Summary
Frankenstein Unbound is a novel that intertwines the past with the future, exploring the consequences of scientific overreach. The story blends reality with fiction as a modern-day character navigates the world of Mary Shelley's creation. Through this journey, the novel questions the moral implications of technological advancement.
The Journey Begins
The narrative kicks off in the summer of 2020, through a series of letters penned by Joseph Bodenland, a former presidential adviser now exiled to his ranch in New Houston, Texas. Addressed to his wife in Indonesia, these letters reveal a world embroiled in war. Joseph, amidst comforting his grandchildren who hold on to mythical tales, contemplates the greatest myth of his era: the belief that relentless industrial expansion ensures widespread happiness. This reflection is set against a backdrop of nuclear-induced instability, as the very fabric of space is compromised. "The intellect has made our planet unsafe for intellect," Joe muses, recognizing humanity's self-inflicted chaos, much like the tragedy of Victor Frankenstein.
Time Slips and a New Reality
In New Houston, Joe experiences a bizarre thirty-five-hour timeslip that propels him back to the medieval era. Soon after, another such anomaly leads to his mysterious disappearance when the ranch reverts to its contemporary state. The narrative then shifts to Joe's taped journal, documenting his bewildering arrival in Switzerland, 1816, where discussions of the recently concluded Napoleonic Wars abound. Joe finds himself rejuvenated, blending seamlessly into the 19th-century setting thanks to his diplomatic background and linguistic skills. An intriguing encounter at an inn reveals a local murder, where a maid named Justine Moritz faces accusations of killing a boy named William. The gentleman who passionately asserts her innocence turns out to be Victor Frankenstein, plunging Joe into a living myth as they witness the haunting presence of the monster.
A Love for the Past
Joe, who had read Frankenstein as a child, finds his memory tainted by the "deplorable pastiches" of popular media. Despite recalling Mary Shelley as the author, he had dismissed Victor as fictional. Enamored by the unsullied beauty of 1816, Joe detests the scientific conquest of nature that led to "the loss of man's inner self." He holds Victor accountable for this and seeks to reverse the damage wrought by his experiments. However, his efforts to save Justine from execution are thwarted by Victor's self-absorption and a three-month timeslip that tragically seals her fate.
Encounter with Literary Giants
Undeterred, Joe ventures to the Villa Diodati, meeting Lord Byron before being introduced to Percy Bysshe Shelley and Mary. This interaction marks a complete detachment from his former reality. Engaged in a philosophical discourse on science and its future, Shelley envisions humanity's liberation through technology, while Mary argues that a fundamental change in human nature must precede such progress. Byron, meanwhile, cautions that machines might amplify humanity's darker traits, leading to new forms of oppression. Joe, drawing from his own era's experiences, warns of a future where culture is subjugated by technology, rendering virtue obsolete as complexity breeds impersonal, malfunction-prone systems.
Confronting Fiction
During a private conversation with Mary, Joe asserts the existence of her characters, merely miles away, though she insists they are her creations. Embracing the "equal reality of Mary Shelley and her creation," Joe intends to use the novel to eliminate the monster. Alas, he discovers Mary's manuscript remains unfinished. She recounts the story up to Frankenstein's promise to create a mate for the creature. Joe reassures her of her impending literary success and, for a fleeting moment, they become lovers. Motivated, Joe returns to Geneva to prevent Victor from crafting a female monster and to aid in...
(This entire section contains 858 words.)
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vanquishing the existing one. Yet, his plans are derailed when he's accused of murdering Victor by Elizabeth Lavenza and Clerval, resulting in imprisonment.
The Pursuit of Redemption
Joe's captivity ends abruptly with a flood, allowing him to escape, though not without hardship. Two fellow fugitives assault him and steal his fire. Struggling through a harsh, frigid night, he encounters the monster, who surprisingly rekindles his fire and provides sustenance. Revitalized, Joe returns to a warped Geneva, where a new ice age looms, and time-space ruptures alter landscapes. Reuniting with Victor, they argue over scientific ethics. Victor, relentless in his ambition, persists in creating a mate for the monster, even giving her Justine's face. Joe, resolute, decides to destroy both creator and creature. Discovering his car with its nuclear drive intact, Joe arms himself with a swivel gun, determined to confront the monstrosities.
The Climax and Conclusion
As Joe prepares for the final showdown, he is captivated by the creatures' grotesque dance. Hesitation overtakes him, and he fails to act as they engage and disappear. When Victor suggests crafting another creature to combat the first, Joe's resolve returns. He kills Victor and incinerates the laboratory. Assuming Victor's mantle, Joe embarks on a relentless pursuit across a desolate frozen landscape, seeking justice. At the edge of a looming citadel—the last bastion of humanity—Joe faces the monsters. With precision, he dispatches them both with tracer bullets, first the female, then the male. Anticipating potential retribution from the fortress, Joe stands "in darkness and distance," echoing the somber finale of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.