Title:  Henry Franks

Author: Peter Adam Salomon

Date of First Publication: 2012

Place of Publication: Flux

Type: Novel

Characters: No character.

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

Critical Summary: Henry Franks is a story about a young man who had lost his memory as a result of getting into a serious car accident. He goes on a quest to find out who he is.  A neighbor, Justine, becomes Henry’s escape from all the negativity in his life. Though they are in a romantic relationship, there is a theme of denial between them. Justine’s mother often warns them that she only wants them to be friends, but their romantic love for each other ignores all warnings. There is a serial killer at work in Henry’s town, and Henry worries that he is a monster.

There are multiple similarities between Henry Franks and Frankenstein. For one, Justine’s attributes are very similar to Frankenstein’s Justine Moritz. Both novels are filled with death, grief, and sadness. The theme of the Mad Scientist was chosen because we discover in the end that Henry Franks’ father has turned his son into a creature by replacing parts of his son’s body with the parts of other people.

Administrative Notes:  Christopher Ballard, CSUF; GC Philipp (edit)