Back from the Dead: The True Sequel to Frankenstein in Q&A with Stuart Land

Nov 11, 2011 Grammy 1 rated it it was amazing

I am a lover of all things that go bump in the night, and I must also admit a lover of Stuart Land, author. I have just finished Back from the Dead a true sequel to Frankenstein, Stuart’s newest release, although not his newest book. This was written a few years ago, and re-released this month. While he has written a good book with a great story, I can see his growth as a writer even more in his newer books that I have read and reviewed here for the Paranormal Romance Guild. Penelope and I have I am a lover of all things that go bump in the night, and I must also admit a lover of Stuart Land, author. I have just finished Back from the Dead a true sequel to Frankenstein, Stuart’s newest release, although not his newest book. This was written a few years ago, and re-released this month. While he has written a good book with a great story, I can see his growth as a writer even more in his newer books that I have read and reviewed here for the Paranormal Romance Guild. Penelope and I have reviewed both as Dual Reviews and individual reviews Original Blood, Shadow House and Epiphany. I am amazed at the topics this writer can jump to and hold me mesmerized with both his descriptions and words.

For this book Mary Shelley’s book Frankenstein again comes to life in this very interesting depiction of what would happen if...

Sergio Carrera is a cryobiologist, living in Florida with his wife Sophia, a psychologist. Serge is called to fly up to the Northern wilds to look into something that was found frozen in the Arctic tundra. Imagine his surprise and fear after boring a hole thru the ice and running some tests on the matter drawn out, to find that whatever it is, the tissue showed life. Mr. Land describes in detail the bringing back of this astounding find to Florida. The lab techs were on 24 hour rotation watching the progress of the defrost. They find as the ice melts slowly but surely away, they have found Frankenstein, and he lives.

Sergio and his wife are true soul mates. He enlists her expertise as a psychologist to be able to to engage in talk with the Monster, after all, he has been encased by ice for 200 years, and now they may find so many secrets: one of eternal life, of the truth to the Frankenstein myth and Sergio's desire to help mankind. The secrecy is not easily kept, and now the battle rages between helping a monster and learning the truth.

Sergio and Sophia are tested both in what they believe, their love for each other, and their attachment to Frankie. I laughed at this nickname they called this eight foot tall monster. The book held me entranced, but also with a heavy heart, as through all that I read I kept on feeling... the other shoe was going to fall. As we the reader were taken back 200 years through the dreams of the monster to discern what was truth and what was fiction in the rampages and killings of this monster made by a monster, Victor Frankenstein. Were all the stories true, or was Frankie just a bull in a china shoppe ?

Mr. Land takes us again on a story of what agendas people have, what makes people do what they do for lust, power, and greed. There is always a hope in his stories, not only for his characters but for all mankind to take a look at themselves and maybe do what is right. After all we have a 50/50 chance. Right?

Stuart Land has become for me a leader in his field as a writer, and since I have been introduced to his books, he is an author I truly admire and respect. I truly hope from my humble opinion you would take the time to look him up and pick one of his stories that tweaks your interest. I do not think you will be sorry.

Review by Gloria Lakritz

Senior Review and Review Chair of the Paranormal Romance Guild

...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Nov 12, 2011 Loves To Dive rated it really liked it

4.5 stars

Is it possible that Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a true story, do we dare believe it? When a man is discovered frozen in ice, Dr. Sergio Carerra a cryobiologist, is called in to test to see if there is any viable living organisms left. Soon, Dr. Carrerra discovers that not only are there living organisms left, but that the whole man is still alive and functioning. Back in his lab in Florida where the body has been transported, Sergio and his wife Sophie, a noted psychologist, soon dis 4.5 stars

Is it possible that Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a true story, do we dare believe it? When a man is discovered frozen in ice, Dr. Sergio Carerra a cryobiologist, is called in to test to see if there is any viable living organisms left. Soon, Dr. Carrerra discovers that not only are there living organisms left, but that the whole man is still alive and functioning. Back in his lab in Florida where the body has been transported, Sergio and his wife Sophie, a noted psychologist, soon discover that it is possible they have found the real thing, Frankenstein.

This is the story of their journey to discover the truth behind the myth, and along the way, they just might discover more truth than they bargained for.

Told in both current time and flashbacks to 200 years earlier, Back From the Dead is a story of love, human failings and triumphs, and the ability of one man to impact all he comes in contact with. What can one say about Mr. Land’s writing style that has not already been said? I’ve compared it to a masterpiece of art, I’ve compared it to the style of a lost breed of author, it’s complicated at times and simply easy at others.

The characters here are also both complicated and simple. Sergio and Sophie are truly soul mates in every sense, to use a cliché, they complete each other. They give us moments of intense feelings from laughter to tears, to anger, to lust. Sergio is driven in his search for Frankie’s beginnings and how he functions, sometimes so driven he loses sight of what’s really important. He is balanced out by Sophie’s true shining spirit; the woman is just a good person.

Then there is Franstein’s creature (Frankie to his friends) is he a man or a monster? Is he human or inhuman? I think he is all of the above, he laughs, he loves, he feels pain and he feels joy. The three of them make up an odd sort of family and like all families they have their issues. These people will make you rethink what you consider right and wrong, good and bad, truth and lies. There are a number of side characters in the book, all of whom are interesting in their own right and make the story come to life.

I have read three of Mr. Land’s books, they are all different from each other, but all contain what I’ve come to consider his trademark style. He will throw complicated themes at you, and take you to the brink of no return, then throw some silly something at you to break the tension. I did have a tiny problem with the style of this book; I felt at times Mr. Land wandered into the world of “literature”, not a bad thing, but I’m not sure what audience he was striving for. Let me give you an example. “The view gave them entry into a heavenly wilderness of ethereal luster, accented by glimpses into treacherous glacial gashes.” In the vernacular of my people (southerners) them sure are purty words. My point, maybe we can find a point somewhere between the two to land – no pun intended. I’m thinking for a complaint about a book, “it is written too well” isn't bad.

This book had it all and I ran the gambit of emotions while reading it. I actually laughed out loud at points, I really did cry big ole tears, I got angry at the attitude of people and in the end I was exhausted but satisfied, and more than a little sad. While I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I did the other two of Mr. Land’s works I have read, it just gave me a sense of melancholy while I was reading it, I say well done once again.

Member of the Paranormal Romance Guild Review Team

...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Oct 11, 2011 Loves To Dive rated it really liked it · review of another edition

4.5 stars

Is it possible that Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a true story, do we dare believe it? When a man is discovered frozen in ice, Dr. Sergio Carerra a cryobiologist, is called in to test to see if there is any viable living organisms left. Soon, Dr. Carrerra discovers that not only are there living organisms left, but that the whole man is still alive and functioning. Back in his lab in Florida where the body has been transported, Sergio and his wife Sophie, a noted psychologist, soon dis 4.5 stars

Is it possible that Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a true story, do we dare believe it? When a man is discovered frozen in ice, Dr. Sergio Carerra a cryobiologist, is called in to test to see if there is any viable living organisms left. Soon, Dr. Carrerra discovers that not only are there living organisms left, but that the whole man is still alive and functioning. Back in his lab in Florida where the body has been transported, Sergio and his wife Sophie, a noted psychologist, soon discover that it is possible they have found the real thing, Frankenstein.

This is the story of their journey to discover the truth behind the myth, and along the way, they just might discover more truth than they bargained for.

Told in both current time and flashbacks to 200 years earlier, Back From the Dead is a story of love, human failings and triumphs, and the ability of one man to impact all he comes in contact with. What can one say about Mr. Land’s writing style that has not already been said? I’ve compared it to a masterpiece of art, I’ve compared it to the style of a lost breed of author, it’s complicated at times and simply easy at others.

The characters here are also both complicated and simple. Sergio and Sophie are truly soul mates in every sense, to use a cliché, they complete each other. They give us moments of intense feelings from laughter to tears, to anger, to lust. Sergio is driven in his search for Frankie’s beginnings and how he functions, sometimes so driven he loses sight of what’s really important. He is balanced out by Sophie’s true shining spirit; the woman is just a good person.

Then there is Franstein’s creature (Frankie to his friends) is he a man or a monster? Is he human or inhuman? I think he is all of the above, he laughs, he loves, he feels pain and he feels joy. The three of them make up an odd sort of family and like all families they have their issues. These people will make you rethink what you consider right and wrong, good and bad, truth and lies. There are a number of side characters in the book, all of whom are interesting in their own right and make the story come to life.

I have read three of Mr. Land’s books, they are all different from each other, but all contain what I’ve come to consider his trademark style. He will throw complicated themes at you, and take you to the brink of no return, then throw some silly something at you to break the tension. I did have a tiny problem with the style of this book; I felt at times Mr. Land wandered into the world of “literature”, not a bad thing, but I’m not sure what audience he was striving for. Let me give you an example. “The view gave them entry into a heavenly wilderness of ethereal luster, accented by glimpses into treacherous glacial gashes.” In the vernacular of my people (southerners) them sure are purty words. My point, maybe we can find a point somewhere between the two to land – no pun intended. I’m thinking for a complaint about a book, “it is written too well” isn't bad.

This book had it all and I ran the gambit of emotions while reading it. I actually laughed out loud at points, I really did cry big ole tears, I got angry at the attitude of people and in the end I was exhausted but satisfied, and more than a little sad. While I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I did the other two of Mr. Land’s works I have read, it just gave me a sense of melancholy while I was reading it, I say well done once again.

Member of the Paranormal Romance Guild Review Team

...more

1 like · Like · see review

Nov 12, 2011 Stuart Land rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

Shelves: my-published-books

Like

From the Bookshelf of Q&A with Stuart Land…

Find A Copy At

Group Discussions About This Book

What Members Thought

Q&A with Stuart Land