Author: J.O. Quinliven
Date of First Publication: September 1938
Place of Publication: Dime Mystery Magazine
Type: Short Story
Characters: No Character
Themes: MAD SCIENTIST/MONSTER
Critical Summary: J.O. Quinliven’s “Frankenstein of Flesh and Blood” is a tale of horror and mystery as a local reporter, Tom Caldwell is searching for logical answers behind a frightful murder in the outskirts of town. While trying to find leads to sightings of a monster within the town premises, Tom soon connects the horrific deaths of wildlife to a recent autopsy of a young girl. As fearful citizens begin to flee the town, Tom dreads that his fiancée, Amelia Hatcher, will be the next victim. Hurrying to her ensure her safety, Tom goes to her workplace. Soon after his arrival, Tom’s fellow reporter, Bob Botey, and Amelia’s long-lost relative, Uncle Jefferson, also sought her out to assure her wellbeing. Though skeptical at first, Amelia joins Tom and Bob after she discoverers that she is being hunted. Panic-stricken, Bob, Amelia, and Tom promptly leave town and head for a train station. They pass their destination and seek refuge in an old abandoned mill until they encounter the suspected monster.
Tom encourages Bob to protect Amelia by escaping with her but before they can run, Uncle Jefferson is revealed to be Dr. Jefferson Hatcher. With the horrifying creature itself nearby, Dr. Jefferson quickly explains to Tom that his extended absence was due to conducting radical experiments. Though his intentions were for the benefit of humanity, in the hope of generating a formula that would cure cancer, instead they led to the creation of the hideous and terrorizing monster. But because of the value and worth of the formula, it was no coincidence that Bob, a former laboratory assistant, and caretaker to the monster, used Amelia as leverage to snatch the formula from Dr. Hatcher.
“Frankenstein of Flesh and Blood” connects to the theme of Frankenstein’s mad scientist, but only in the sense that the scientist had unintentionally created life. While Dr. Hatcher sought to improve life and believed in the betterment of humankind by creating a cure for cancer, his actions and experimentations negate his doctor status and make him more of a mad scientist.
Administrative Notes: Chelsea Harrinson, CSUF; Lee Koehler, CSUF (editing)