Our Hideous Progeny: A Novel

"A gripping Gothic tale of grief and ambition, passion and intrigue." -- Jess Kidd, author of The Night Ship

"An immersive blend of historical and science fiction brims with surprises and dark delights. . . . An incisive exploration of women's rights within the field of science. . . . Readers will revel in Mary's personal and scientific discoveries and root for her to succeed in an unfair world." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)

A LAMBDA Literary finalist for Lesbian Fiction

A Triangle Publishing finalist for Debut Fiction

It is not the monster you must fear, but the monster it makes of men . . .

Mary is the great-niece of Victor Frankenstein. She knows her great uncle disappeared under mysterious circumstances in the Arctic, but she doesn't know why or how. . . .

The 1850s are a time of discovery, and London is ablaze with the latest scientific theories and debates, especially when a spectacular new exhibition of dinosaur sculptures opens at the Crystal Palace. Mary is keen to make her name in this world of science alongside her geologist husband, Henry--but despite her sharp mind and sharper tongue, without wealth and connections their options are limited.

When Mary discovers some old family papers that allude to the shocking truth behind her great-uncle's past, she thinks she may have found the key to securing her and Henry's professional and financial future. Their quest takes them to the wilds of Scotland; to Henry's intriguing but reclusive sister, Maisie; and to a deadly chase with a rival who is out to steal their secret.

A queer, feminist masterpiece inspired by Mary Shelley's classic, Our Hideous Progeny is a sumptuous tale of ambition and obsession, of forbidden love and sabotage and a twisty Gothic adventure that may forever change your view of human nature.

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400 pages

Average rating: 7

29 RATINGS

2 REVIEWS

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bibliognost

Feb 10, 2024

6/10 stars

Designed as a sequel to Mary Shelley's _Frankenstein_, C.E. McGill's _Our_Hideous_Progeny_ combines the SF element of its progenitor (man-made life) with horror and gothic fiction. Narrator Mary Elizabeth Brown has the intellect of a scientist, the ambition to make a name for herself in scholarly circles, and the values of a 21st century feminist; but is held back by her illegitimate birth, her violent temper, and the mores of 19th century England, which include an obsession with appearances and saving face, a pervasive sense of place, and complex, class-dependent rules of etiquette. She seeks refuge in a marriage to an open-minded fellow scientist, but collides with a racist, sexist society that has no place for competent women. The world has just discovered it was once dominated by giant, extinct lizards and the couple strive to make their mark here, but are stymied by social taboos and their relative poverty. Then she stumbles upon the letters of her great-uncle, Victor Frankenstein, learns of his gruesome creation, and seeks to repeat his experiments. What follows is a tale of hubris and retribution, triumph and tragedy, bonding and betrayal. The Victorian style reminds me more of Jane Austin than Mary Shelley. I struggled at times to master British slang, and the author relies a bit too often on co-incidence to resolve a crisis. If you can appreciate the travails of a modern woman dealing with the strictures of Victorian England, you may find this story satisfying. This wasn't the case for me.

LMahoney

Jan 26, 2024

8/10 stars

the first bit of the story (like the first 3 pages) grabbed me and then i thought this book dragged for like ... ever. But then when it wrapped up I realized how important that slow burn was. I want to pet the creature too!

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Our Hideous Progeny