Author | Silvia Moreno-Garcia |
---|---|
Language | English |
Set in | Yucatan, Mexico |
Published | 19 Jul 2022 |
Publisher | Del Rey |
Pages | 320 |
ISBN | 978-0-593-35533-6 |
The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is a 2022 novel by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. It is loosely based on The Island of Doctor Moreau, an 1896 novel by H.G. Wells. The novel received critical acclaim, with reviewers particularly praising its exploration of feminism and colonialism. The novel received nominations for the 2023 Hugo Award for Best Novel and 2023 Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel.
In 1871, Carlota Moreau lives with her father, Dr. Moreau, at the hacienda Yaxaktun. She has a chronic illness and requires weekly treatments to stay healthy. Dr. Moreau's experiments involve the creation of human-animal hybrids. Carlota spends much of her time with two hybrids named Cachito and Lupe, as well as the mayordomo Montgomery.
By 1877, Moreau's financial situation is precarious. The hacienda's owner, Hernando Izalde, is losing faith that Moreau's research is a good investment. Hernando's son Eduardo visits Yaxaktun with his cousin Isidro. After a brief courtship, Eduardo proposes to Carlota. Moreau approves, hoping that this will secure his finances. Isidro disapproves, and sends Montgomery to tell Hernando.
Hernando arrives to prevent the marriage. Carlota strikes Hernando; she grows claws and hisses at him. Hernando fires Moreau and tells him to vacate the hacienda. Montgomery forces the three Izalde men to leave at gunpoint, but they promise to return with more men. Moreau reveals that Carlota is a hybrid. She does not truly need her weekly injections; he has been drugging her in order to keep her docile and to keep her jaguar traits submerged. Carlota angrily shoves Moreau, injuring him.
Carlota releases the hybrids; most of them choose to seek shelter with nearby Mayan rebels. The Izaldes return. Eduardo promises that he will still take Carlota as his mistress, but she rejects him. Montgomery and Lupe assist the other hybrids in escaping, then return for a final confrontation. Isidro, Dr. Moreau, and Hernando are all killed. In her anger, Carlota's jaguar traits emerge; she and Montgomery work together to kill Eduardo.
Montgomery and Carlota blame all of the deaths on rebels. With her inheritance, Carlota promises to build a safe home for the surviving hybrids. Montgomery leaves to search for them, but promises to return.
According to D. Harlan Wilson of the Los Angeles Review of Books, The Daughter of Doctor Moreau re-examines the ideology of H.G. Wells. Wilson writes that "looking backward at Wells becomes increasingly difficult given the white male ethos that utterly dominates his oeuvre". Many of his novels "see him project Englishness onto the entire world", resulting in a colonization of those fictional worlds. [1]
Wilson writes that Moreno-Garcia utilizes religion to explore themes of control. Moreau often gives sermons in which he tells the hybrids that their pain is a gift. This evokes sympathy in the reader. By the end of the novel, Carlota rejects the view of God as a vengeful deity and adapts a worldview more compatible with panentheism. [1]
Wilson also writes that the theme of patriarchy is most exemplified by the subplot involving Carlota's romance with Eduardo. Initially, she is naive and feels that she loves Eduardo. As she becomes more mature, she realizes that Eduardo sees her "as a doll to carry around". When Moreau stops giving Carlota the injections, her animal nature emerges, "which is also a movement from the culture of her father’s estate to a state of primal nature." After Moreau's death, she is able to "step into her father's role" and kill Eduardo, becoming the hybrids' savior instead of their tormentor. Wilson believes that in feminist science fiction, "culture (especially technological violence) [is] coded as male and nature [is] coded as female." [1]
The novel is divided into three parts and thirty-one chapters. The parts take place between 1871 and 1877. The chapters alternate between the points of view of Carlota and Montgomery. The story is told with third person narration. [1]
The novel is loosely inspired by The Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G. Wells, but Moreno-Garcia makes major changes to the plot and characterization. According to the Los Angeles Review of Books, the author "to a large degree ... tells a different story". The narrator Edward Prendick is replaced by the character of Carlota. Montgomery remains Moreau's alcoholic assistant, but in Moreno-Garcia's interpretation he is given a surname (Laughton) and serves as Moreau's mayordomo. [1] The surname Laughton is a reference to Charles Laughton, who played Doctor Moreau in The Island of Lost Souls , a 1932 film and the first English-language screen adaptation of Wells's original work. [2]
Moreno-Garcia transposes the setting from "an unnamed island somewhere between Peru and Chile" to the Yucatán Peninsula. Much of the novel is set against the backdrop of the Caste War of Yucatán. [2]
Booklist gave the novel a starred review, writing that the novel is elevated by "Moreno-Garcia’s ability to mesh the unease of the scientifically created beasts with the real-life terrors of a life on the margins and the horror of colonialism". [3] Library Journal also gave the novel a starred review, calling it "historical science fiction at its best". [4]
A review in the Los Angeles Review of Books praised the novel's exploration of patriarchy, calling it "a sound feminist critique that decodes the patriarchal protocols of its source material and 19th-century attitudes in general." [1] Writing for Paste, Samantha Sullivan praised the complex and dark themes of the novel, including "existential and moral questions that make [Carlota] ponder her faith, the way people frequently “play god” with others, and what exactly family means." [5] A review in Book Reporter praised the novel's exploration of themes including "European racism toward the Maya people, ... the horrific work of Dr. Moreau, and the ways in which women are vulnerable to misogyny and violence". The review called the result "entertaining and thoughtful". [6]
The CBC called the novel "both a dazzling historical novel and a daring science fiction journey". [7] Ian Mond writes that Moreno-Garcia's novel stands on its own "with its evocative prose, post-colonial historical setting that drives the plot, and the introduction of vibrant, fascinating characters,". [2] The San Francisco Book Review rated the novel four out of five stars, calling it " the perfect modern-day tribute with a feminist spin". [8]
A review for Kirkus noted that the first half of the novel starts off slow, but that the payoff is worth it for the "action-packed second half". The same review called the novel "one of the better [adaptations]" of H.G. Wells's classic work. [9] Publishers Weekly also commented on the "wonky pacing", writing that it "occasionally makes it difficult to remain invested in the action". However, the same review states "the third act rights the ship" and "the ending will linger long in readers’ minds". [10] A review in Strange Horizons called the novel "a mixed bag". Reviewer Archita Mittra called the novel "a chimerical work that arrests the reader’s attention but fails to captivate it", particularly criticizing that the hybrids are used "as props throughout, lacking in emotional complexity". [11]
The novel was nominated for the 2023 Hugo Award for Best Novel [12] and was a finalist for the 2023 Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel. [13]
The Island of Doctor Moreau is an 1896 science fiction novel by English author H. G. Wells. It was published on 1 January 1896. The novel is set between 21 January 1887 to 5 January 1888. The text of the novel is the narration of Edward Prendick, a shipwrecked man rescued by a passing boat. He is left on the island home of Doctor Moreau, a mad scientist who creates human-like hybrid beings from animals via vivisection. The novel deals with a number of themes, including pain and cruelty, moral responsibility, human identity, human interference with nature, and the effects of trauma. Wells described it as "an exercise in youthful blasphemy."
Silvia Pinal Hidalgo was a Mexican actress. She began her career in theatre before venturing into cinema in 1949. She became one of the greatest female stars of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema and, with her performance in Shark! (1969), part of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Her work in film and popularity in her native country led Pinal to work in Europe, particularly in Spain and Italy. Pinal achieved international recognition by starring in a trilogy of films directed by Luis Buñuel: Viridiana (1961), El ángel exterminador (1962) and Simón del desierto (1965).
Island of Lost Souls is a 1932 American science fiction horror film directed by Erle C. Kenton. Produced and distributed by Paramount Productions, it is based on H. G. Wells' 1896 novel The Island of Doctor Moreau, and stars Charles Laughton, Richard Arlen, and Kathleen Burke. Island of Lost Souls is about Edward Parker (Arlen), a sailor who finds himself stranded on an island that is occupied by the scientist Dr. Moreau (Laughton). Parker agrees to stay until the next boat arrives; Moreau introduces him to Lota (Burke), who unknown to Parker, is part-panther. It is revealed all of the island's inhabitants are the results of Moreau's experiments to create humans from animals. Moreau tries to persuade Lota to have sex with Parker so he can continue his experiments.
The Island of Dr. Moreau is a 1977 American science fiction horror film directed by Don Taylor, the second English-language adaptation of H. G. Wells' 1896 novel of the same name, following Island of Lost Souls (1932).
Volver a Vivir is a Venezuelan telenovela written by Fausto Verdial and produced by Radio Caracas Televisión in 1996. This telenovela lasted 127 episodes and was distributed internationally by RCTV International.
El privilegio de amar is a Mexican telenovela produced by Carla Estrada for Televisa. It aired on Canal de las Estrellas from July 27, 1998 to February 26, 1999. El privilegio de amar is a remake of the 1985 Venezuelan telenovela Cristal. El privilegio de amar is the highest-rated television program in Mexico to date; it registered an average of 34.8 percent of TV audience. The telenovela received the TVyNovelas Award for Best Telenovela in 1999.
El Internado, also known as El Internado: Laguna Negra is a Spanish teen drama thriller television series produced by Globomedia for the Spanish network Antena 3. The series was originally broadcast in Spain from 24 May 2007 to 13 October 2010. The series began airing on Netflix on 15 July 2015, and it stopped airing on 20 December 2017. Then, the series was reaired on 16 October 2018.
It Started with Eve is a 1941 American musical romantic comedy film directed by Henry Koster and starring Deanna Durbin, Robert Cummings, and Charles Laughton. The film received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Music Score. The film is considered by some critics to be Durbin's best film, and the last in which she worked with the producer and director who groomed her for stardom. It Started with Eve was remade in 1964 as I'd Rather Be Rich.
The Island of Dr. Moreau is a 1996 American science fiction horror film, based on the 1896 novel The Island of Doctor Moreau by H. G. Wells. It was directed by John Frankenheimer and stars Marlon Brando, Val Kilmer, David Thewlis, and Fairuza Balk. The screenplay is credited to the original director Richard Stanley and Ron Hutchinson. It is the third major film adaptation of the Wells novel, following Island of Lost Souls (1932) and The Island of Dr. Moreau (1977).
Nancy Joyce Buckingham Sawyer was a British writer who co-authored over 45 gothic and romance novels in collaboration with her husband, John Sawyer. She became the eighth elected Chairman (1975–1977) of the Romantic Novelists' Association, and was later one of its vice-presidents.
Silvia Meraz Moreno is a Mexican serial killer and sect leader who was convicted of three murders which took place between 2009 and 2012 in Nacozari, Sonora. Three people were murdered as human sacrifices to Santa Muerte.
Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a Mexican and Canadian novelist, short story writer, editor, and publisher.
Signal to Noise is an urban fantasy novel by Canadian Mexican author Silvia Moreno-Garcia. The novel was published by Solaris Books in February 2015. Moreno-Garcia stated that she was inspired to write the novel based on her parents, who both worked at a radio station.
Mexican Gothic is a 2020 gothic horror novel by Mexican Canadian author Silvia Moreno-Garcia. It centers on a young woman investigating her cousin's claims that her husband is trying to murder her.
The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter is a 2017 novel by Theodora Goss. It is her debut novel, though she is an author of many short works. Strange Case is the first installment of The Extraordinary Adventures of the Athena Club series, and is followed by European Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewoman. The story follows Mary Jekyll, daughter of the literary character Dr. Jekyll, as she meets and connects with the fictional daughters of major literary characters, and works with and faces various famous 19th century literary personae, including Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, Frankenstein's monster, and others to solve the mystery of a series of killings in London, as well as the mystery of her own family story. Drawing on classic gothic and horror creations of the 19th century, such as The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, Frankenstein, Rappaccini's Daughter, The Island of Doctor Moreau, Dracula and the Sherlock Holmes stories, Goss reimagines the works of such literary greats as Mary Shelley, Robert Louis Stevenson, H. G. Wells, Bram Stoker and Nathaniel Hawthorne from a feminist perspective, as well as the historical record of the Jack the Ripper murders. At the center of the narrative is the connection and various experiences of the women who form the Athena Club, the oppressions they experience, and how they empower each other to accomplish great things.
Black Water Sister is a 2021 fantasy novel by Zen Cho. It focuses on Jessamyn Teoh, a closeted lesbian who moves from the United States to her birth country of Malaysia. In Malaysia, she meets the ghost of her deceased grandmother and becomes involved in a conflict related to a local deity. The book received critical praise, and was nominated for the 2022 Ignyte Award, Locus Award for Best Novel, and World Fantasy Award.
The Spare Man is a 2022 science fiction murder mystery novel by Mary Robinette Kowal. The novel was nominated for the 2023 Hugo Award for Best Novel and the 2023 Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel.
Nettle & Bone is a 2022 fantasy novel by Ursula Vernon, writing as T. Kingfisher. The novel has been described as a dark fairy tale. It won the 2023 Hugo Award for Best Novel and was nominated for the 2023 Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel, and the Nebula Award for Best Novel of 2022.
Far from the Light of Heaven is a 2021 science fiction mystery novel by Tade Thompson. It was a finalist for the 2022 Philip K. Dick Award and 2022 Nommo Award for Best Novel.
Caroline Hardaker (1986) is an English poet and novelist. She was born in North East England, and currently lives in Newcastle upon Tyne. Hardaker has published two collections of her poems, Bone Ovation (2017) and Little Quakes Every Day (2017), described by John Clute as exploring "the permanence of Time, of bones, of the past within a fleece of transmutations". She has also published two science fiction/horror novels, Composite Creatures (2021), set in a near future damaged by climate change, and Mothtown (2023), about loneliness, grief and escape to the multiverse.