Stewart Cowley (1) (1947–)

This brief, intense book purports to shed light on the story of Frankenstein, claiming it is factual by presenting a collection of papers said to be Viktor Frankenstein's own diary pages, alongside numerous "scientific" drawings, engravings depicting key characters and equipment Viktor used, and studies of the monster itself. At the beginning the text is presented as being discovered and analyzed by one Reverend Hubert, eventually his voice drops out and it's just Viktor's diary entries. The show more end is wrapped up with observations by Eustace, Viktor's brother, who arrives at the castle too late to give assistance and pieces together what happened from the wreckage he finds. The style of language is close enough to Shelly's own that this easily feels like a companion piece.

Anyone who's read the original will realize that Venables has turned the story upon its head. In this version, Viktor marries his cousin before he creates the monster, after which he retires alone to a deserted family castle, where he works to create the monster. The creature mostly remains barricaded in the dilapidated castle with Viktor until their final struggle. Viktor's internal dilemma over his creation is starkly portrayed: at first he is full of grandiose thoughts, certain his work is divinely inspired. Then he becomes tormented by nightmares and shifts his prespective entirely, believing that evil has infiltrated his mind for its own purposes. Even though it deviates from the original, I enjoyed reading this strange, macabre and haunting story.

more at the Dog Ear Diary show less

Surreal, dry humor. Cowley is the author of some interesting books based on science fiction paintings. Fan-fic, I guess you'd say. This is a how-to guide for, well, things you shouldn't do yourself. Raising combat hamsters. Building an ocean liner. Cryogenics. Funny, in an understated British way.

Another interesting book from Cowley. Sci-fi paintings with commentary, imagining the wars, bravery, and loss.

I first came across book and the similar "Spacecraft" (my review of which I'm stealing heavily from here) when I was in middle school. It is a mock-reference book that details the space craft of the future. Each two or three page section contains a beautifully drawn images accompanied by a short story about the incident that lead to the ships' destruction. Stewart Cowley is listed as the author here but the real story is in the incredible work of the artists. Their epic illustrations really show more triggered my imagination as a twelve-year-old and still do today. show less