Title: The Long Trip Home

Author: A. J. Fitzwater

Date of First Publication: 2015

Place of Publication: Daughters of Frankenstein

Type: short story

Characters: No Character

Themes: Android; POSTHUMAN; Sympathetic Monster; Mad Scientist/Monster; Queer Frankenstein; Women Writing Monsters

Critical Summary: Riverside city is home to a unique culture of people; the community is celebrating a week-long tradition where they celebrate death. Aohra, a driven, ambitious character, wishes to use this opportunity to transcend into another form of existence in hopes of freeing herself and her partner from limited existence by taking life to the skies, though a transformation of their bodies. Also, there’s cats, who are the only beings that the transformation has successfully been performed on.

Various connection to Frankenstein and the creature are evident in this sort story. One example is the search for a way to transfer life into autonomous bodies. Fitzwater goes as far as to allude to Victor himself as a mythical legend that was said to have achieved it. Another clear reference to Mary Shelly’s novel is the actual process of the transfer of life using earth’s energy. Water, wind, and mostly lighting was used to power the contraptions devised by Long Ba Luen the great tinkerer and Chifwe. The moment of transference was powerful although with very similar technical occurrences. The tone of the characters was different as Auroras Lover and close friends were there to experience her transformation. The uncertainty and possibility of death was relieved of weight as there were already cats in autonomous bodies that were transformed. There had not been an attempt on humans, although, there was that reference to some mad scientist who had attempted something similar. This was unspecific but clearly references the creature. As the mechanism proves successful the characters rejoice in the new possibilities and set out to a new life in the skies. This had a tremendously different tone to it than Victor and the creature. There was more hope and empathy combined with success in a positive light.

Administrative Notes: Juan Rivera, CSUF; Macy Charles (editing)