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Book Review: Dean Koontz’ Frankenstein December 8, 2009

Book Review:  Dean Koontz’ Frankenstein by Dean Koontz, Ed Gorman and Kevin J. Anderson

 I bought Dean Koontz’ Frankenstein books one and two at the used bookstore a couple of years back, but I decided not to read them until I had the third and final book.  That turned out to be a good decision since book three was delayed several times until finally getting released in July of 2009.  I picked up my copy of book three, which has a completely different cover from the first two books (Grrr!), soon after it came out.  Being a little compulsive, I figured I’d have to re-buy books one and two for a matched set.

 This review covers all three books:  Book One:  Prodigal Son by Dean Koontz and Kevin J. Anderson, Book Two:  City of Night by Dean Koontz and Ed Gorman, and Book Three:  Dead and Alive by Dean Koontz. 

 The first book opened with an interesting premise.  What if the Frankenstein story, written by Mary Shelley in 1818, was a dramatization based on actual events, and Dr. Frankenstein had really created a monster?  What if both the creature and its creator were still alive today?

 The monster, calling himself Deucalion (son of Prometheus) and given supernatural abilities by the lightning that brought him to life, has survived the centuries hiding in the shadows and is currently living in a Tibetan monastery where he has finally learned to control the rage that led him to the murders depicted in Shelley’s tale.

 Victor Frankenstein, aka Victor Helios, is operating in modern day New Orleans, perfecting his technique, attempting to replace humanity with a new race subservient to him.  The only one who can stop him appears to be Deucalion.  To help him in his fight against his creator, Deucalion teams up with New Orleans detectives Carson O’Connor and Michael Madison.  Carson is a stereotypical tough-lady cop, and Michael is her sidekick and potential love interest. 

 I loved this concept, but the promise of the first book is never realized.  There are interesting plotlines, one involving Victor’s created bride Erica 4 (and later Erica 5), another involving the strange fate of detective Jonathan Harker (named for a character in Bram Stoker’s Dracula); but the conclusion in book three mashes together all of the plotlines without a satisfying resolution.

 The first book is the best, and the third, with its botched ending, is the worst.  After book three, I thought maybe a book four could provide a more satisfying finish, but as bad as Koontz messed up book three, maybe it’s better to withhold the lightening and just to let this story die.  Oh, and after being let down by book three, I’m also in no hurry to re-buy books one and two with their new and improved covers.  Maybe I’ll wait for them in the used book store. 

Rating:  7 out of 10

Book One:  Prodigal Son        9 out of 10

Book Two:  City of Night      8 out of 10

Book Three:  Dead and Alive 7 out of 10