A few years back, as Dean Koontz explains in an introduction to the first book of this series, Frankenstein: Prodigal Son, he made a deal with the USA Network to write a contemporary television series based on the characters of the old Frankenstein book. One assumes that the network execs either misunderstood his script, or understood it all too well, since both parties agreed to go their own ways in the end, each party producing a Frankenstein after their own heart.

The conceit in this series of books is that, although Mary Shelley’s famous novel is based on fact, she got the ending wrong. The monster did not kill Dr. Frankenstein, nor did he die himself. Instead, endowed with extremely long life through being struck by lightning during his creation, he has lived on, mostly in hiding because of a facial injury, gradually learning to control his rage. At the start of Prodigal Son he is residing in a Tibetan monastery. He does not yet know that Dr. Frankenstein has survived the last two centuries as well, his life extended through a series of self-designed surgeries. When he does learn this, the monster leaves the monastery and travels to New Orleans, where Dr. Frankenstein now lives the life of a biotech millionaire and VIP, under a new name.

Two centuries have worked much change. Now it’s the scientist who is the monster, and the monster who stands as the protector—not only of Dr. Frankenstein’s individual victims, but of mankind as a whole. (Well, we always knew the monster was the more human one, didn’t we?)

Because it’s Dr. Frankenstein’s intention to destroy mankind, replacing it with a “perfect,” biologically engineered population which will live up to his high standards. And, as a side-benefit, serve him unquestioningly.

Except… the members of his New Race have been showing an irritating tendency to get out of control.

Through no fault of his own, he is certain.

These are novels that Christian readers with a taste for Fantasy/Science Fiction ought to run out and get. Each book opens with an epigram from C. S. Lewis’ The Abolition of Man. And as I read, I couldn’t help being reminded of Lewis’ underappreciated novel, That Hideous Strength. Although the stories (and styles) are quite different, they portray the same horrific vision of a scientific effort to “abolish man;” to replace the natural order with something more “rational” and hygienic.

Most of the action actually centers on two characters right out of Koontz’ stock company—a man/woman cop team, both attractive, tough and devoted to the art of the wisecrack. They’re in love with each other, but it’s something they don’t discuss, because that would ruin their professional relationship. The female cop, Carson O’Connor, has an autistic brother whom she cares for, another element not unexpected in a Koontz book. The only thing missing (for some unaccountable reason) is an almost-human dog.

Maybe in the Book Three.

That third book in the series isn’t yet available in the U.S., apparently because Koontz thought it would be inappropriate to set too many monsters loose in New Orleans until the trauma of Hurricane Katrina had passed. I understand it’s due to come out this December. So if you read the first two books now, you’ll be ready for it.

I thought book two: City of Night was a little superior in gothic tone to the first book. Very likely that is due to the fact that old pro Ed Gorman replaced Kevin J. Anderson as Koontz’ co-writer on that one. But both books are extremely enjoyable.

Recommended.