Frankenstein Unbound

Well written and plausible, with enough of the character development this sort of book needs.

Aldiss creates one of the most original of Horror/Science Fiction novels inspired by the classic novel,with this book,which is his masterpiece. The plot tells of an inventor named Buccanhan,who invents a weapon in the future that could signal the end of humanity. After a mishap,he and his Futuristic car(which acts like the car from "Knightrider" and has with it a computer,television and machine gun!) are transported into an alternate universe of the early 1800s. He ends up in Switzerland at this time and runs into Victor Frankenstein and Mary Shelly! Many adventures ensue,including a romance with Mary(!) and a partnership with the manical Victor Frankenstein and his creation of a bride for his monster. The novel is very thoughtful,something of a thinking man's Horror story,coupled with a sense of adventure and the grotesque. Endlesssly fascinating,this was followed by a "Dracula Unbound' by the same writer,and a mediocre Cinematic adaption of the book by Roger Corman in 1991. Stick with the novel and give it a read. It's a must.

In the 21st century, man's use of nuclear weapons has disrupted the natural order of the universe. Space and time have begun to fluctuate, and "timeslips" can suddenly transport whole regions into the future or past. Caught in one of these displacements is Joe Bodenland, our narrator, who suddenly finds himself (along with his nuclear-powered car and watch) stranded in the day of Mary Shelley, Lord Byron, and yes, Victor Frankenstin. Enthralled by the chance to meet the "historical" Frankenstein (a term which, due to the timeslips, may no longer be relevant), Bodenland launches an investigation into the scientist's life that leads to a fateful, existential cat & mouse game with Frankenstein's legendary Monster...and his mate. Involving subplots include Bodenland's brief but intense love with Mary Shelley and philosophical debates with Percy Shelley, Byron, and of course the Modern Prometheus himself, the mad Frankenstein. An intoxicating mix of history, suspense, and glorious sci-fi, Frankenstein Unbound is a fantastic morality tale and an excellent corollary to the Frankenstein legend.

Unfortunatly, I only read the book a number of years ago, but I really enjoy Aldiss' books. Frankenstien is one of several of his works to become screen plays with uneven results. Our hero finds himself time shifted (like K. Vonnegurt's quake) to 19th century Austria where soon meets the proto-hippies, Mary Shelley, Percy and their romantic commune. Soon Dr. Frankenstien apprears with the real monster. My memory of the story is fairly vague, although I recall our hero still has his late model car and digital watch. A lot of twists and coincidences later find our hero and the monster at the north pole searching for the answer, in their fashion, of what is life anyway. It well worth the read to find out.