Frankenstein: Prodigal Son by Dean Koontz
Series: Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein Book One
Genre: horror, thriller, mystery
Imagine that Victor Frankenstein and his monstrous creation never died in the nineteenth century—that they are alive and well, walking around the city of New Orleans in the twenty-first century. What could they possibly be doing?
Memorable Quotes:
“In these mountains of Tibet, a fiery sunset conjured a mirage of molten gold from the glaciers and the snowfields. A serrated blade of Himalayan peaks, with Everest at its hilt, cut the sky.”
“Caressed by candlelight, the chased surfaces of classic silver seemed perpetually about to melt.”
Plot:
Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein: Prodigal Son is a uniquely crafted expansion of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, starring multiple characters: police detectives Carson O’Connor and Michael Maddison, Victor Helios (previously known as Victor Frankenstein), and Deucalion (a scarred man with a two-hundred-year-old secret). As Carson and Michael pursue a serial killer ripping through the city of New Orleans, they encounter unexplainable circumstances and a man of many peculiar gifts—Deucalion. The detectives discover that the world is far less ordinary than they had believed as Deucalion exposes Victor’s true identity and the hidden scientific milestones he has achieved. Carson, Michael, and Deucalion must work together if they wish to survive Victor’s nearly indestructible creations—beings human in form but designed with superior strength, little to no humanity, and a thirst for death.
Review: 3.8 / 5.0
Prodigal Son, the first book in a series of five, consists of extremely short chapters—each of which follows different characters. If you aren’t used to Koontz’s style of writing, then the short chapters might be distracting, but it is worth the read. The advantage of this style is that the chapters read quickly and easily, weaving the reader through seemingly disconnected storylines. As the novel progresses, each of the characters’ journeys begins to intertwine, creating exciting action sequences. The wonderful thing about Koontz’s writing style is that it pulls you along just enough to keep you wanting to read the next chapter.
Although Koontz’s simplistic writing style works well in moving the plot with ease, I am disappointed to find Prodigal Son lacking in deep exposition and flowery writing. I expected more. I also didn’t enjoy Detective Carson’s rough around the edges personality for most of the book. Eventually, I warmed up to her through her interactions with her partner (Michael) and her autistic younger brother (Arnie). Arnie’s character is a great example of how supporting characters add depth to the main characters.
Overall, Prodigal Son is a great start to Koontz’s Frankenstein series. It speaks to humanity’s incessant greed for power and domination while highlighting the idea that even monsters can be human. My biggest complaint is that the real exciting action a reader craves doesn’t happen until nearly the end of the book; it reads slow and steady with only moments of excitement. However, this technique pushes the reader to read more. Koontz’s twist on a classic, coupled with his unique narrative design, makes for a compelling read. He truly knows how to unearth gems of memorable writing.
My assessment of this novel might read a bit critical because I had high expectations. I read this series eleven years ago and fell in love with Koontz. I remember amazing descriptions, unique writing, and intense action scenes. My tastes could have changed over the years, or it was the rest of the Frankenstein series that had seared a five-star rating in my memory. I know Koontz to be a master of his craft, so I am eager to keep reading through the series to see how the plot and the writing evolve.
Suggested Reading:
If you haven’t yet read Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, I highly suggest that you do—it is a classically wonderful read. Reading Shelley’s Frankenstein first is not necessary to comprehend Koontz’s Frankenstein, but doing so will help enrich your understanding of Deucalion and Victor’s backstory.
Purchase:
Amazon – Dean Koontz
Amazon – Mary Shelley
