby · Rating 1 out of 5]

Worst book ever written. Read it to the end just because I couldn't believe how awful it was.