"This magnificently written tale will grip any reader from the beginning and not let go until the end"
'Confessions of the Creature' starts its tale where Mary
Shelley's famous novel 'Frankenstein' stopped. At the
beginning of this story we learn that the creature did not
kill himself on an ice-floe in the Arctic Circle but that
creature has indeed survived. He is then changed into a
more human looking form by an old witch in the forests
somewhere in Russia. Thanks to the witch the creature looks human enough to go
out in the world without being seen as a monster or being
recognised for what he really is. Along the way he changes
his name to Viktor and eventually gets to his destination
of Moscow. Viktor starts looking for work when he is
noticed. Not noticed because of his looks but because of
his brains. Obviously not a normal workman he is invited
to the Suvorin home which sees him falling in love with the
beautiful Sabrina. His life then takes a turn for the
better and sees him marrying and starting a career in the
Russian army. This book is set in the 1800's and the events correspond to
those known in the history books. Capturing the human side
of the creature, the author makes him into a family man and
a hero. Readers will see him fighting against Napoleon in
a war that he only fights in to be accepted. While his
heart yearns to be with his child and wife back in Russia. The war is wonderfully described and Viktor survives a
bloody and unforgettable piece of history. In his
retirement Viktor does actually meet the famous Byron and
Shelley hinting that this work of fiction could indeed be
true. With so many historical facts mixed in with an
obvious work of fiction it will leave you wondering if this
could really have happened. Even though Viktor starts off as a creature in this daring
novel he ends being more human than most of the supporting
characters in this brilliant tale. Full of feelings, Viktor
becomes less and less like a monster as the story unfolds.
Only brief bursts of anger and his fighting skills remind
the reader what this character used to be. However it is
clear as the story progresses that what Viktor wants from
life is to be with his love and have a family. He can not
be the monster people once thought he was. This magnificently written tale will grip any reader from
the beginning and not let go until the end. It is a
pleasing and astonishing account of what could have been.
Hopefully the author will show us his remarkable writing
talent again sometime soon.
Reviewed by Amber Chalmers
Posted April 20, 2008
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Frankenstein’s creature is determined to gain revenge against Frankenstein for condemning him to a lonely, fearful life. His revengeful pursuit of Frankenstein, and Frankenstein’s death, leave the creature stranded far from civilization, both physically and spiritually. Now that his driving force is gone, he must learn to live. A chance meeting with a remarkable Russian granny who sees through his hideous exterior to his badly damaged spirit gives him the opportunity to overcome what he is, and perhaps become who he was meant to be. In this novel, Gary Inbinder uses historical detail carefully and accurately to examine what it means to be human. Viktor is unusual for any time, not just because of the means of his birth, but because he doesn't have the assurance that he is a man because he is a man. His journey leaves him as confused as we all are, at times, about what it means to be who we are, but we, the reader, are able to see that he is, indeed, human in all the ways that matter--and truly a product of his times, as much as any man he meets.
Contains: War violence, minor sexual activity, child abuse
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