I spent most of my time flying to Australia recently reading my pal Dean Koontz’ newest, Frankenstein novel, Lost Souls. It made the time fly as fast as the Boeing 777 I was on. Like almost everything Dean writes, it is an effortless read—the pages just melt away—and you are done before you know it.
The book is very fun, and reintroduces us to the characters that survived Book Three. And boy, do they have some troubles brewing! I don’t want to spoil plots, but the mad doctor’s evil clone is threatening humankind again—from a different direction than his DNA donor did in books 1-3, and the original and infamous monster—no longer gone wrong—dedicates himself to stopping his creator—if he can—again.
Lost Souls clearly is intended to tee up the ball for the next two installments, and it will be more enjoyable if you read the earlier trinity first since they will give you a feel for the enterprise and entertain you thoroughly along the way as Dean dabbles in matters of concern here at SHS, such as transhumanism, human immortality, and the need for redemption. Plus, there are a lot of laughs as the best laid plans of mice and men go badly awry.
As usual in Dean’s novels, good and evil are represented clearly in Lost Souls. Old characters are dragged into the drama and new ones introduced. The “Builders” are an awesome new threat, but people are not just passive prey. As we roll along, Dean explores the dark drive for human extinction, the antidote of love, and the exceptionalism of just being human.
If you want an easy read that gives a rollicking good time but leaves you frustrated as you turn the last page that you will have to wait for more, check out Lost Souls. I enjoyed it. I think you will, too.
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