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The original story of science gone berserk: one that changed how far our dreams can …

Review of 'Frankenstein: Mary Shelley 1831 Edition' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

Let me just say this, before I get into what might be considered spoilers (but I think they are just basic plot points) that this is not all that good. Shelley dwells on landscapes and ever repeating inner monologues of how bad the narrator (who is changing a few times) feels. They all feel bad. constantly. So bad that they get sick for month. Constantly. It's a drag. Also: Landscapes. Pages and pages of landscapes. Just... you know. Cause.

The Story doesn't start with Franskenstein but with an explorer writing to his sister in England. He is going on an exploring trip with a ship to the north pole. There he meets Frankenstein, who tells him the story of his life (because apparently he has time for that). Now the Narrator is Frankenstein who does what he does (no spoilers so no details, but I think its save to say he creates a monster... that should not be considered a spoiler). At some point the monster gets to tell the story of its life, switching the narrator to the monster who encounters people, who's entire life story he relates to his creator who relates them to the explorer who writes them to his sister which is what we read.

Whenever Shelley finds another way to wring life out of a story as dead as the matter from which the monster is created it just gets more boring.

Why 2 Stars then: Because a) clearly this book is incredibly influential to a huge genre of books and deserves at least a star for this. Later books on the subject of creating life/playing god/the responsibility of science to morality may be better, more structured, less prolonged by completely useless stories of french refugees but this is one of the first. b) the basic story, striping away all the surrounding rubbish and the landscapes, is good.