Newspost#180109

On the rim of the backwards countdown to the next oncoming ice ages or the wireless consumer electronics hyperconnected revolutions? Likely a matter of what a person thinks are the most important prerequisitives for the successful turning point towards a more sustainable society and production. Also, not controversial to previous appears the need to develop new solutions somewhat more resource friendly and durable than has earlier (for decades) been the habit. However, us, always viewing things from 'positive angle' are again recommending everybody taking a view of (in ones own consumerism) the Greenpeace Greener Electronics guides and reports...just in case our occasional refering (s) from the current theories (partly) based on Marx's historical materialism and views on the late stages of middle-class consumerism appear too insignificant and meaningless.

The Ocean(ic) acidification ...As is widely known these days, CO2 emissions are acknowledged to increase climate change; what is less general knowledge appears that much of those gases (CO2) then eventually dissolves to the seas (half the amount released in atmosphere, as estimated), ultimately further decreasing seawater Ph. As the emissions are still on the rise, this causes the major disadvantage Ocean acidification. As result seawater Ph has dropped 0.1 in some 200 years, and it is expected to drop further 0.3 -0.5 until about 2100.

The greenhouse effect resulting from human burning of fossil fuels, has been known ever since 1896 when Svante Arrhenius first presented the theory. However, almost until 1960s it was believed that the oceans can absorb the human caused emissions, like they've so far done for the 'natural amounts of CO2 (and other atmospheric gases). But, differing from most other gases CO2 forms carbonic acid in seawater and since that its also been known with certainty that this process slowly acidifies the seas. How slowly? Too fast. Acidification has followed the increase of emissions in the atmosphere since early 19^th century, that is: ever since the burning of fossil fuels was begun within the era of industrialism. In the case of acidification, there seems to be no way to prevent this from happening, but – like they much advertise – tackling the climate change. To make things worse, the acidification remains permanent. In Arrhenius days (he was a firm believer of global warming, and expected it to actually benefit human kind; fx he supposed it would help increase food production and therefore feeding of the growing world populations) it was calculated that it would take 3000 years for CO2 to double in atmosphere with emissions at the times, today with far greater amounts the predicted time appears as 100 years.

The known facts from the most things in ocean acidification isn't quite unquestionable, since the examined data has been collected just from 1950s onwards, yet some (harmful) consequences have been found already happening. Also, which worries most is the rate of change that threatens many marine lifeforms. According to recent studies most vulnerable to reduction in Ph-levels are corals. Some estimates tell that around latter part of the century corals in warmer (surface) waters are expected to be perished completely, 60 per cent gone also in colder waters. Apparently no more sightseeing of the colourful underwater worlds by boat or such sports diving tourism (and no way surprising then appears this (recent) observation from Barrier Reef Corals growth slowing weaker than in 400 years, decline of some 13.3 per cent in just couple decades). Also vulnerable to acidification are organisms that wear their skeletons outside, like mussels, shellfish, etc. ...Noticing all this, then such negative predictions make one wonder whether the development of internal-combustion engine for mass production(about simultaneous with Arrhenius theories) would have taken different directions, had the prospective consequences been understood at the time. But, as we now know over a century later, it wasn't believed to be so...(and obviously, that would not have changed too much, as the main part of the emissions still today consists of coal energy-production, and less from the vehicles all in all) For more from Ocean acidification, check fx this (and the related links) in Ars Technica.

...As for other topics, Google makes different calculations than a researcher who counts two single searches by companys engines to consume as much (energy) as heating a tea-kettle; Microsoft, on it's behalf develops blocks to connect home-PC intelligently to house-hold electronics, but sceptical commentator easily wonders if any of that stuff is even needed ...Slightly more surprising comes the news that the Bit-torrent specification as an integrated part in (most) browsers 'tools' still awaits to be seen (though we've ourselves in our futuristics predicted the protocol to overtake, not just browserware but also phones markets shortly after in coming times), even more surprising it is yet slowly to enter for the living room (entertainment) electronic devices; but not always the most obvious prospective usages are the ones taken in wider uses...

Then, from completely different progressive fields and techniques, there's 2^nd generation biofuels, which are told to be more eco-friendly than ever, cause these “will not affect food production because they will not use non-food crops. Technologies will convert the whole plant or tree to fuel, not just fruit or seed...”. (At least that's the vision, is noticed...) Of course, the question which most urgently needs to be answered still remains; from where the source material is taken and if the adequate standards for plants usage and forests cuttings are maintained. Anyway, commercially viable techniques (for the biofuels 2^nd gen.) are promised to be around in some 10-20 years, so their becoming to more common use would easily take some 10 years more...too late?...Not to mention, the similar question(s) is raised on the basis of recent auto-car shows presenting the latest EVs and hybrids; is all this again just “the 'latest' technology that conveniently never seems to transition from the labs to the lots?“ ...apparently these are in hurry too, because the economic downturn is trumpeted just about as much everywhere.

...Eventually, tired of these frustrating and endlessly discussed topics, we move to observe another kind of horse-powers, or, (relatively) recent conservation stories; the re-introduction of Przewalski's Wild Horse (Equus Przewalski) in its natural habitat. (It was) the only truly wild horse living continuously in its natural habitat, grassy plains of Central Asia even relatively recent times. Elsewhere horses had become extinct (in American continent already at early Holocene period), or been domesticated for the needs of raising civilizations, supposedly about 2000 to 4000 years ago. Tarpan(Equus Ferus Ferus), the Eurasian wild horse survived as species until 1876, when the last died in captivity. According to DNA-researches neither Tarpan or Przewalski's horse aren't counted as direct ancestors of the domesticated horses, though there's very little genetic distinction in between them. From the reasons of the mentioned having remained in the wild has been speculated (fx) that these (may have) been found somewhat less suitable to human usages and therefore avoided the cross breeding with the domesticated horses.

Named after Russian general in 1879, Przewalski's Wild Horse wasn't in threat of disappearing even until the early 20^th century. The animal was legally protected as early as 1926, but growing human populations excluded them from traditional grazing areas and fx vital places to drink, which may have helped their disappearance. Also, interbreeding with domestic horses wondering freely in same areas had caused steady dilution of genetic integrity and the last true Przewalski's horse in the wild was reported around 1969. At the lowest point in zoos there were some 13 left, but their numbers were then raised with successful co-operative breeding programs between different zoos of Soviet Union, Europe and North America(the populations further introduced in the wild in Mongolia and China are all descendants of these. Such small numbers of original horses are also considered a possible threat in form of loss in genetic diversity). From the unmixed horses having survived in the zoo's, the experiment to re-introduce them in the wild was started in 1989. Since their amounts is yet very low, prospective future in the wild was still recently very uncertain. In the categories of endangered animal species (by IUCN) Przewalski's horses were counted EW(extinct in wild) until the re-introduction in the wild, and they remain vulnerable to various other threats even if this eventually proves as successful...

Since this is our last newspost so far (and we have yet no intentions to make any follow-ups in this series), substitutional topics are considered; we could perhaps make some kind of serie from those lovely creatures; the endangered and extinct species. However, this will have to wait for some time. Also if so, we are likely to write during the coming months some short stories from recent technological front-ends and perhaps from other topics as well, but more randomly than before...

Even More veggie receipts...

First, above the pic with butterfly's.
(for starters, serving makes half the enjoyment in meal...).

They're such nice even as plaster models; also these decorative objects contain a handy magnet in backside and therefore can be placed on many suitable places. Don't worry, we'll continue the pics series with real butterflies a bit later on too...

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tHE MSW Cooking companion 2 - Receipts


fOR the reason we have plenty more good receipts of (mainly) veggie foods, and because we're not quite yet posting from other topics, here's few more tasty receipts.


CARROT SPECIAL (STEAKs)

• 2 (medium) Carrots
• 2 potato
  
• 2-3 small squares of frozen spinach (about half a dl)
• tomato sauce
• salt, pepper
• mineral water (about 1/4 dl)
• maize grains
• (vegetable) oil for frying

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Chop the boiled potato(s) to mass, also slice carrots for thin pieces.
Next cook the spinach and pour water away.
Place all the contents in a bowl (fx),
add sauce, grains, spices. Finally add little mineral water.
Then, make little steaks, with oil to frying pan.
If wish, serve with some additionals.

AUBERGINE FLAMBOYANT

• 1-2 Aubergines sliced to 1 cm pieces
  
• salt, pepper, (turmeric)
  
• olive oil
• garlic (crush)
• feta (cheese)
  
• lemon
  

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First add olive oil on pan, then place halved aubergines in it. Next pour some salt over each slice, also garlic crush and lastly small layer of feta. Fry 5-10 min. In the end squeeze some lemon over them. One can also add more spice with pepper and turmeric.

fINALLY but not least recommendable, here's this one;
(I've cooked it recently, though with just broccoli. Fits well with our other veggie favorites too (and you can always make these with other good dishes; fx Greek salad and Aubergine flamboyants mix probably well...)

(Indian) BROCCOLI PAN
(oven gratinated)

• (100 g) Cauliflower
• (300 g) Broccoli
• 1/2 - 3/4 dl cream (cocoa milk originally but this goes just as fine...)
• mild curry paste
• some chili (if like)
• thick (pale) sauce (cook from wheat grains and oil/butter)
• grated cheese (50 g)

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Heat oven in 225 C. Peel the (washed) broccoli and couliflower to suitable pieces. Cook in pot (with salt) for some 5 min. Pour the water away, put aside. Then add in the pan milk/cream, curry paste (and chili). Stir and boil shortly. Add the sauce and stir, let thicken a bit Add half of the cheese. Place vegetable pieces in oven pan and pour sauce over, also add rest of the cheese.Just gratinate for 15 minutes.

Newspost#060109

Apparently having missed a lot (from findings and theories of the recent years research on human prehistorics) we for now focus shortly on these, with these speculations from evolutionary past...for the other topics, if we'll include yet another newspost, it seems we'll have to leave them for that...

(This post has been shortened and little corrected from some misinterpretations in the earlier version...) Our earlier writings from the (quite) recent speculations and theories on human origins left us wondering whether they really are in belief of the current man, homo sapiens (sapiens) having been first to inhabit Australian and (North-)American continents. Since that we've noticed current archaeological knowledge from that quite uniform; Fx no fossil of earlier human ancestors has been found on these areas. Also, the Out-of-Africa-model seems to be nowadays pretty widely accepted and what most scientist these days think as proven knowledge. Continuing our own speculations from such distant times, the summit dates of the human arrival in mentioned continents have pretty much been reasoned to an understanding that it would have happened around 50000 y. ago in the case of Australia and something like (still nowadays less certaint, even less agreement on exact dates...) 20-30000 y. ago when reaching the American continent. Since timings in archaeology often move further past for thousands of years when new fossil founds are made, we just estimate these are probably close to 'real' timings, and that perhaps most correct would estimate about + 5000-10000 years added(for both). Since we ourselves haven't got any very accurate understanding from prehistoric climatic conditions, our estimates are of course as much guessing. (Would perhaps add:) Similar to most archaeological theory, when presenting strict estimations in time-scales reaching further to the (pre) history, like past tens thousands of years. Of course, that's why theories presenting general lines most always give just estimated timings. Also by glance, appears in our sight This BBC-article which mentions the recent corrected timings (in 2003) for of the remains of Mungo Man, though I think it to not prove anything since it's basicly just an example of foundings in certain area. Not solely unquestioned, because the timings have already been couple times 'corrected' with new methods (earlier estimates were as various about 30000 and 62000 y.), but also because there seems to be not any simple way to prove with co-arguments the conclusions made on the basis of DNA-research, etc.

The early population numbers in certain continents cannot be easily estimated either; these may have varied, gone up and down during periods of climatic changes and other circumstances, perhaps even some areas being inhabited several times continuously just because the preceding wave hasn't been successive for some reasons. Actually that's the supposition which is sometimes presented concerning the 'Out-of-Africa-hypothesis', they've timed the first population flow around 100 000 years ago on the basis of the earliest living sites and fossils found in the Africa/Near East. Subsequently this is thought to have resulted in populating the other continents as well.

Also, many current theories (partly, at least) seem to present early human populations as having gone through periods when populations had temporarily reduced rapidly (during which periods of time or even if as resulting from climatic circumstances isn't probably known with any certainty). One, often mentioned guessing seem to be the theory of Toba earthquake in Sumatra around 71000 y. ago (largest known volcanic eruption in Earths past history, during the last 400 million years), in the middle of ice age at the time. Subsequent fast change of climate to cooler temperatures might then have caused the decline in existing populations. The more recent theory, seems to place more concern on suppositions that in earlier times human populations were down due to other reasons (like continued droughts in Africa) resulting for two divided populations where groups were living in distinct areas of Africa for longer periods. Probably the suppositions on probable timing which follows(of the departure from continent) are not to be considered as definitive either but also, one might suppose that it's also matter of how moving and capable for crossing waters one thinks these early population groups having been.

But, all these views on rather recent theories are developed quite much with methods of Molecular Anthropology as well as findings on some earliest known excavation places in Africa/Near East. One can at least notice that the archaeologist seem quite convinced of human (Sapiens sapiens) populations having been through some times of reduction in between 150 000 – 50 000 ago (sometime during that period of time, whether this can by numbers be proven even in estimated amounts, I'm a bit suspective on that too...). But, also, since we don't seem to have here adequate methods to speculate any further on this basis, and because this field now starts to seem far too complicated to our resources here, we are likely to end our speculations here.

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MuleSkinner Book Recommendation #11

Shaky Ground – the Sixties and It's Aftershocks

(By Alice Echols, 2002)

In our perhaps somewhat fragmented series of book recommendations, we for change, now take under lens rather a collection of texts than complete full-length volume. The book in question, Alice Echols Shaky Ground – The Sixties and its Aftershocks (2002), is basically extraordinary example (from such); it doesn't succeed any better in the difficult task of joining together a variety of loosely related texts, but makes far more complete and interesting collection than most. Our main reason for recommendation this time (not to mention the funny coincidence that this book too, in addition to our previous non-fiction selection uses 'shock'-term in its naming...) – is that these articles present valuable supplementary reading for Echols better known Janis Joplin biography Scars of Sweet Paradise (1999). The latter also a rarer example in (popular) 'academic rock writing', less conventional in contents and also less boring than most popular music biographies.¹

As a sexuality and gender research, the book also is a pretty interesting read for anyone with some preceeding knowledge from the 60ies movements in general. Echols conclusions are perhaps not always shaking the basis of common interpretations from the decade, but anyway it presents a lot questioning of the most typical clichees from 'naive hippies, sexual liberation and the reasons for failure of both'. And, anyone familiar with Abbie Hoffman's textual declarations on behalf of cultural and sexual revolutions, cannot help but to wonder whether the first or latter was of greater importance and merely in close range interest of the (mostly) male-dominated leadership in 60ies radicalism. Echols don't waste time on answering that question, the feminist writing probably already sufficiently having presented that the boys surely weren't too much interested on women's rights or liberations. Instead, she tries to dig deeper on the other common claims and finds out (fx) that perhaps the popular music didn't after all serve as the principal tool in commercial sedation of early hippie radicalism, but that the one-sided sexual revolution may afterall served even better.

Having sometimes occasionally wondered a similar questions - like why it is so that decade (1960) most influensive in the formation(s) of the later youth and consumer culture is also most absent in cultural historics, fx concerning the popular music memoirs or the histories of counter-culture in general - I find these viewpoints refreshing but also challenging. Having virtually not at all any beforehand knowledge from radical feminisms pasts, it is here most delicate histories when read in parallel with the story of early creations of the most "institutionalised" and "male" forms of modern cultural comsumption, that being the rock music (actually the early progressive rock and the later formation of the genre, by critics, etc). Although, articles are from various topics and Echols actually writes more from Women's liberation movements early beginning in the 60ies, than fx from the early 'hippie-cradle' at Haight (but there's one article devoted for that, too).

When discussing the beginning of the early feminism in the 60ies, Echols notices the white feminists having considered themselves as opponents of racism but when similarly neglegted the race-questions, and at the same time not understood why the black women avoided movement – though, basically the same trick had been used against them itself. Also, in her discussions from the later formation of the feminist movement during 1970s and 80s, she finds (simplifying these conclusions here by me, perhaps...) that the continuation of (those) attitudes may have helped to shift the movement away from its early goals and principles of equality, that originated in the 60ies radicalism. She also holds the women's liberation movement among the most understated of radicalist groups of the 60ies, view that I don't as much share, since I think this book also shows that it, at least later on, has secured a place in general conciousness fx on the basis of the amount of research devoted to it. Also, as many of the articles originally written during the 1990s, they also sometimes touch popular themes in those times. She fx notices – perhaps obvious at the time too, but more than interesting when reminded in this connection – that in Oliver Stone's renown Hollywood films 'civil courage, principal resistance and rock'n'roll-genious are presented as male dominated qualities' (in JFK, Born 4^th of July and The Doors, and in that order, she states.) Echols seems also to have no difficulties in finding connections to the sixties 'legacy' from recent pop/rock 'genderbreeding' as well. Actually she states in the forewords as wishing to take under examination, not just 60ies but the overwhelming struggles in the periods since second world war until the recent times; that is (ao)how the questions concerning race, sexuality, gender and the generations divide have in time changed society as a whole - from that the name, Aftershocks, I suppose. Quite unavoidably many of the articles discuss also other areas of importance related to those.

All in all Shaky Ground is less coherent combination than the Joplin biography, like one could expect remembering that the articles originate from time period of three decades. Since we are (again) quite late-comers in our reviews, and the books been published several years ago, we for now leave more detailed interpretations aside and just mention contents being divided in three main chapters. The articles (we just suppose) could also be outlined under these 'categories' as well: Sixties counter-movements in America and their (gender) inheritance, The formation and later outcomes of the radicalism movements (especially the early women's liberation movement), and development of rock and disco in in related to these. That being our own divide, the most interesting (to us) are; Writings mostly devoted to popular music such as 'Hope and Hype in Sixties Haight-Ashbury'; 'Thousands of men and few hundred women:' Janis Joplin, Sexual Ambiguity and Bohemia; 'Shaky ground': Popular Music in the Disco Years. Concerning the radical feminisms early histories most useful for culturally curious(like us) are the renown polemic early 1980s article 'The Taming of the Id': Feminist Sexual Politics. 1968-1983 as well as the 'Totally Ready to Go': Shulamith Firestone and The Dialectic of Sex, but also 'Nothing Distant about It': Women's Liberation and the Sixties Radicalism (the sixties womens movement/Early feminism in related to other radical movements of the time). Also, not to forget, merely a general presentation from literature on homo- and lesbian history, but somehow appears to discuss similar topics, 'Queer like Us?'. Other articles are also worth reading, though some are merely lenghty book listings from certain themes (last three being interviews of some pop musicians/stars).

Conclusively, and reminding ourselves from our limited knowledge from most recent research on these fields, we just recommend the book fx for those who found Janis Joplin biography interesting. Basically widens understanding from some of the 60ies struggles and fights. And, we might add; Echols writings also assert that the renown struggles and the 'failures' of the 60ies 'cultural-' and the 'sex- revolutions' hasn't prevented their diverse and meaningful continuations today (though its not often generally acknowledged them having anything in common). Perhaps the decade appears a bit more distant nowadays, but still remains to be the most apparent transition period of the recent past. Not so much has culturally changed since, say...1967.

Our recommendations having slipped now mostly to the North-american non-fiction books, we (supposedly) are to include next some classics of american (realistic) prose. Later on (in the name of our equality principle...) might as well for change review some writers/books, non-english language in origin...

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Notes:

1. Probably rock writing isn't nowadays as rare and limited phenomenom in academic researches. Only, I suppose, that many such researches aren't much widely published, rarer even to be found by average public. From other more interesting parallel histories for the 'most typical' (like all these stardom memoirs, and the occasional business histories, etc), we ourselves are only familiar with, and can therefore recommend just Simon Friths classic Sound Effects and Clinton Heylin's Bootleg – the Secret History of the other Recording Industry (1996).

Interlude 3; The New Year

"The music sailed out into the night then upward towards the skies,
travelling on that thin border between reality and imagination."
- Thin Lizzy: Jailbreak (-76) album sleeve notes.


A Brand New Year ; Or the same old one ?
In MSW you're never too sure from that...



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”...They might have chosen that particular planet to use as the junkyard camp and garrisoned imprisonement area for all that they've had not been able to dump elsewhere, mainly because its distant location. But when the resistance movement started to arise and The Mule denied historical continuity of events in that artificially created chaos, whole thing started to seem merely a mistake than successful effort of Divide and Conquest tactics...”

(Galactic Cyclopedia, Vol. A-D)

the MSW Cooking Companion

Some (Christmas) Dinner Receipts ;
(Veggie) Pot on, Gas on low

As for an inspiring alternate receipts and also for some brief pause in-between our otherways pretty 'heavy' matter-of-fact writings, we now present some cooking advices. These receipts are mainly veggie foods; easy to prepare as soups and salads. Not solely for vegetarians and they can serve as main dishes (for lunch especially) but since its December we suggest these also as some additionals servings in the main (X-mas) menu.

Also, knowing that fx Livestock, Environment and Development Initiative (LEAD) has identified the livestock sector (= rancheries devoted to meat production, cattles maintenance and other such participants in the meat-chain, mostly) responsible for 18 per cent of global GHS-emissions (percentuages acc. to IFPRI-report Impact of Climate Change and Bioenergy on Nutrition(2007), measured in CO2-equivalent. The actual numbers may vary in reports and statistics but also other reports usually show meat markets responsible for something like 10-20 per cent from combined GHS-total.). So it would be not at all a bad idea to consider these (hopefully less common) veggie-pot cookings and mixed meals as compared to much beef-oriented diet. Besides, these are lot healthier.

Receipts are here presented in pics (along with other pics), they're not containing very many ingredients, but one can always use some imagination in preparation...

Beetroot Soup

(for 2 personnel)

This one's sometimes dismissed in synonymity of bortsch, but it's really based on Polish soup (I guess they call it barszcz...), though the original version may differ greatly from our own home-made soup...One can also use other vegetables in it, but the actual taste is best when made purely from beetroot, I think. Parsley as additional spicey goes fine with it.

(preparation:)

Peel and slice the beetroot, then grate them (to thin slices), next slightly few minutes fry slices in pan with butter (add sugar).

Use spices in amount according to taste. The suitable amount of black pepper is important for taste. Then pour along broth and let cook for 10 to 15 Minutes.

Vinegar should also be added according to own preferances (but it adds novelty in taste.) Pour off the (possible) extra water and serve warm. Cream / yoghurt(indian, fx) can be used to soften the taste of vinegar, fx.

(Green) Lense-Pot

(This is best perhaps as served with an accompanying food - as an additional extra for fish or chicken. But can be offered as main meal, too.)

First let the (dry) lenses lay in cold water (in fridge fx) for couple hours.

Then add in the pot a little olive oil. Cook pepper and/or onion in it. Next strain the water away from lenses and pour them to the pot.

Shortly after pour broth in the pot (+ add garlics in) and let cook in slow heat for about 20 minutes. Lastly add spices for few minutes to mix within and then just in before serving slice tomatoes in small pieces along with the lenses. Ready to serve as hot/or let cool first.

Green Beans Salad

First cook the green beans and maize (or use ready-made and defrost them). Leave them aside after draining the water off.

Slice onion and (if prefer to use) eggs for suitable pieces. Then take a bowl and add all these ingredients(+ olives) to it.

With a small bottle fx, shake (crushed) spices mixing them with olive oil. Then pour over salad and serve the resulting straight or keep some half an hour to coollen in refrigerator first.

Receipt:

200-400 g green beans

200 g maize grains

1/2 dl olive oil

4-8 olives (halved)

1/2 red onion

(1-2 eggs; if wish)

green and black pepper

(salt)

(1-2 cherry tomato)

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Since we don't here offer any whole table sitting, the cook (of the house) is free to mix these experimental servings with other foods, if prefered. Also, these can be prepared in no time, with minimal effort to be served with (well, perhaps not bean-salad...) the most typical Christmas foods.

Also, because these don't contain any meat, chicken (excluding the eggs one can use in salad) or fish they can be easily added in part of the 'purely veggie' meal. For starters is preferable, but I suppose, solely vegetarian diet should also contain little larger portions in total. Anyone in favor of vegetarian diet can also of course select used ingredients according to tastes (we don't recommend stricktly veggie diet, but don't see that as any problem either). Some researches have noticed certain amounts of protein-rich meat in diet necessary for human evolution in needs of increasements in brain-capacity. Since it appears obvious that considering the planets current state, any further 'evolution' and such increasages would be of harmful kind, not beneficial ...besides, considering this from any reasonable point-of-view, no adult necessary needs to eat meat. However, for the children and growing ups we think certain amount of meat loaf recommendable (And it also has to be mentioned: your kids propably won't appreciate these meals very much...)

Happy X-Mas !

Muleskinner Book Recommendations #10:

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, or, the Modern Prometheus
^{(written Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley;
possible text-editor/co-writer Percy Bysshe Shelley)}
(1818 version)

"God in pity made a man beautiful and alluring, after his own image; but my form is a filthy type of yours, more horrid from its very resemblance. Satan had his companions, fellow-devils, to admire and encourage him; but I am solitary and detested." (Frankenstein novel, p. 175)

Having in passing touched the thematics of Frankenstein-novel and actually used it as source of some allusions in background to our recent Mammophant-article, it seems quite outright following if we here now also review book in question. However, this task fills us with plenty of uncertainties. 'Frankenstein, or, the Modern Prometheus' easily counts among the most reused and most original horror-stories of all time. In addition to its many influences on later (romantic ) fiction, there's all this innumerable later references in the movies, comics, other popular fiction and even more secondary material available. Can we possibly say anything original in this recommendation?

Well, let's try anyway... Normally we don't much read other reviews from books chosen in recommendations here (on blog). If needed, something from fx writers biographies may be checked, but in general, we consider it better to avoid any criticism as these might have some influence to our own interpretations. However, on this case the usual zero-tolerance concerning the other reviews wasn't possible to maintain and we are also of course pretty well aware that there's number of later rewritings and discussions from books main content. Also, fx that famous Boris Karloff popularized filmographic image from the creatures outer looks(not much even described in the book itself) can't be left unmentioned. Continuing, there's as well many humorous 'pulp' characters based on Frankenmonster, like this similar well-known character from (recent) the Adams Family-serie. Among these later rewritings from monsters image, of course, one could ao include the many mixed species born from fictional inter-breedings of humans and robots, humans and aliens, and even more clearly the many birth-giving monsters and their descendants like some presented in the Alien-movie series. But if we think of original ity and imagination in this horrondous human-like creation, not later movie fiction has ever been able to invent anything similar, not even close.

So, considering all this renown co-existing stuff, it shouldn't appear too surprising that the book itself feels mostly rather typical gothic-romantic novel. Nothing especially enchanting in the style its written with; the story-telling is rather continously too much weighed on details not necessary important for the main story, too much romantically overdone sentencing and sometimes it gets even boring in all these typically romantic moods and phrases used in characterization or personnels inner feelings. Also, in backgrounds 'frames' for the story, the letters in the beginning of novel, diary-pages in the end, are rather conventional methods, typical in romantic fiction of the time like ghost-stories and similar. For some reason H.P. Lovecrafts later short-stories feel like a close comparison, though in Frankenstein the narration doesn't ever reach same the intensiousness. Ultimately, I conclude the text propably benefited a lot from Percy's additions in text, fx. the more poetic use of language and the passionate expressions.

What still makes this book an uncomparable classic, is of course the Frankenstein itself (creature, though in the book only person called by this name is the creator himself, Viktor Frankenstein). The nature of that strange human built creation(the revived 'monster') appears to be somewhat nature of the beast: ambigous like his masters, just enough unpredictable and as such, impossible to be ordered and used according to ones wishes. Sometimes, especially in the chapters where Frankenmonster recalls the first days after 'waking up in alive' its true nature is shown as deeply human and capable for feelings of caring and compassionate emotions. At this point in story, its innocence is actually already gone and it has caused and fulfilled some horrondous acts already. During some later parts the creature is seen as straightforward evil in nature, mostly viewed from Viktors opinion and as result (the main point in thematics as this ambivalence rest on criticism of the natural sciences at the time) he disagrees to be in debt to the creation resulting from his own deeds and causing therefore its eventual fate as an outcast among humans.

During Shelley's times as well as today the main strength of the book appeared possibly in that originality of the idea. There's been much (and ever more is) discussions and speculations from its real exemplaries; precursors and influences. Actually, often noted, the creature appear as some symbolical image from modern mans doomed efforts to change the sadness of his existence and the unchangeable laws of nature, exactly like a bad dream (Mary Shelleys dream it is mentioned to have originated) about the imaginable experiments the science should not even consider to make real.

As fictional character, the Frankensteins(creature's) fate and role in novel are eventually quite similar to later outsiders from existentionalist novels, typically Camus or Sartre's. He is without any power to change circumstances, doomed to stay as such outsider. But surely, he is also kind of Prometheus like depicted in books name. And in that the Frankenmonster originates actually from a lot older tradition. Its most closest relatives from the past – not necessary often mentioned, since this book is claimed to be some kind of starter and forerunner for stories from modern mans (and sciences) fears – the alchemists and wizards from the 'darker centuries' in the past. In spite of that Viktor in the beginning shows his keen interests on modern sciences realm and shows his clear rejectance for the depths of Fausts demonic visions, they are still there from the very beginning. And so the creature, like Prometheus who stole the fire for humans from gods up above, stands there on the edge of times, representing for the people some frightening 'dark sides' in the history of mysticisms and at the same time on-coming futuristic mad illusions arising from developments of science.

Conclusively, one can also say, the idea and literal form (of the book) must have had a much stronger impression to the readers of the romantic period (early 1800s) than it has for the present day reader, familiar with Frankensteins many later reincarnations. But, also noteworthy to mention, at the time of writing, Darwin's theory from evolution wasn't yet published and probably also the originality and novelty of human existence weren't that much indisputed. So, those are the main thematics which easily raise from reading the Frankenstein-novel. It isn't, even in its conventional style, easy to challenge from its place among the most horrondous books ever written. The role of Viktor Frankenstein (the creator), as an archetype from human scientists faults and miseries, appears just as secondary in importance concerning the books main contents. In later creations of the story it has also been so, though since the films more deeply need 'easy' heroes, usually Frankenstein (the hero) has been romanticed further and Frankenstein (the creature) nourished in characteristics (fx. compare that in the novel it even reads Goethe's Werther and Milton's Paradise Lost). Luckily, in the original book, (most) of the brilliance raises from the creatures apparent capability for human tensions, not from the creators lack of human feeling.