Frankenstein Dreams: A Connoisseur’s Collection of Victorian Science Fiction

The essence of science fiction has always been the exploration of the unknown. Whether it’s fiction from 2017 or 1818, that thirst for understanding is the underpinning of so many stories, of both classic and lesser-known tales alike.

Frankenstein Dreams brings together a treasure trove of Victorian-era sci-fi, combining excerpts of iconic stories like Frankenstein, The Island of Doctor Moreau, and The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde with shorter works exploring new science, catastrophe, monsters, and misunderstandings.

It’s fascinating to look at these old stories and see how relevant they remain today. Sure, we know now there are no man-bats lurking around or bestial animal-human hybrids, but the horrors of unexplained disappearances, man’s inhumanity to man, and the potential for earthshaking disaster…those bugbears are part of the fabric of modern life as well.

And they’re presented by a who’s who of notable authors, like Kipling, Bierce, Hardy, Verne, and Poe. This is imagination unfurled, and the stories contained within are peculiar and engaging. Whether these are Frankenstein Dreams or not, they are part of the rich fabric of sci-fi, and readers will enjoy.