Snow Crash: Cyberpunk Chaos Realm

Hiro Protagonist is a programer/hacker/greatest katana wielding avatar in the Metaverse/pizza delivery boy for the Cosa Nostra Franchise.

And he's definitely not Fry from Futurama. Hiro Protagonist is the protagonist hero of the cyberpunk novel Snow Crash.

When Hiro's routine delivery goes off the rails, he decides to change his career, and begins a partnership with a savvy skateboarding teenage delivery girl named Y.T/when Hiro's hacker friend Da5id falls victim to the Snow Crash drug, our Protagonist starts hackin' for clues/and inadvertently gets taken into game of high stakes cyber espionage – it's a hacker kind of day.

Neal Stephenson's narrative moves at the speed of light, and is as dynamic as its fictional world, fully realized with/Information banks/data mining and spy agencies/cybernetic upgrades/a virtual candy-land/corporate dominance/desertion from the natural commons/systematic buyouts/violent takeovers/and turf wars on a global scale: These are the features of the new world [diss]order found in Snow Crash. 

Strain vs Resistance

The novel is notorious for its visceral portrayal of a carved up/fractured 21st century America: where most of its territory is owned/occupied by private organizations, security firms, and autonomous freelancers with a knack for crime/hacking/extreme thrills. In this place the government maintains a fraction of its power – able to keep tabs on a small portion of society. Intertwined into the story is a full dose of Sumerian mythology/linguistics/anthropology/computer science/and good ol' religion.

There can be some roadblocks, such as the tidbits about Sumerian society, and its imprint on development of mankind. The meticulous detail slowed the pacing of the book, as Stephenson dug deep into the historical records to deliver a comprehensive account. Stilll the semi-intrusive history lesson works as a unique lore vehicle tying all the dangling bits together into one underlining story beat. Example: one of the fictional characters [a subroutine avatar called The Librarian], quotes Sumerian history, while comparing the ancient methods of saving and storing information as an early BIOS system. 

Digimortal

desktopwallpapers4.me/bcakhani

The novel's most memorable aspect is the Metaverse: A cyberspace conceptualized by interactivity of human beings, who are digitized and projected into virtual space in the form of avatars. [Think of the Sims, in Neo Tokyo] Within the Metaverse you can be/own/create/just about anything, but you gotta have the resources or know your way around the root programing. There are rules in place governing the stability of the system, but some individuals can influence the code directly: either by hacking, or by being the world's initial builders.

Not quite the Matrix; but more advanced than Habitat. To some, Metaverse is the Kubla Khan's pleasure dome. A digital dwelling occupied by freelance hackers, corporate data-miners, and the rich/famous – digitized to avatar form. To others, Mataverse is a cesspool of information, or a place to kick around for a bit. Worth noting, even in this made up reality, peoples' social standing tends to influence the detail of their avatar and rendering power of their cyber property.

And just like in some of today's video games, the level of meta-importance/skills tends to unlock more features. Example: Hiro's intimate knowledge of Metaverse root structure, endowed him with unmatched sword-wielding skills, which carry over into the real world. Practice makes perfect, and I doubt the mind's eye minds if its being flexed in virtual space or reality. Meta.

Byte Block

Ghost in the Shell by Masamune Shirow

Stephenson's Snow Crash is the illegitimate nineties upgrade of William Gibson's Neuromancer. Both books present a distorted technological dystopia; and, both have an underlining cyberspace theme that will stimulate any cyber-junkie or futurist. Although, Snow Crash has done a more amicable job of predicting the extent of augmented reality, and its affect on society. Neal coined many words and behaviors that made it into everyday use: googling, metaverse, data mining, crowdsourcing, continuous-connectivity – and my fave – wacky pseudonyms like Vitaly Chernobyl.

Timeless sci-fi works present solid futurist concepts, and offer insight of the future by studying history to captivate present-day readers. Snow Crash contains many futurist predictions that materialized in our reality (meaning the book aged well). Once Snow Crash enters your neurological pathways its viral strain will take hold, upgrading your imagination hundredfold: Start trippin'.

---

The good: Cerebral fiction to the core
The bad: Franchises took over [Demolition Man got it right!]
The ugly: The Raft [basically Kowloon City on water]

---

<<<^>>>

Castlevania Symphony of the Night: One Enchanted Evening

If you're a fan of Castlevania, you probably know that talking about all the viable games in the canon is like reaching into a coffin full of sticky gummy bats: picking the best one may be time consuming and a bit sticky. 

The entire series has about 20 (quite similar) games, but only a few gems worth snagging.

There's a lot of 'vanias to mull over, but the one thing I always felt to be true is that the series is at its best when exploring an interesting castle via a clever map layout.

!!!

fantasyanime.com

This was my queue to finally dig into my retro video games box, and find the very first Castlevania that used an on-screen map to help players navigate a maze-like castle: A PS1 classic named Castlevania Symphony of the Night.

I placed my aged PS1 on a predetermined angle to properly load the game (that laser was always a bit finicky), excitedly slid in my copy of SOTN, and gently closed the disc cover (took me a few tries due to a sticky flap button).

But enough talk, let's have at this.

games.culturesite.org

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is a 2D side-scroller first released in 1997, on the original PlayStation. The game differs a lot from its early classic installments, and is consider the best in the series, because of its open-ended design and infusion of RPG elements, that include exploration, leveling up, and a robust equipment system.

Strap your cloak on, and help Alucard (a dhampir), stop Dracula's eternal spite of mankind by banishing his demonic dad back to the realm of Daimakaimura. Ok, I'm overlooking several plot points and tidbits, but this is an adventure game after all, and as cool as the story is, it's all about "The Adventuring".

I haven't played this game in over 10 years, but its colourful graphics and smoothly animated sprites are just as impressive as they were in 1997. And as soon as the first musical crescendo signaled the beginning of the adventure, I was ready to delve into this retro goodness, once more (or for the sixth time, to be precise).

Groove that Stakes the Heart

The music contained within this game is legendary. When I heard it the first time, I paused the game to check if there was an entire orchestra shoved into my PS1. Moody. Melodic. Transcendent. The compositions are unique and unexpected, yet super refined. No filler here. Many of the tracks contain rocking guitar work, bouncing bass, enchanting violins, jazzy drums, gripping angelic choirs and subtle (and not so subtle) piano pieces.

This melange of instruments creates some of the wildest and most entrancing music ever produced for a video game. You'll find yourself wanting to pause in the various places of the castle just to hear the entire track play out. I wont jive more, just listen to my favourite track: The Tragic Prince. Do it!

Curiously, all the spoken dialog in the game sounds like it was recorded inside a cone-shell placed at the bottom of a large decrepit dresser. I'm not sure where the producer found the English voice talent, but the spoken dubbing is seriously comical. Luckily, there isn't a lot of voice-overs in the game. And none of the sound FX share the same issues (woo!).

Candlelight Fantasia

The game's graphics are on par with the music: SOTN creators meticulously crafted every inch of the castle with incredible attention to detail. Every room and area of Dracula's Castle feels and looks different. Although many of backgrounds are 2D and hand-drawn, many of the architectural textures have pronounced depth and are so articulate they almost look photo-realistic.

The backgrounds are filled with all manner of Gothic relics, statues, odd contraptions, ghastly trinkets and memorable architecture. I cannot think of another 2D game where I would stop playing just to examine a painting, a piece of furniture, or just take in the symmetrical nature of the stage props. Many outer rooms also extend beyond the actual field of play, to reveal rooftops held by angelic statues, inner-workings of machines, or hanging skeletal remains of previous adventurers. Neat.

Because this game came out at the pinnacle of the early 3D craze, the developers did render certain objects in 3D, but the end result was a bit lackluster and quite unnecessary since 95% of this game was hand-drawn. Although effects such as the scrolling sky found in the Royal Chapel stage, and the river of flowing lava in the Catacombs, add a flavorful dimension to the game, and complement the 2D art quite nicely.

game-cinema.ru

 Bloodstained Lineage

At first, Alucard won't have immediate access to many areas of the castle, but as you level him up and explore, more of the map will reveal itself to you. Still, many items are cleverly hidden requiring you to examine your surroundings closely. Wooden plank blocking the way? Lure an explosive barrel hurling skeleton. Background gears sound strange when hit? Try locking them with repeated attacks. There's an inconspicuous looking-glass atop of a tower? Well... look through it! And don't forget to break odd-looking walls!!

The castle may seem like a jumbled mess, but after an hour spend inside the devil's dwelling, you'll find yourself wanting to explore every inch of the game. And the rewards for doing so are well worth the effort. Items. Items. And items. Listing all the weapons, armour, and trinkets would take an entire span of this review, so I'll only mention a couple curiosities: A sword that summons undead warriors, a cape that turns Alucard semi-invisible, and shoes that discretely increase his height (?).

There are also some unique finds, which will allow Alucard to morph into a wolf, a bat, and take form of a mist cloud. Several Familiars will join the fight (providing that you'll find them): a faerie, that debuffs Alucard's negative stats and heals him; a little mischievous devil, with a flair for elemental attacks; a living sword which floats around, always poised to attack; a ghastly skull and a little cute bat.

destructoid.com

Of Dhampirs and Men

Alucard can equip a shield in one hand and a sword/mace/brass knuckle in the other. He can also put on stat-increasing/element resistant items in the form of capes, masks, armour, helmets, and numerous rings. Being a bad-ass half-vampire, he can also perform secret techniques that range from feeding on spilled blood for a quick HP regen, teleporting in a column of fire, to blatantly sucking life energy from his opponents. (Soul Steal for the win!)

Dracula's castle is truly an occult bazaar full of strange critters and monstrosities: demonic knights, possessed marionettes, poltergeist swords, merman, flea-men, ghastly goblins, elemental spirits, slimes, and many more – it's a compendium of evil mythological lore made real by crafty Japanese game-makers. Some of the bosses are truly stunning, and are so huge that the screen cannot contain their sprites. 

Special mention must go to Granfaloon aka The Legion (a gigantic sphere made entirely of ghastly nude bodies), and Galamoth (an armour-clad supernatural behemoth that attacks with electricity).

taringa.net

I could go on, but the delights of this game are best when tasted on your own. Go on, play this 2D Danse Macabre before it vanishes along with the fading moonlight.

Castlevania: SOTN gets five majestically howling Wargs out of five.

But wait! Just when you think it's all done, there's another Castle that literally 'inverts' the gameplay!!!

I'll let you figure out that one.

Also, Alucard is Dracula spelled backwards... you may leave now, no need to thank me.

shake it off!

Developer: Konami

Publisher: Konami

Platform: PlayStation, Sega Saturn, PS3, Xbox 360, PSP

Released:1997

Genre: Action-Platformer-RPG

Growing Up Gamer: From Bits to Infinity

I'm leisurely lounging on my couch, enjoying a laid-back Saturday afternoon. Sipping some juice. Playing Super Mario World. Letting my mind wonder in 2D lands. And an unexpected ring-tone tugs my awareness back to reality.

A quick glance at my surroundings confirms there's nobody home but me. I lift the nettlesome receiver.

“I got the game!”

 “... Which game?”

“You know which game, bring your controller now!”

“... You got Street Fighter II, no frigging way!”

 “Yes! And you need to come now!”

My shoes fly onto my feet, 20 seconds flat. I'm out the door, zipping pass the elevator, almost plummeting down the stairway. Two minutes from the time I put down the phone, I'm already at my friend's house plugging my controller into his Super Nintendo. Grinning excitedly because of the upcoming PvP match.

It Began on the Streets 

nintendo.wikia.com

The next two months are spent studying eight unique road warriors, and mastering their intricate thumb-scraping moves. The year is 1992. A decade that was my wondrous entry into the worlds of video games. My initial system of choice: Super Nintendo (with Super Mario World already packed in).

Time was abundant those days, my friends and I would rent games and play them until dawn. Always scouring our neighbourhoods for obscure video game and VHS rental shops – and there ware many. If you wanted to try newly released games, you'd have to hit up The Arcades: Places know as inclusive covenants of amicable characters with diverse gaming skills and knowledge. A lot of gamers I know -- and later became friends with -- I met at the arcades, and the various anime clubs that were slowly popping up around town.

The only way to get gaming news back then was by spending allowance money on the monthly Game Pro/EGM Magazine. And if you were interested in imported games, anime, and comic books, the 'zine of choice was the legendary GameFAN Magazine. Between browsing magazine shelves of our local Scrum Mart, and frantic joystick bashing at the local arcades, we still found time to watch every episode of Video Arcade Top 10, and Game Nation. Yeah, TV was the only way to siphon gaming related news. Radical.

Launched Into Space 

 

evilgeeks.com

Time rolled on, and so did technology. In mere four years 16-bit consoles jumped from 32 to 64-bit. Games became larger, more encompassing, and rich in content. Despite the hasty technological progress, gaming was still considered something only odd nerdy people did. Until the first ever commercial for a video game was shown in movie theatres: Final Fantasy VII.

This Square Enix title summoned a hype of Bahamut proportions. Now, everyone was talking about video games. No doubt, gaming was clearly becoming a mainstream hobby. The release of Hallo on the original Xbox only solidified that fact – and brought reluctant PC gamers to the console market. Microsoft and Sony—with its PS2—continued dominating the gaming industry. Developing and releasing a plethora of wicked and awesome games.

With the advent of the Internet, online capabilities finally descended onto home consoles. Playing video games was no longer an experience shared with a handful of dedicated friends; gaming has gone global. The Big Three: Xbox360, PS3, and Nintendo Wii, were the precursors of change. And each gaming system evolved from a gamer-only platform, to inclusive family-friendly entertainment hubs.

And Latched Onto Our Souls  

giantbomb.com

When playing recent Gen8 super machines, it is clear that gaming has ingrained into our habitual behaviour. Instant access to online sharing tools, integration of relevant social media platforms, reworked iterations of established titles, and we are primed to blast off into digital realms yet uncharted. A new level of collective gaming is now stimulating our synapses. We are witnessing a creation of a new limitless cyberspace horizon.

But after a dramatic all-night session of online play, I sometimes reminisce about the simpler time. A time when being a gamer meant you were confined to a basement room. A game-filled hideout where only a handful of your nerdy friends would want to visit. Very few people understood your hobby, and even fewer knew the difference between a Sega Genesis, and a Super Nintendo. And you were glad for it. Here is one last CHEER to the wonder and fun of Retro Gaming!

GAME ON!

Pandora's Tower: Emotion and Beauty Caught in a Storm

Wound of a World 

Patched by 13 Towers 

Floating Above a Void 

One Brave Knight 

One Distressed Soul 

Once Upon a Time...

Curse of the Flesh Must be Resolved

Pandora's Tower feels like an old-style epic that focuses on character development as much as it does on action. The two main protagonists are Aeron: a young man who is tasked with conquering beastly masters of thirteen mysterious towers; and his cursed childhood friend Elena: a girl who needs to consume the masters' flesh to rid of her curse.

This is may seem like a creepy premise for a game, but it works because of the evolving relationship between Aeron and Elena. What begins as friendship evolves into a relationship, finally flourishing into love. And this love motif is not some forgetful notion to be used as a mere narrative drive, it's actually ingrained into the gameplay.

Beauty Distressed 

1up.com

When not exploring the towers, Aeron is able to talk with Elena. By exchanging some kind words with the lovely maiden their relationship grows, which influences the type of ending you'll get at the end of your journey. Just like real life, having a good report with a girl is pivotal to character development.

How far the couple's bond extends dependents on several neat features: By conversing, selecting the right responses, and sharing information the two lovers sooth and confine each other. Any item in Aeron's possession can be given as a gift -- although, Elena is not interested in weaponry or weird items. She prefers lovely trinkets such as rings, broaches, or household items, which she'll often use to spruce up their hideout.

The towers provide many items that can be turned into useful equipment and fancy gifts. And Mavda, the eccentric merchant woman who carries her monstrous husband inside a large cauldron strapped to her back, is always ready to lend a hand -- at a reasonable price of course. What's neat about the game is that Elena wears her gifts around the hideout, and if you let her curse get too far, her abrupt transformation into a ghastly being will break the items.

Glory of the Chain 

gamepodunk.com

During frequent visits to the towers the focus is action, searching, and monster slaying. To combat the hostile critters of the towers, Aron can be equipped with various weapons, armour and helpful trinkets. The youth's main tool of combat is an enchanted Oraclos Chain, which can be used to bind, pull, and tear all foes. The chain is also spiritually linked to Elena, and shows how far along her curse is progressing, wait too long and beauty shifts to beast.

By aiming the Wiimote at specific objects an "O" icon appears, enabling you to interact with them by using the chain. The stages are made for fast movement, and offer plenty of opportunities for fulfilling platforming and swinging action. While aiming, the game slows down, allowing for swift targeting of specific parts. Enemies can be bound to objects, or to each other to link their life points, and be disarmed from armour or weapons.

During boss encounters, the chain's mechanics really shine. To avoid being swept into a hellish inferno, Aeron must cling onto a cavernous ceiling, and wait until a gigantic molten master surfaces to tear at its flesh. When facing the plant-like master, the chain is used to pull the boss to prevent it from healing in the sun light. I don't want to give away too much, but trust me, each encounter with a master is memorable and innovative.

Towers of Wonder; Sounds of Doom; You Will Return

rpgfan.com

Visually Pandora's Tower is one of the best looking Wii titles available. The textures are smooth, the colours are bright and bold, and each of the towers has challenges unique to its surroundings and constructs. Running around, you'll often loose yourself in the emotive atmosphere of this game. The two recurring issues I had with the overall design, was not being able to control the camera, and noticing reused sections/rooms throughout the towers.

The score for this game is of highest quality. Fully orchestrated, and clearly based on classical opera compositions of grand master composers like Franz Liszt and Caccini. The symphonic arrangements in this game will take you to euphoric highs. Just listen to this Boss Theme. It kind of sucks that the tracks get reused a bit throughout the adventure. And I really wish there was more classical music similar to this score in more games.

The game's world has a very rich back-story that you'll piece together by reading tomes about the towers, conversing with Mavda, and witnessing Elena's vivid visions. There are many subtle, political, and religious overtones that complement the game's focus on turmoil and destiny. And I enjoyed the parallels between a world that's about to be torn apart by war, and the healing bond of youthful love.

It's worth noting that after beating the game once, you'll gain access to more rooms and items, which will help you get the best ending, if you did not do so the first time around.

Just like Pandora's Box, Pandora's Tower was destined not to be played with. However, because of some dedicated North American fanfare Nintendo's decision not to localize the game for the American audience was overturned. Thanks to the fine people who spoke up, we can all witness Aeron's resolve to keep his lover from loosing her humanity to the hungry beast within.

Pandora's Tower gets 92 sturdy chain links out of a 100. 

Developer: Ganbarion
Publisher: Xseed Games
Platform: Wii
Genre: Action RPG
Released: 2013

picstopin.com

Thunder Force V, Glimpse of Shooter Heaven

To enjoy this review fully you'll need to put on a pair of nostalgia specs. If your monitor becomes a bit finicky and rough around the edges, don't fret, that's just the early 1998 resolution: a way-back realm of low polygons and rough CG compression.

Today we enter the house of PlayStation. Pop the flap open, place the black disk onto the reel—make sure to hold it by its sides—and press in the circular Power button. Let's begin our venture into another classic shooter: Thunder Force V.

Touted as the greatest shooter series amongst its numerous fans, Thunder Force V first came out on Sega Saturn in 1997, and got its well deserved PS1 port the following year. Thunder Force V deserves its spot in the limelight for three reasons: it has wickedly articulate mechanical designs—a la Gundam, lots of gnawing skirmishes, and a kick-ass hard-rocking soundtrack.

I was going to write how utterly and undeniably awesome Thunder Force V is, but as soon as I started playing it an unprecedented nostalgic feeling swept over me.

It's 1998, I'm 18 and chilling at my friend's house. He tells me to check out this new Japanese shooter he just got, and plumps the game disc into his PS1. He takes a few steps towards me to hand me a controller, but accidentally trips on the system's power cord, pulling the entire PS1 off of the TV shelf...

We spent the next 20 minutes trying to secure a near busted flap so the laser would read the disk. Two well placed Hobby Japan magazines later, and we're finally playing Thunder Force V. An hour into the game, we're staring at the screen mesmerized by the game's up-beat tempo, iconic design, while thumping our feet to some of the most irresistible rock/metal tunes to grace a video game.

I wasn't kidding when I told you to put on those nostalgia specs.

Playing shooters on the PS1 was almost ceremonial in my friend circles. Because everyone I knew had their system “chipped” to play imported and copied games; our combined game libraries were overflowing with obscure titles. We'd play games before and after school, sometimes popping into a friend's abode at lunch or during a spare class.

Sometimes the good ol' Playstation would get finicky and not load certain games, or unplugging a controller would delete the memory card, but that didn't matter to us. Replaying games would mean more time spent with our favourite hobby. Sometimes we would stop playing to scrounge for some leftover pasta in the kitchen—which we would usually overcook due to not paying attention. Most times though, it was all about gaming till dawn.

jeuxvideo.fr

Getting together for some gaming was a familiar scene for the entire PS1 life cycle. It was a time of socializing in smaller less intrusive groups. And a time when the gaming industry was at the pinnacle of innovation—not technologically by creatively. Although I do not resent today's focus on sharing of our digitized persona, I do believe that to appreciate something artistic to a greater length one must observe and share the experience of it with another person present. Passively playing video games with close friends seems to be a forgotten hobby these days. Luckily my PS1 is still spinning all its games.

I hope you enjoyed spending time dodging bullets in the Den of Shooters. If you're curious about this often overlooked genre of games check out my feature on the origin of shoot 'em ups: Inside The Bullet Hurricane.  

Developer: Technosoft

Publisher: Technosoft, Working Designs

Platform: Sega Saturn, PlayStation

Genre: Shooter

Released: 1997

Blastin' Away Lords of Thunder

Cold November currents come upon us and bring corroded winds. Something wicked begins to stir. Lords of Thunder must be near.

Time has come for rain, rigid cold, and tornadoes to instill fear. Kick-ass classic shooter action elevate this sphere.

Elemental Armour Awaken!

 

Released in 1993, Lords of Thunder is a shooter that has ascended to the pinnacle of classic 2D gaming. Are you ready for a furiously fast, ball-crushing, heavy metal ride, that will incinerate your mind?

In this side-scrolling shooter, you adorn a magical flying armour of your legendary ancestors. Have cool and rip through the skies to thwart your enemies plan to revive "The Dark One." No need for elaborate tales -- this is a 90s game tried and true.

Before blasting off, you can select from six stages and four different armours: wind, water, earth and fire. Each armour has different types of attacks and packs a massive screen-clearing projectile. Picking the right armour for a specific stage is key to smoothly progressing through this bullet grinder.

mojenintendo

The game has very distinctive and vibrant style influenced by medieval fantasy themes. While a bit static, the backgrounds are clear and smooth. And the varied enemies you'll encounter add another layer of visual flair to pull your eyes in. A whole kingly court of biological and technological life is here: fire dragons, wizards, knights, living vyvern gondolas, and huge armoured-clad demonic bosses all await your blade.

The game's pacing is fast, with hectic patterns of baddies stuffing the screen. Your armour has a weapon power/life bar, but those can be drained rather quickly in the harder stages. To balance the difficulty, you can collect gems from fallen foes to power up your main weapon, or buy additional lives and shields. The ability to shop for upgrades before each stage is a marvelous idea and a cool feature that injects strategy into this title.

nintendoworldreport.com

While most shooter games use various techno/industrial musical schemes, this game has a very dedicated and awesome soundtrack. All tracks in Lord of Thunder sound as if played by a professional band. Furiously fast rhythm guitars, pulsating bass, crushing drums and dizzying solos are all part of this game's repertoire of sound. No mere chip-tune music in this venture, just balls-to-the-wall heavy metal.

My only complaint is that the sound FX can drown out the music at times. Oh well, there's always music test in the option menu. If arcade style shooters are your thing, this is a game you'll definitely want to play often, and loud. For mere $8 bucks you can get this game on Wii Virtual Console, and establish your own thunderous hegemony. Go ahead, capture this lightning in a bottle. I dare you.

quebecgamers.com

destructoid.com

Developer: Hudson Soft, Red Entertainment

Publisher: Hudson Soft

Platform: TurboDuo, Sega CD, Virtual Console, PS Network

Released: 1993

Genre: Shooter

Frankenstein: Delightful Vortex of Ire

A poet by the name of Lord Byron was curious about who out of his friends could write a better horror story, to everyone's surprise the winner turned out to be 18-year-old Mary Shelley.

It's been almost two centuries since Mary Shelley first anonymously published Frankenstein; and a good thing she did, because without the blazing trail of this Modern Prometheus, latter sci-fi offerings would suffer monstrously--pun intended.

Much to the likeness of Dracula by Bram Stoker, the story of Victor Frankenstein is written in a series of letters by explorer Captain Robert Walton, to his sister, Margaret Walton. The book is split into three parts. The beginning of the book introduces Captain Walton's narrative: a man who comes across the stranded and near dead, Victor Frankenstein in the North Pole region.

indulgy.com

After the rescue, Victor begins to recover from his wounds and gradually narrates to Captain Walton about his accursed creation, and why he has pursued it to the desolate lands of North Pole.

'You seek knowledge and wisdom, as I once did; and I ardently hope that the gratification of your wishes may not be a serpent to sting you.'

Written with imaginative and affluent flair, the story of Frankenstein and his monster, is as much about the folly of unchecked passion, as it is about the very nature of what it is to be human. To become much more than his predecessors, the studious Victor dedicates himself to the exuberant task of exploring the mysteries of creation through the use of Chemistry. The triumph of his labours: animated by the lightning, an eight feet tall deformity the (nameless) monster.

The exact steps of the monster's creation are left ambiguous, leaving the reader to come to his/her own conclusion. It is what happens after the lifeless matter gets activated that matters. Repulsed by the toils of his labour, Victor condemns the demon he has created, leaving the monster to wonder the lands confused and alone.

'It is with considerable difficulty that I remember the original era of my being: all the events of that period appear confused and indistinct. A strange multiplicity of sensations seized me; and it was a long time before I learned how to distinguish between operation of my various senses.'

With this statement the monster begins to recall his origins and gradual ascension to awareness. This part of the book is unique because it gives the reader a fresh perspective on perceptions of becoming mature through understanding. But unlike a loved human child, the monster's efforts to join the human race are spurned by hateful spite and violence. And this in turn poisons the well that is the beast's yearning for friendship.

What comes after is not too surprising; in his sad exile, the monster concocts and idea: he demands of his creator a concubine in the likes of his original creation. Despite promising the monster a companion, Victor does not create another being. This action enrages the monster prompting him to extract great vengeance onto Victor, tearing away from him all he holds dear and sacred.

Mary Shelly had a keen eye for detail, reverence of nature, and great interest in supernatural forces. With these three characteristics she has crafted an enduring tale of scientific passion, wondrous natural wonders flooded with panoramic Gothic imagery, and a touch of occult art. Frankenstein has inspired a whole genre of horror and sci-fi fiction writers and artists. Like a being born from a passionate mind, this novel is one of a kind.

fightersgeneration.com

One of my favourite artistic visions of the famed monster--Darkstalkers rule!