Title: Dr. Karnstein’s Creation
Author: Donald F. Glut
Date of First Publication: 1976
Place of Publication: The Rivals of Frankenstein: A Gallery of Monsters
Type: Short story
Characters: No Character
Themes: ANDROID; MAD SCIENTISTS/MONSTER; BYRONIC HERO
Critical Summary: Glut’s short story Dr. Karnstein’s Creation follows Dr. Heinrich Karnstein and his journey on trying to recreate Victor Frankenstein’s creature.
The story starts with Dr. Karnstein looking at his creation being brought to life, then the reader is taken to the past as the doctor reminisces of when he first arrived at Transylvania. In the flashback, we see the doctor arrive to Transylvania and meet a young man named Carl Schreck. They become acquainted and from then, Carl becomes the doctor helper. Carl helps the doctor purchase an old Victorian style castle at the top of a mountain, in which he intended to perform his experiments. Carl mentions it had been empty for a long time as the people in town were superstitious about vampires and Count Dracula. In their conversation, the doctor reveals to Carl that he doesn’t really know where he comes from as his parents died when he was young and he has lived in many places throughout his life. He asks Carl if he has ever heard of Victor Frankenstein, to which the young man answers no. The doctor tells Carl about Frankenstein and his creature and how he had been persecuted for the unnatural thing he created. He also reveals to him that he might have been related to Frankenstein, but their family name was changed to Karnstein in order to escape from the curse the named carried. Later, doctor confesses to Carl that he intends to recreate Victor’s experiment. The doctor convinces Carl to help him with the experiment and they embark on a short journey of stealing corpses and murdering people. At the climax of the story, Carl takes Carl’s brain for his creature. When the creature is finally created, Dr. Karnstein is surprised by its pale appearance and his long animal-like teeth. At this point, the townspeople are outside the castle carrying torches and stakes. The doctor believes they are there to kill him, but soon realizes they are there to kill his creature. The stolen bodies were those of vampires and by the time he realizes that he created a sort of super vampire, it’s too late. The blood lusting creature devours the doctor.
Glut’s short story is somewhat of a very loose continuation of Frankenstein, as it involves a mad scientist interested in experimenting with the creation of life. We have Dr. Karnstein, which may or may not be related to Victor, however, this might just be the thought of a mad man (we’ll never know for sure). The fact that he thinks he might be a descendant of Frankenstein is important to his character because we don’t really know anything else other than him wanting to recreate the original creature because of his relation to Victor. In a way, his thinking of being related to that family is his excuse for being a mad scientist and trying to recreate the creature. The doctor is also a Byronic hero and the reader can see that as they read through the story. He is superior to everyone around him, he’s mysterious, thinks he knows best, likes to be isolated, and does whatever he desires. In some ways, he resembles Victor. Ultimately, his creation is what brings him to his demise.
Administrative Notes: Tannia Alonso, CSUF; Cynthia Alvarado (editing)