Title: The Cross of Frankenstein

Author: Robert J. Myers

Date of First Publication: 1975

Place of Publication: Lippincott

Type: Novel

Characters: The Creature

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

Critical Summary: This novel begins after the events in Shelley’s Frankenstein. Victor Frankenstein’s son, Victor Saville, is raised by his Aunt after both of his parents lose their lives to the Creature. His Aunt leaves him unaware of his family’s past and has never informed him of the weight his real last name carries. As Victor grows into a rather successful worker, his aunt eventually tells him the truth, providing him with the letters Victor Frankenstein wrote as he began his experiments. Reading his father’s regretful and tragic words, Saville is absolutely shocked at the outcome of his father’s experiments. Soon after, a foreign man approaches him in London in hopes that he will be able to provide him with a concoction. Saville, now being aware of the Creature, becomes weary of this and decides to directly tamper with the fluid, poisoning the synthetic blood, which could result in the death of the Creature. This doesn’t work, and Saville is soon kidnapped and taken to America by the Creature. There Saville learns that the Creature now has his own reanimated humans. These creatures seem more like rejects than everyday individuals, working for the Creature and praising him. Saville learns that the Creature plans on building an army by raising the dead, continuing his creatir’s experiments. Saville does not want to make the same mistakes his father once did, so he decides to run away. The Creature and his troops chase after Saville in a suspenseful scene which concludes with the Creature falling off a waterfall. The story implies that the Creature will be heard from again.

Although the protagonist is Victor Saville, the story revolves around the Creature. He now speaks and communicates effortlessly. He is smart, cunning, and tactful in his search and kidnapping of Saville. His desire to create an army of the undead turns the Creature into a Mad Scientist himself.

Administrative Notes:  Eric Obezo, CSUF; Mark LaMonica (editing)