Dean Koontz's Frankenstein: Book One, Prodigal Son

A fantastic book that picks up where the Frankenstein legend by Mary Shelly leaves off. Or at least 200 years later. The basic precept of the book is fairly simple. Victor Frankenstein (Helios) I still alive having found ways to extend his own life far past that of other men, and is still experimenting. Only now he is using cloning and direct-to-brain downloads of information instead of grave robbing and lightening. Fortunately however, his first creation, made from the parts of criminals and brought to life in a bolt of lightening is still alive as well. Calling himself Deucalion after the son of Prometheus he too returns to the modern world and the city where Victor resides, New Orleans.

Once again this book quickly went to the top of my favorite charts because one of the protagonists, Deucalion received an understanding of the quantum nature of the universe from the lightening bolt that brought him life. This knowledge of quantum mechanics on a far more basic level than science has ever discovered, allowed him to perform incredible feats such as causing a flipped coin to disappear in mid-air, to give himself knowledge of things he did not witness, and even more interesting to allow him to travel on a quantum level using super-position to shift himself along the quantum field. Thus enabling travel instantaneously from anywhere, to anywhere with only a thought.

The actual plot line of the story involves one of Victor’s lab-born creations who starts loosing bits of his programming which allows him to kill at random. This of course brings in homicide detectives Carson and Michael in the hunt for the killer. Interestingly another character is brought in shortly thereafter, Randal Six. He is another of Victor’s creations, one designed to be autistic to allow Victor to study the condition in the hopes of being able to replicate it for his own uses. This additional character is interesting because both he and the killer have the same motivation. They both want to find the secret of happiness. The killer is looking for an organ or gland in the human body that produces it, Randal Six has decided that the autistic brother of Detective Carson has it and he must get it from him. Overall a great set up for the trilogy that easily and energetically brings in all of the major characters that will be followed throughout the series. I particularly enjoyed Deucalion not just because of his knowledge of quantum physics but because of the descriptions of his endless rage that he only barely keeps in check and yet still manages to do so. I also enjoyed Carson and her “must go faster” driving, and Michael and his endless smart ass comments. A fantastic read building great anticipation for the next book in the series.