The Dead Town by Dean R. Koontz, Last Instalment of Frankenstein Series, Thriller and Science Fiction Novel

The Dead Town is the fifth instalment of Dean R. Koontz’s Frankenstein series. In Koontz’s modern fantasy/thriller/science fiction tale, the original story (Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein) is a legend based on the life of Victor Frankenstein, a cruel scientist who wants to replace humankind with a perfected race.



Frankenstein survived throughout centuries, recreating himself again and again with sinister methods. He uses pseudonyms to hide his identity, his newest one is Victor Helios. His first creature, which named himself Deucalion, sides with Frankenstein’s enemies to stop him. The sadistic and certainly psychotic scientist creates several other beings, living adroids, most of them end up as his servants on whom he can satisfy his sadistic needs.
The fifth volume, The Dead Town, is a direct sequel of the previous novels, so this time Koontz does not elaborate about introduction of already known events and characters. The Dead Town starts with spectacular action on the very first page. Frankenstein’s creatures besiege a small Montana town Rainbow Falls. Several clashes occur between humans and Victor Helios’s droids, and it turns out that the creations are not so perfect as Frankenstein hoped: many of them simply malfunction. Deucalion (whose character I do not really like – he has already been obnoxious in Mary Shelley’s book, perhaps this is the reason of my dislike) becames a crucial character in this volume. We also see an abrupt, shocking, and brilliant ending. Dean R. Koontz’s tone is atmospheric and gloomy as ever, the already known characters are credible, colourful, and well-loved (except for Deucalion in my case), and I am fond of Erika and Jocko.

Initially Koontz planned six or seven instalments of Frankenstein series, however, at last he decided to write only five volumes. The Dead Town, published in May 2011, is said to be the last part of the series.

Description of the book:
Frankenstein – The Dead Town: The war against humanity is raging. As the small town of Rainbow Falls, Montana, comes under siege, scattered survivors band together to weather the onslaught of the creatures set loose upon the world. As they ready for battle against overwhelming odds, they will learn the full scope of Victor Frankenstein’s nihilistic plan to remake the future — and the terrifying reach of his shadowy, powerful supporters. Now the good will make their last, best stand. In a climax that will shatter every expectation, their destinies and the fate of humanity hang in the balance.

The previous Frankenstein novel, The Lost Souls, was also a best-seller and one of Koontz's gems.

The Lost Souls by Dean R. Koontz, An Instalment of Frankenstein Series