The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter

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The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter.jpg
Author Theodora Goss
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
SeriesThe Extraordinary Adventures of the Athena Club
Genre horror, Gothic, mystery, fantasy, historical fiction
Published2017
Publisher Simon & Schuster
ISBN 978-1-4814-6651-6
Followed byEuropean Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewoman 

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.

Contents

The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter won the Locus Award for Best First Novel and was nominated for the Nebula Award for Best Novel.

Synopsis

Mary Jekyll is alone and quickly running out of money following her mother's death. As clues arise to indicate that Edward Hyde, her father's former friend and a murderer, may be nearby, Mary becomes curious about the secrets of her father's past. As she discovers that a reward is on offer for information leading to Hyde's capture, she realizes that investigating the mysteries of her family could solve all of her financial woes.

Following the trail of money sent by her mother to a religious order, the hunt soon leads her to Diana, Hyde's daughter. Diana is a feral child who was left to be raised by nuns. Diana informs Mary that they are actually half sisters, a truth Mary finds difficult to accept. Mary's investigation crosses that of Scotland Yard, who are investigating a series of murders of women in the area, and becomes acquainted with Sherlock Holmes. Holmes and Dr. Watson help Mary in her continued search for Hyde. In the process, Mary discovers and befriends other "monstrous" daughters of infamous scientists, all of whom have been created through terrifying experimentation: Beatrice Rappaccini, Catherine Moreau, and Justine Frankenstein.

When their investigations lead them to the discovery of The Alchemists Society, a secret organization of immoral and power-crazed scientists, the horrors of their past return. Now it is up to the monsters to finally triumph over the monstrous.

Reception

Publishers Weekly , in a starred review, called The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter a "tour de force of reclaiming the narrative, executed with impressive wit and insight", crediting Goss with "easily surmount[ing] the challenge of making such a male-defined premise belong to the women as shapers of their own destinies." [1]

In his NPR review, Jason Heller writes: "Strange Case is a swiftly paced, immaculately plotted mystery full of winning characters you always thought you knew, as well as ones you would never have imagined. Even when she brings up weightier subjects — feminism, gender fluidity, the onset of modernity in the predawn of the 20th century — she handles them with wit and sensitivity." [2]

Kirkus Reviews was less than enthusiastic, opining that because of "overreliance on the referenced novels, a distracting literary device in which characters comment on each other’s stories, and allusions to a wider mystery, there is no room for the characters to have the independent characterizations they so richly deserve" and that "despite a potential-laden premise that stands out from the many character-mashup stories on the market, this collection of parts fails to come alive". [3]

Themes

Leah Schnelbach of Tor.com calls Strange Case "a feminist retelling of Victoriana", as well as an "examination of class, mobility, propriety, and finances, and how they echo through women’s lives, and constrain them." [4]

Goss first approached the question "Why did so many of the mad scientists in 19th century narratives create, or start creating but then destroy, female monsters?" in her PhD, then exploring it in her short story "The Mad Scientist’s Daughter", originally published in Strange Horizons in 2010. [5]

Goss focuses on the brutal treatment that created these female monsters, questioning why women were frequently the targets of these scientists. In all cases, Goss presents characters who were transformed as a means to propagate changes into humanity, mothers who could pass down abilities to a new generation that would inherit a rapidly changing world. Goss’ women aren't willing to play ball, and unlike their often solitary creators (who occupy labs, remote islands, and castles), they work together to take control of their own destinies, and stop the brutal murders.

Characters

Each of the women characters represents an aspect of how women are viewed under patriarchy. Goss has the women's characters "interject" during the telling of the story, which the reader learns is being transcribed by one of the women, Catherine Moreau.

Awards

Adaptations

In November 2018, it was announced that Strange Case was being developed into a series for The CW network, with an adapted screenplay by A. J. Marechal. [6] This would be the first such adaptation of Goss' work.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (character)</span> Double-personality main character of Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

Dr. Henry Jekyll, nicknamed in some copies of the story as Harry Jekyll, and his alter ego, Mr. Edward Hyde, is the central character of Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 novella Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. In the story, he is a good friend of main protagonist Gabriel John Utterson. Jekyll is a kind and respected English doctor who has repressed evil urges inside of him. In an attempt to hide this, he develops a type of serum that he believes will effectively compartmentalize his dark side. Instead, Jekyll transforms into Edward Hyde, the physical and mental manifestation of his evil personality. This process happens more regularly until Jekyll becomes unable to control when the transformations occur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frankenstein's monster</span> 1818 fictional character by Mary Shelley

Frankenstein's monster or Frankenstein's creature, often erroneously referred to as simply "Frankenstein", is a fictional character who first appeared in Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus as the main antagonist. Shelley's title thus compares the monster's creator, Victor Frankenstein, to the mythological character Prometheus, who fashioned humans out of clay and gave them fire.

<i>The Island of Doctor Moreau</i> 1896 novel by Herbert George Wells

The Island of Doctor Moreau is an 1896 science fiction novel by English author H. G. Wells (1866–1946). 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."

Jack the Ripper, the notorious serial killer who terrorized Whitechapel in 1888, features in works of fiction ranging from gothic novels published at the time of the murders to modern motion pictures, televised dramas and video games.

<i>The Great God Pan</i> 1894 novella by Arthur Machen

The Great God Pan is a horror and fantasy novella by Welsh writer Arthur Machen. Machen was inspired to write The Great God Pan by his experiences at the ruins of a pagan temple in Wales. What would become the first chapter of the novella was published in the magazine The Whirlwind in 1890. Machen later extended The Great God Pan and it was published as a book alongside another story, "The Inmost Light", in 1894. The novella begins with an experiment to allow a woman named Mary to see the supernatural world. This is followed by an account of a series of mysterious happenings and deaths over many years surrounding a woman named Helen Vaughan. At the end, the heroes confront Helen and force her to kill herself. She undergoes a series of unearthly transformations before dying and she is revealed to be a supernatural entity.

Sherlock Holmes has long been a popular character for pastiche, Holmes-related work by authors and creators other than Arthur Conan Doyle. Their works can be grouped into four broad categories:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gothic double</span> Literary motif

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<i>The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll</i> 1960 British film

The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll is a 1960 British horror film produced by Hammer Film Productions. It was directed by Terence Fisher, and stars Paul Massie as Dr. Jekyll, and co-stars Dawn Addams, Christopher Lee and David Kossoff. The screenplay was written by Wolf Mankowitz, based on the 1886 novella Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson.

<i>Frankenstein</i> in popular culture

Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, and the famous character of Frankenstein's monster, have influenced popular culture for at least a century. The work has inspired numerous films, television programs, video games and derivative works. The character of the Monster remains one of the most recognized icons in horror fiction.

<i>Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde</i> 1976 American blaxploitation horror film by William Crain

Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde is a 1976 blaxploitation horror film loosely inspired by the 1886 novella Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. The film stars Bernie Casey and Rosalind Cash, and was directed by William Crain. Along with Crain, the film was written by Larry LeBron and Lawrence Woolner with cinematography by Tak Fujimoto. The movie was filmed primarily in Los Angeles, at locations such as the Watts Towers. Like other blaxploitation films, Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde contains themes surrounding race and class.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theodora Goss</span> American novelist

Theodora Goss is a Hungarian-American fiction writer and poet. Her writing has been nominated for major awards, including the Nebula, Locus, Mythopoeic, World Fantasy, and Seiun Awards. Her short fiction and poetry have appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies, including Year's Best volumes.

<i>Batman: Two Faces</i>

Batman: Two Faces is a DC Comics Elseworlds comic book, published in 1998. Written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, with art by Anthony Williams and Tom Palmer, the story is based on the novel Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. A Victorian-era Bruce Wayne tries to purge both his own evil side and that of Two-Face, while a serial killer named the Joker roams the streets. A sequel, The Superman Monster, was published in October the following year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holmes Herbert</span> English-American actor (1882–1956)

Holmes Herbert was an English character actor who appeared in Hollywood films from 1915 to 1952, often as a British gentleman.

<i>Frankenstein</i> 1818 novel by Mary Shelley

Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus is an 1818 novel written by English author Mary Shelley. Frankenstein tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who creates a sapient creature in an unorthodox scientific experiment. Shelley started writing the story when she was 18, and the first edition was published anonymously in London on 1 January 1818, when she was 20. Her name first appeared in the second edition, which was published in Paris in 1821.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leslie S. Klinger</span> American attorney and writer (born 1946)

Leslie S. Klinger is an American attorney and writer. He is a noted literary editor and annotator of classic genre fiction, including the Sherlock Holmes stories and the novels Dracula, Frankenstein, and Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde as well as Neil Gaiman's The Sandman comics, Alan Moore's and Dave Gibbons's graphic novel Watchmen, the stories of H.P. Lovecraft, and Neil Gaiman's American Gods.

Adaptations of <i>Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde</i> Adaptations of 1886 novella

Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is an 1886 novella written by the Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson. It is about a London lawyer, Gabriel John Utterson, who investigates strange occurrences between his old friend, Dr. Henry Jekyll and the misanthropic Mr. Hyde. In a twist ending, it is revealed that Jekyll and Hyde were the same person, and that Jekyll had regularly transformed himself into Hyde by drinking a serum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monster literature</span>

Monster literature is a genre of literature that combines good and evil and intends to evoke a sensation of horror and terror in its readers by presenting the evil side in the form of a monster.

<i>Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde</i> 1886 novella by Robert Louis Stevenson

Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is an 1886 Gothic novella by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson. It follows Gabriel John Utterson, a London-based legal practitioner who investigates a series of strange occurrences between his old friend Dr. Henry Jekyll and a murderous criminal named Edward Hyde.

<i>Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Holmes</i>

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References

  1. "Fiction Book Review: The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter by Theodora Goss. Saga, $24.99 (416p) ISBN 978-1-4814-6650-9". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  2. Heller, Jason. "'The Alchemist's Daughter' Is No Frankenstein's Monster". NPR.org. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  3. "The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  4. Schnelbach, Leah (August 8, 2018). "Subversive Victoriana: The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter by Theodora Goss". Tor.com. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  5. Liptak, Andrew (July 16, 2017). "The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter is the monster mashup we need". The Verge. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  6. Otterson, Joe (November 14, 2018). "Theodora Goss Book 'Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter' in Development as CW Series". Variety. Retrieved October 13, 2020.