Dean Koontz's Frankenstein: Prodigal Son [Hardcover]

 

 

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This was an amazing thriller, and a new breed of the horror/fiction genre for Koontz. Lets break it down, shall we?...

Victor Frankenstein:

In this new tale terror, Victor Frankenstein is ALIVE; alive and kicking it up as a wealthy, immortal C.E.O of a powerful new genetic research company. His goal: to create a race of genetically modified humans, integrate them into society, and use them as an army to dominate the world. His only problem: not all of his creations are quite sane.

Frankenstein's Monster:

The Monster has survived, against all odds he has maaged to last into the twenty-first century, and is now following his once beloved master, in an attempt to understand his role in the universe, and possibly help stop the apocalypse to come. His only problem: he is unable, due to his masters design, to raise a hand against the one who has created him, and must battle against a city crawling with legions of his former masters neo-human soldiers.

The soldiers:

They were created to act as the force by which Victor Helios, a.k.a Victor Frankenstein will rule the world. They have been programmed with strict obedience to their master, and a powerful hatred of everything human. They're strong, smart, and everywhere. Their number one concern: they're all slowly mutating into an unknown form of life, and going absolutley INSANE.

The cops:

Street tough Carson O'Connor and her wise-cracking partner Mihael Maddison are on the trail of a serial killer with a passion for taking different pieces of his victims. Little do they know that they are being drawn into the underworld of Victor Helios and his neo-human agenda. Teaming up with Frankenstein's Monster, a.k.a Ducalion, they embark on a terrifying adventure to help stop a madman from taking over the world, and doing away with all of humanity.

In my opinion, this is a fantastic book, and well worth a read. The characters are deep, and their relationships seem respectably real. Give it a try.

I was skeptical when I first saw the title to this new Dean Koontz book, and the fact that he co-wrote the Frankenstein books with two different co-authors, but these books are pure Koontz with a very pleasing twist on an old and much loved novel.
I found the story to be exciting with each turn of the page and cannot wait to read the 3rd installment! I also find the humour in the book to be most welcoming during some of the not so appealing descriptions of what the New race thinks and does to the Old race.

Not since Odd Thomas have I found a character of Koontz, worthy of getting to know. I know that if you love Koontz and have from the beginning, then this series is for you. The only thing I don’t like is that it is in paperback. I prefer hard cover.

Dean Koontz's Frankenstein trilogy brings the whole story of Frankenstein and his monster into the modern day, exploring modern technology's possible effects.

But the comic book adaptation is not an entirely satisfying experience. Koontz's story is suitably dark and grim, and Chuck Dixon's adaptation of his dialogue has a gloriously menacing edge. But sadly Brett Booth's artwork isn't quite up to the challenge of "Dean Koontz's Frankenstein: Prodigal Son," due to his excesses of pouty pretty boys and equally pouty sexpot cops.

A strange scarred man named Deucalion has been living in a remote Buddhist monastery, but now he feels compelled to leave for New Orleans -- because "someone's still alive." Though his disfiguring scars made him a circus freak in the past, he's somehow able to get to New Orleans undetected. No, I don't know how he managed that, but I suspect it was cut for the sake of length.

In New Orleans, a bizarre serial killer called "the Surgeon" has been killing a series of unrelated people. The one thing in common: each one has a body part removed. Detective Carson O'Connor is on the case, but she and her partner are no closer to actually figuring out who the murderer is, or where he will strike next -- how can you predict a killer who attacks for body parts?

Unbeknownst to them, one of the killers is the sociopathic scientist Victor Helios -- once known as Frankenstein. He is coldly creating a new race of subordinate, genetically engineered creatures that are indistinguishable from humans. And as Carson searches for answers to the Surgeon's identity, she comes across Deucalian -- and discovers that the real horrors yet to come.

It's rather tough to bring any classic story into the modern day, and most authors/filmmakers who try end up failing on all levels. It's a tribute to Koontz that he actually brings something new to the mix, whether it's his not-so-subtle allusions to Greek mythology (in the same vein as Shelley) or the darkly angsty Deucalion and his quiet quest, which quickly intersects with the strong-willed Carson.

It's a pretty dark story, full of grotesquely disfigured bodies and grimy little rooms in old theatres. Koontz's noir New Orleans is not a fun place, and any story that begins with a Frankenstein monster having a squid stuck in his stomach is not going to be full of light and puppies -- there are gory killings, creepy visions (including a malformed face telling Victor's wife to kill him), and the chillingly cold-blooded self-admiration of Victor himself. And Chuck Dixon pares down Koontz's dialogue to a lean, elusive little string of lines.

The big problem? It's Brett Booth. He basically does the same thing here that he did during his stint in the Anita Blake series, which was annoying then, but insufferable in this darker, grimier comic book. I understand that it's necessary to work the sex appeal, but come on -- bare-chested in skin-tight pants in TIBET? During a blizzard? Really.

Which brings me back to Deucalion. Booth illustrates this tragic, tormented character as a male model -- he's all bulgy muscles, flowing hair, pouty pretty-boy looks and very prominent groin. Carson is just as cut-and-paste -- she's a feisty, capable detective who inexplicably has skin-tight clothes, huge thighs, collagen lips and hair that sticks out six inches in front of her face when she turns.

"Dean Koontz's Frankenstein: Prodigal Son" comic is well-adapted and dripping with dark, bloody atmosphere, and it's a credit to Koontz and Dixon that their world transcends Booth's art.

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2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing!
It's always with anticipation that I take a new Koontz book home with me, but I was a little wary when I saw Kevin J. Anderson's name on the cover as well. Read more

Published on May 2 2005

5.0 out of 5 stars Best yet!
I have always been a fan of Dean Koontz's books and when my flight was grounded and I was to spend the night in the airport, I figured I'd better get myself a book to keep me... Read more

Published on Feb 23 2005 by J. Gonzalez

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