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...