A mystery

[james_davis_nicoll]

I wonder how Mary Shelley could possibly have dreamed up someone like Frankenstein, someone who is simultaneously a genius and a worthless, responsibility-shirking manchild?

Comments

[jhetley]

Well, there's this theory that all characters are actually aspects of the author . . .

[eacole72]

She lived with her husband and with Lord Byron? The description seems to fit both of them.

[(Anonymous)]

That's the joke!

[alexseanchai]

and a ridiculous lots of other people

[alexseanchai]

MY, I WONDER.

[azurelunatic]

I can't possibly imagine.

[sartorias]

It helps that she was herself a teen when she wrote it, after having read a lot of similar bosh emotions-wise.

[jreynolds197]

A mystery indeed.

For any who might be interested, I just finished reading Pride and Prometheus, by John Kessel. This is a mash-up of Pride and Prejudice and Frankenstein: Or, the Modern Prometheus.

Kessel timeshifts Frankenstein forward 20 years, and has Frankenstein, his monster (who takes the name Adam) and Mary Bennett, sister of Elizabeth Bennett, meet and interact.

The book was worthwhile. Victor was indeed simultaneously a genius and a worthless, responsibility-shirking manchild. The monster had problems of his own, of course.

[ba_munronoe]

I didn't think much of "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies", but this sounds worth looking for.

[jreynolds197]

Yes, P&P&Z was a one-note joke stretched to novel length. Kessel is a better author by far.

[princessofgeeks]

I see what you did there.

[redheadedfemme]

"All this has happened before, and it will happen again."

~The Cylons

[oh6]

I am reminded of Walter Jon Williams' "Wall, Stone, Craft", which asked (and answered) somewhat the same question.

[agharta75]

Percy never did the dishes?