Monster, 1959
David Maine

The humble B-grade monster movie has been transformed into a modern fable about America.
David Maine’s ambitious sci-fi novel tackles diverse themes such as the hubris of man, myth-making and identity, and the callousness of the entertainment industry. Yet, it never feels overstretched.
It is structured like a film, with the book divided into reels and the chapters given knowing titles such as Seen This Movie Before and Close-up. A genuine affection for 1950s flicks is mixed with a pointed commentary on the state of the world.
The mutant in question, K., is the unexpected and unlikely by-product of American tests on the effects of high- level radiation in the South Pacific.
“To the human eye, K. is an evolutionary absurdity. Nature couldn’t make up her mind what to do with him,” and so he has claws, residual butterfly wings, crimson feathers on his chest, and stands 40ft from crown to his seven- toed feet.
Maine’s audacity is to re-imagine the creature feature from the creature’s perspective and that has made all the difference in the world.
One of the most touching things about the book is how K.’s mind is dimly stirred into consciousness by the events around him.
Caught by humans and paraded as a travelling attraction, K. is portrayed as a fearsome monstrosity. In fact, he is a vegetarian and his innocence is contrasted with the tangled web of human affairs.
There is an irreverent tone to Monster, 1959, that meshes well with the monster-movie inspiration but anger and sarcasm are also never far from the surface.
This is an entertaining romp that leaves you with plenty to chew on.

If you like this, read: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (2003, US$8 or S$12, amazon.com). The classic tale of a monster created by a medical student is about man’s arrogance and a warning against playing god.
(ST)