Title: Last Call For The Sons of Shock

Author: David J. Schow

Date of first publication: 1991

Place of Publication: The Ultimate Frankenstein

Type: Short story

Characters: The Creature

Themes: SYMPATHETIC MONSTER; BYRONIC HERO

Critical Summary: Blank Frank runs a club in Los Angeles called Un/Dead. He maintains the bar and runs the audio equipment. In the bar is a poster of Blank Frank back in the good old days. His friends The Count and Larry join him in the bar before it opens. They reminisce on the good old days when they ran the networks. Larry is the “Real Wolfman” and The Count appears to be Dracula. After small talk and the excitement of a reunion after centuries have passed, Larry finds himself accidentally breaking the glass to Blank Franks movie poster. Knowing Blank Frank has a bad temper, Larry apologised right away and The Count even offered to buy the poster off of him. The two can tell Blank Frank is upset and decide to say goodbye, leaving him alone in Un/Dead. Contemplating his life and how he used to be a famous star, he grows more and more upset. Turning the stereo up all the way, Blank Frank pours bottles of lantern kerosene around the bar, lights a match and leaves the bar as he walks out the door.

This short story was influenced by Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein because her creature was directly in the story. Blank Frank himself was Frankenstein after his fame had faded. He spent his nights at the Un/Dead bar reminiscing with his friends The Count, Dracula, and Larry, The real wolfman. This short story also shared the same theme as Shelley’s original novel, the sympathetic monster. Readers felt bad for Blank Frank. His time in the spotlight had passed and he was upset at where he was with his life. In Shelley’s novel, readers sympathise with the creature in the same way. He was abandoned by his creature just like Blank Frank was abandoned by his audience and career in film.

Administrative Notes: Olivia Hawkins, CSUF; Dr. David Sandner (editing)