MONSTROSITY
by Edward Lee
“The Ponoye worshipped lower demons out of the same mechanics of formative superstition that influenced all species of early man. They believed in them, yes.
But demons did not exist.
When Professor Fredrick turned on the flashlight, he saw that he was clearly wrong.
Demons did exist.
And one such demon was reaching for him now…”
GENRE:
Horror Fiction, Adventure
DESCRIPTORS:
Monsters, Government Installations, Security Team, Science, Genetics, Sex, Rape, Mutations, Drug Addictions, Thieves
SUMMARY:
This novel is divided into four parts. Heading each part is a vignette detailing Dr. Fredrick’s excavation of a Ponoye Indian cenote where he finds the perfectly preserved remains of an inhuman demon-like hand. This hand, seemingly emerging from a wall, offends the scientist’s sensibilities. To find out more, they try to unearth the entire body . . .
A year ago, Stuart Winster, the son of Colonel Harold T. Winster, raped Air Force Security Chief Clare Prentiss. The young man had a deformed hand, (just a thumb and forefinger) and limited mental capacity. But he was cunning enough to drug her with a paralyzing drug and perverted enough to enjoy raping and biting her before. He was stopped before he could start killing her with the awl.
The men of the camp blamed Clare for the attack. Instead of the trial for rape, the judge turned it into a Court Martial and she was dishonorably discharged. Homeless for a year, Clare welcomes Dellin Daniel’s offer of a job as security chief of Alachua Park, where a cure for cancer has recently been discovered.
The drug was entering the test stage and concerns over industrial espionage as well as problems with poaching and the local drug stealing meth-heads would be Clare’s job. Clare’s job starts out low key, but odd things begin to happen from the first day: she catches her two officers, Joyce and Rick, in a sexual clutch while on patrol, meets Mrs. Grable, the victim of spousal abuse, encounters fanged mutant toads as large as huskies and mysterious deliveries to the base which she has to sign for.
The mystery deepens when Clare and ranger Adam Covey run into a naked, half dead Kari Ann who spent the night being repeatedly raped and dragged around by a hideous monster. More pieces of the puzzle fall into place when she uncovers the mysterious history of the former security chief and he two staff members who disappeared without a trace. No longer sure who she can trust, Clare pursues her investigation until she uncovers a truth more horrific than any she could imagine — and the reason why she was hired as security chief in the first place.
APPEAL:
The pacing is fast. There is plenty of detail in the story but more dialog and action to hurry the story along. Lee uses medium to short sentences and paragraphs. Lee also switches back and forth between the main story and a vignette. Most of the vignettes are of local meth-heads who poach or steal drugs on Fort Alachua Park land and meet bad ends from the horribly mutated animals lurking there. The vignettes are often faster pace with sexual or horror titillation to spur the reader on.
The characterization is focused mostly on Clare. Joyce, Rick and Dellin have some development but not a lot. Clare benefits from the bulk of the story being told from her point of view. And she is the one who must face her worst nightmares if she’s to get out alive.
There are plenty of monsters — human and otherwise. There is also some disturbing sexual scenes. The story is divided into four parts each beginning with a frame story about an archaeological discovery which ties into the main narrative at the end.
The plot of Clair’s story begins slowly and builds up while at the same time, Lee peppers his story with vignettes of people who sneak into the off-limits park to poach and are victimized by the monstrous wildlife and other abominations that live there.
NOTES:
Labeled “the ultimate pulp novel” by Lee, this one has it all and the kitchen sink.
READALIKES:
Edward Lee has written several books that are over-the-top horror including City Infernal
by Teri A. Jacobs, and Teratologist
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