Frankenstein Unbound

Rating:
Summary: FRANKENSTEIN UNBOUND
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: FRANKENSTEIN UNBOUND
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Gag me
Review: Turgid, juvenile, witless, inconsistent, pointless, flaccid. Reads like the kind of "You Are There" episode a teenage boy would write, featuring of course sex with the historical figure of ones choice. I got the impression that Aldiss fell asleep at the typewriter several times during the writing of the manuscript, and resumed upon waking with whatever popped into his head, without respect for what had just been written. Bad as the movie was, I conclude that it was an improvement over the book.

Rating:
Summary: Aldiss gives us Mary Shelly and her 19th century society
Review: 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.