Monster: A Novel of Frankenstein is a horror novel by Dave Zeltserman. It tells the story of Frankenstein from the creature's prespective.
Young apothecary Friedrich Hoffman is framed and executed for the murder of his fiancée, Johanna Klemmen.
Upon discovering he has been revived as a grotesque figure—and being abandoned by the man who created his new body, a medical student named Victor Frankenstein—Friedrich embarks on a journey which leads him to a depraved plot which involves both Frankenstein and the Marquis de Sade.
Franken-tropes:
- Adaptational Villainy: The original Dr. Frankenstein was not a murderous fiend or sexual deviant.
- And I Must Scream: Sophie, real name Charlotte, was a French seamstress turned by Victor into a severed head in a jar with no teeth and no larynx. She is unable to fight back. She is unable to speak, outside of mouthing words.
- Cruel and Unusual Death: The theatrical performance involves various forms of hideous torture, sexual abuse and murder. Methods of murder include garrotting, stabbing, shooting by darts, and immolation.
- Dr. Frankenstein: In this adaptation of the original novel, Victor Frankenstein is presented as a Socially Darwinistic necromancer and alchemist who believes his status and power entitles him to treat other people abominably, and commit atrocities in the name of science. He also works with the Marquis de Sade to finance a performance written by the Marquis which will entail several youths being tormented and killed onstage.
- Frankenstein's Monster: Friedrich is reconstructed from the body parts of dead people, with his original brain in a new patchwork body.
- Good Shepherd: On his journey to track down Frankenstein, Friedrich encounters a kindly brotherhood of monks who provide him with food and shelter, and care for his wellbeing. They also worry that his quest for vengeance will break him.
- Historical Villain Upgrade: The real life Marquis is not known to have written any plays which killed his performers, or have been a sexual deviant to the extent he is portrayed in the novel.
- Human Sacrifice: Friedrich encounters a Satanist cult in his travels who mistakes him for the devil. They have been preparing virgin sacrifices on a regular basis for Satan.
- The Lost Lenore: Friedrich mourns his betrothed, Johanna, throughout the story, and his desire for justice against the man who had them both killed is what drives many of his actions.
- Necromancer: Victor uses magic spells to raise the dead.
- Perilous Play: The Marquis and Frankenstein have conspired to hold a performance which involves torture, sexual abuse, and murder.
- Rape Is a Special Kind of Evil: The fact that Victor and his accomplice the Marquis are so desensitized to sexual abuse is meant to characterize them as especially vile.
- "Sophie", a reanimated head which Victor placed in a jar, is sexually abused by the Marquis. Friedrich notes that Sophie looks as if she has lost hope afterwards.
- Friedrich being gang-raped by noblewomen while Victor magically prevents him from resisting is played with the utmost gravity.
- Science Wizard: Victor Frankenstein's experiments are a combination of science and dark magic which has the capacity to resuscitate the dead. Victor himself uses dark magic to restrain Friedrich.
- The Social Darwinist: Frankenstein justifies his actions by way of saying that the strong prey on the weak.
