The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter

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The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter.jpg
Author Theodora Goss
LanguageEnglish
SeriesThe Extraordinary Adventures of the Athena Club
Genre horror, Gothic, mystery, fantasy, historical fiction
Published2017
Publisher Simon & Schuster
Publication placeUnited States
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.

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Dr. Henry 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.

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

Frankenstein's monster, commonly referred to as Frankenstein, is a fictional character that first appeared in Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus as its main antagonist. Shelley's title 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 science fiction novel by H. G. Wells

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."

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

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

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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.