Author: Brian Aldiss
Date of First Publication: April 1982
Place of Publication: Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine
Type: Short Story
Characters: Victor Frankenstein; the Creature
Themes: ANDROID; BYRONIC HERO; SYMPATHETIC MONSTER
Critical Summary: Wonderful bustling California, with beaches, movie stars, and Vic Barron–Mr. Big of the Bug World: one of the leading TV show stars in the world of Entomology. Within the public eye, Barron is seen as just a TV star that has an unhealthy obsession with bugs. However, unbeknownst to everyone else, Barron holds a secret identity. This identity is revealed by an old acquaintance that followed him back to his house after shooting an episode of The ‘Bug Vic Barron’ Show. Standing roughly eight feet tall, scars everywhere across his body, and skin paler than the ice in the middle of the Arctic ocean—Frankenstein’s Monster. He has come on a mission from the Arctic to confront his master, Dr. Victor Frankenstein, known to the public as Vic Barron. Both Victor and the Monster, now known as Daryll Angers, Horror movie star, have been living for well over 200 years. After Victor’s death was falsely reported, he took to the study of immortality, became immortal, and has now taken a keen interest in the study of bugs. However, a crazy thing such as obtaining immortality does not interest Daryll at all. In fact, he is only worried about one thing, getting a penis so that he can release his pent-up sexual cravings upon his partner, Mrs. Monster, or Elizabeth. Even though Victor agrees to do the operation, he still has the urge to destroy his creation. With these urges in tow, he heads to the living quarters of Mr. and Mrs. Angers. However, once he gets there, he literally becomes enthralled with the beautiful Elizabeth Angers, who oddly enough, has the same name as his late cousin/wife. They start to kiss, but are then caught by Daryll, who is outraged by his cheating wife. With their newly kindled love, Elizabeth and Victor destroy Daryll so that they can be together forever.
This is definitely an interesting piece to say the least. The humorous part is the fact that the Monster traverses the Arctic plains so that Dr. Frankenstein gives him a penis. The android theme is really only there because of the Monsters themselves, who are beings that were “constructed or stitched” together, and the Daryll’s desire to have his body “augmented.” Victor and the Creature are literally in the story, just under different names. What is interesting, is that how differently he acts from the original piece. He even accomplishes what couldn’t be done in the main story, killing the Monster. The only theme that seems kind of useful would be the sympathetic monster. Readers feel sympathy for Daryll because he does not having a reproductive organ. Elizabeth is even more sympathetic because she just wants to have kids which is impossible because of Daryll’s “situation.”
Administrative Notes: Trevor Buzzone, CSUF; Alexandra Hollinshead (editing)