Title: Frankenstein’s Prescription

Author: Tim Lees

Date of First Publication: 2010

Place of Publication: The Tartarus Press

Type: Novel

Characters: The Creature

Themes: BYRONIC HERO; MAD SCIENTIST/MONSTER; ANDROID; POSTHUMAN

Critical Summary: Frankenstein’s Prescription picks up a century after Mary Shelley left off with Frankenstein, to tell the story of Dr. Lavenza and Hans Schneider, two men brought together under forced circumstances. Readers are immediately thrust into a tale of the “Byronic hero” through the narrative of Hans Schneider. Hans is described as an arrogant, egocentric, and philandering medical student living a life of luxury, until his gambling ways and eccentric lifestyle take their toll. Hans’ way of life abruptly comes to an end when his family ceases to aid him financially and he kills another student in a duel. As punishment for killing the student, Hans is sent to an asylum and takes a position as medical assistant to Dr. Lavenza, a mysterious and drunken scientist. Dr. Lavenza turns out to be the great-grandson of Dr. Frankenstein and is on the quest for eternal life. Hans finds himself right in the middle of his experimentation and joins him on his journey to several different countries to find the ingredients needed for potential immortality. Unbeknownst to them, they are being watched and put off course by murders that were committed by the looming Creature from Dr. Frankenstein’s past, who has come back to collect his debt. The Creature wants Dr. Lavenza to find him a mate, and has killed successive generations of Frankensteins who have failed him; however, the the Doctor is more focused on his desire to transcend his own mortality. After several near death experiences, Hans finds himself saved from Dr. Lavenza’s experimentation and the creature; he redeems his character by becoming a doctor for the good of mankind, choosing to focus on helping those facing mortality rather than worrying about his own.

This novel serves as a spin-off of the original Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Because the novel tells the story of Dr. Lavenza, a descendent of Dr. Frankenstein, the recurring theme of mad scientists becomes prevalent. While the creature does not have a constant presence in the novel, the ultimatum he places on Dr. Lavenza and Hans reinforces man’s quest to transcend mortality.

Administrative Notes: Elisabetta Cirrito CSUF; GC Philipp, CSUF (editing)