Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein: A New Twist On An Old Legend
Book One: Prodigal Son
As far removed from Shelley as the time between their existences,
Dean Koontz did what he’s done with every story he’s ever crafted: he evolved
it. He took the skeleton of the
Frankenstein story and put a deeper emotion into it. He made it human. At it’s heart the story is a struggle for
identity. The primary focus is the “New
Race” that began with Deucalion and the struggle to fit into the world… until
they overcame it.
Victor Helios AKA Frankenstein sees himself as a god, a
creator of life. Roy Pribeaux calls
himself an Adonis, a study in perfection who destroys life in his quest to make
his all the more perfect.
I think a reason Koontz brings Roy Pribeaux in as the serial
killer is to emphasize the flaws in humanity to make Victor seem almost a hero
in his bid to create the “New Race” and to truly perfect the world. By that contrast Harker, who is of the “New
Race” and also a serial killer is the purest monster, and it can almost be said
that even Victor fears him to some degree because he is something Victor cannot
control.
Koontz employs a third person limited POV which serves him
well in two ways. One: it lets him
settle into his characters. Two: it
allows for literary hold ups story telling junctions and surprises.
Something that’s great about Koontz is his ability to change
his voice so effortlessly. In a third
person like Prodigal Son he can easily slip into and out of the personalities
of his characters, whichever character he’s focusing on. Koontz has been called the master storyteller,
and I think a good deal of that ability has to do with his POV uses, voice and
characterization
Another great addition to the Koontz library can’t wait to
read more!!!!!!
