Frankenstein: Prodigal Son
Published: 2005
Author: Dean Koontz and Kevin J. Anderson
Genre: Children's Comics, Conspiracy, Fiction, Graphic Novels, Horror, Literary, Literature, Mystery, Police Procedurals, Science Fiction, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller
Book 01 of 05: Frankenstein
Check the summary of this book here:
The Review
Dean Koontz's novel Prodigal Son is a best-selling novel. The novel is the first in a series of five by Dean Koontz named Dean Koontz's Frankenstein. Kevin J. Anderson, another fantastic author, contributed to the book as a co-author.
I was already planning to buy and read this book because it contained the name Frankenstein, but it became even more necessary after learning about both writers' names.
Koontz is one of my favorite modern fiction writers because of his sense of humor and assimilation of the spiritual component of reality in his work, where the brilliant optimism of good and the horror of evil are eloquently represented and contrasted.
The next few lines are connected to the narrative of this work, however, I am simply posting them since all of this information is already on the back of the book, thus it is not considered a spoiler.
The basic narrative follows New Orleans detective Carson and her partner Michael as they search for "The Surgeon," a serial killer.
Deucalion, once known as The Monster, is alarmed by reports of this serial murderer, believing that his old master and creator, Dr. Victor Frankenstein, has returned.
When Carson meets Deucalion, the investigation takes a darker turn, leading Carson and Michael down the road of a 200-year-old mystery and evil that threatens more than just New Orleans.
The series' idea was based on a script created by Koontz and Anderson for the 2004 USA Network TV movie Frankenstein.
Due to creative differences with the network, Koontz resigned from the project, and the production went on a new route with identical characters and a different narrative, while Koontz was able to publish his own series.
The production firm 1019 Entertainment announced in October 2012 that they have obtained the whole Koontz Frankenstein novel series. TNT has announced plans to adapt it into a television series, with writer James V. Hart and his son Jake Hart penning the screenplay.
This novel has so many side tales that I was worried about how everything will fit together while I was reading it.
After a third of the way through the novel, you discover you're following two separate stories: one about Carson and Michael and the New Orleans Homicide Division, and the other about Victor and Deucalion. When the novel's end arrives, everything falls into place.
The number of characters I was following when I initially started reading this story astounded me.
The narrative began by following four separate characters, each with their own story. I wasn't sure how I felt about it at first, but I think it turned out well.
I was also dissatisfied with the quantity of hopping back and forth between storylines. We seemed to be going to a different individual with each new chapter, which was around three pages long on average.
With all of the leaping around, I was left wondering how anything could possibly progress. It wasn't long before it became clear that all of the hopping around was leading to one tale.
All of the leaping about bothered me. At the beginning of the novel, I never felt like I got to know the characters.
I had a solid understanding of the characters at the conclusion of the book, but I lacked any kind of emotional attachment to any of them.
I also didn't enjoy how none of the characters grew as the tale progressed. Carson was Carson from start to finish; Michael was Michael from start to finish, and so on.
The lone character that changed significantly during the novel had such a little role in the plot that the alteration was easily unnoticed.
This book is unexpectedly clever, with aspects of both a superb detective story and a science fiction classic.
The characters are nicely rounded, and the plot is intriguing. I'm presently reading the final book in the series, and it's just as good as the others.
All of the components of an excellent thriller are present. Some verb tense changes looked superfluous.
If you require closure, the finale leaves a lot of loose ends, so be prepared to read the sequels.
You may read the book summaries if you want, and I usually put a link to them near the top of the review, but if you are a genuine book lover, I recommend avoiding reading the summaries so you can be shocked by what occurs next.
Finally, Dean Koontz's and Kevin J. Anderson's thriller portrays the true story of Frankenstein's monster.
It's a fast-paced thrill rush that you won't be able to stop following. Michael Connelly meets Mary Shelly. I am confident that you will not be able to wait and avoid reading the second book in the series.
Final Thoughts
I've always been a fan of vintage horror characters. The Frankenstein monster was one of my favorites since it was a man-made monstrosity that was never given the opportunity to learn and develop, much like my own ideal of defeating death so that we as humans may do more and achieve our full potential with an unlimited life.
I was fascinated when I learned Dean Koontz had written a Frankenstein book. I had no idea what to expect from this book and was pleasantly pleased to discover that it was set in the modern times.
This is set about 200 years after its birth, as if the Frankenstein monster still existed and how he would adjust to modern civilization.
I enjoyed the book and couldn't put it down once I started reading it. I enjoyed the unfolding plot and never knew what would come next.
I always had a pretty decent concept of what was going to happen, but I was never able to get even half of it correct (for example, a killer is discovered, begins to flee, is apprehended, and dies).
When, in actuality, the perpetrator is apprehended, flees, begins to shift, finds himself in a difficult place, narrowly escapes, is killed, and yet manages to flee at the same time. Isn't it perplexing? Start reading to find out.
Overall, the plot was exciting and fast-paced. I would suggest this book to anybody who likes mysteries, especially those in which the reader is taken in by the mystery and then is left wondering, "What just occurred, I'm blown away?"
Koontz's concept is pretty intriguing, and it leaves you guessing as to how it will all play out. For fans of the Frankenstein narrative, this is a must-read.
Synopsis
“From the celebrated imagination of Dean Koontz comes a powerful reworking of one of the classic stories of all time. If you think you know the story, you know only half the truth. Get ready for the mystery, the myth, the terror, and the magic of…
Dean Koontz's Prodigal Son
Every city has secrets. But none as terrible as this. His name is Deucalion, a tattooed man of mysterious origin, a sleight-of-reality artist who’s traveled the centuries with a secret worse than death. He arrives as a serial killer stalks the streets, a killer who carefully selects his victims for the humanity that is missing in himself. Detective Carson O’Connor is cool, cynical, and every bit as tough as she looks. Her partner Michael Maddison would back her up all the way to Hell itself–and that just may be where this case ends up. For the no-nonsense O’Connor is suddenly talking about an ages-old conspiracy, a near immortal race of beings, and killers that are more—and less—than human. Soon it will be clear that as crazy as she sounds, the truth is even more ominous. For their quarry isn’t merely a homicidal maniac—but his deranged maker.”
Useful Search Related Words & Keywords
Body Parts, Kevin Anderson, Looking Forward, New Orleans, New Race, Odd Thomas, Serial Killer, Still Alive, Victor Frankenstein, Victor Helios
Rating: 90/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.
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