Latest news with #MaryShelley
New York Times
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
In These Books, There Be Monsters
Can I tell you a secret? Sometimes, when I'm alone in my office, I'm struck by the urge to go to the closet and run a hand along its back wall, feeling around for a give in the Sheetrock. It's a silly impulse, born from the mind of an over-imaginative woman who was once an over-imaginative child and C.S. Lewis fan. I never actually give in to this curious compulsion, but I do wonder if, in the back of some wardrobe or closet, there lies a magical portal to the borderlands of Narnia — or another fantastic place to which I've yet to find the right key. For me, herein lies the true beauty of the fantasy genre. Readers are constantly invited to ask 'what if?' — and then, 'why not?' Beyond the mythical beasts, swashbuckling sword fights and enchanting kingdoms, these stories steeped in magic engage with important questions. What defines a hero? How does one become a villain? What does real monstrosity look like? Every book I've written to date engages with the idea of monstrosity. Simply put, I find monsters — in all their shapes and forms — fascinating. I love to read about the monsters we have enshrined in pop culture, like Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, and also the monsters we sometimes overlook, like the stepmother in 'Hansel and Gretel,' by the Brothers Grimm. Over the years, I've come to love some monstrous stories a little more than the rest. Here are a few of my favorites. Grendel Many people are familiar with the Old English epic poem 'Beowulf,' which recounts the exploits of the titular Germanic hero. Gardner's novel subverts the famed story, shifting the focus from the lauded warrior to the infamous monster he defeats. Rather than a barbaric agent of destruction and death, we find a being in existential crisis, grappling with his frustrations with a world that only sees him one way. For readers looking for a true classic in the monsters-and-retelling space, this 1971 book is one of my favorites. Read our review. Let Us Help You Find Your Next Book: Fantasy The Best Fantasy Novels of 2024 Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Netflix drops chilling first look at Guillermo del Toro's 'bucket list' movie
Netflix will soon be dropping a horror film based on a classic novel by Mary Shelley, and fans have been given a first look at the highly-anticipated movie Netflix is set to unleash a spine-tingling film onto its platform, drawing inspiration from Mary Shelley's timeless literary masterpiece. The film is just one of many book adaptations hitting the small screen soon. This picture represents one of Pinocchio mastermind Guillermo del Toro's coveted "bucket list" projects, though he admits he initially faced rejection when seeking a home for it. The 60 year old revealed to Vanity Fair that "everybody said no" when he first proposed a small-screen take on Shelley's 1818 masterwork Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. Nevertheless, Netflix stepped forward to champion the venture, which is scheduled to launch on the streaming platform this November. Production for Frankenstein is currently underway in Toronto, boasting an impressive cast including Jacob Elordi and Charles Dance, reports the Express. This Gothic sci-fi thriller, which will make its global debut in the primary competition at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, features Oscar Isaac in the lead role. Jacob Elordi portrays Frankenstein's creature, whilst Felix Kammerer takes on William Frankenstein, Victor's younger sibling, and Mia Goth appears as Elizabeth Lavenza, William's betrothed. Charles Dance will embody Leopold Frankenstein, Victor's stern and domineering father, alongside Christoph Waltz as Harlander, an affluent arms dealer. Back in 2007, del Toro expressed that a project he "would kill to make" would be a true-to-source "Miltonian tragedy" interpretation of Frankenstein. His aspiration has now materialised, with Netflix having unveiled a haunting preview for the production. The glimpse reveals Victor presenting his creation to onlookers as he declares: "I had a vision, an idea took shape in my mind. "Inevitable, unavoidable, until it became truth. In seeking life, I created death." The chilling words set the scene as viewers catch a glimpse of Frankenstein's monster wreaking havoc aboard a ship. The teaser sparked an immediate reaction from fans, with @xseedingme exclaiming: "Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, uses imagery like del Toro does. How did I not hear about this movie? Guillermo del Toro's take on Frankenstein? Hell f****** yes!" @luxindreams also expressed excitement: "Been waiting my whole life for someone to adapt Mary Shelley's Frankenstein faithfully, and this looks amazing!". Set to premiere on Netflix in November 2025, "Frankenstein" is already generating buzz among eager audiences.
New York Times
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Romantasy: A Starter Pack
If you've been anywhere near a bookstore, library or BookTok feed in the last five years, you've probably encountered a growing crowd of fae, dragon riders and fated mates of various magical persuasions. These are among the hallmarks of romantasy, the crossover genre that blends the passion and spice of romance with the escapism and high-stakes drama of fantasy. The definition of romantasy is hotly contested and refers, at its narrowest, to romance-first stories with a secondary world (or 'high fantasy') setting. This list takes a more expansive approach, recognizing the slipperiness of genre boundaries and the many branches of the romantasy family tree (which includes what others might call paranormal romance, science fiction or historical fantasy). These books draw from a broad range of genre traditions: the Gothic literature of Mary Shelley and Sheridan Le Fanu, the urban fantasy trend of the 1990s (to say nothing of the urban fantasy revival of the 2010s), fairy tales, mythology, young adult fiction and the richly imagined worlds of fantasy and science fiction luminaries like Mercedes Lackey and Anne McCaffrey. If there's one thing as reliable in romance as the happily ever after, it's romance readers' eagerness to recommend books to newbies. This list offers a few places to start — but once you're in, there's a whole internet out there waiting to tell you what to read next. I want to start at the beginning A Court of Thorns and Roses The series that started it all! Maas's 'A Court of Thorns and Roses' began as a Y.A. series before transitioning to the adult section of the bookstore. In the first book, the human Feyre is brought as a captive to the faerie court of Tamlin, a High Lord of Prythian. Be prepared to wait a couple of books to understand the endgame: The arc of Feyre's romance takes a little while to unfold (and gets spicier as it goes on). There are currently five books in the series, with at least one more novel promised, so it's not too late to get it on the fun of obsessing over release schedules and fan theories. If you read it and love it, try … 'Faebound,' by Saara El-Arifi; A.K. Mulford's Golden Court series; Mai Corland's Broken Blades series; or the Last Binding trilogy, by Freya Marske. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
ABC News
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Encore: Love, jail, Jesus, and pubs — a tangled tale of four very different parents
Lech Blaine grew up in a big family in country Queensland, where his dad Tom ran pubs for a living. He had six older siblings, who had come to the family as foster kids before he was born. It was a happy, knockabout, sports-obsessed childhood. But in the midst of all the love and warmth, Lech's mum Lenore lived with a creeping sense of dread. She knew that one day, the troubled biological parents of three of the children in the family would appear in their lives. Michael and Mary Shelley were Christian fanatics wandering from place to place, in and out of jail and psychiatric hospitals, and notorious for stalking politicians and judges. One evening, when Lenore was at home with some of the children, Mary Shelley knocked on her door, changing the family's life forever. Further information First broadcast in December 2024. Australian Gospel is published by Black Inc. Help and support is always available. You can call Lifeline 24 hours a day on 13 11 14. Find out more about the Conversations Live National Tour on the ABC website.
ABC News
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Love, jail, Jesus, and pubs — a tangled tale of four very different parents
Lech Blaine grew up in a big family in country Queensland, where his dad Tom ran pubs for a living. He had six older siblings, who had come to the family as foster kids before he was born. It was a happy, knockabout, sports-obsessed childhood. But in the midst of all the love and warmth, Lech's mum Lenore lived with a creeping sense of dread. She knew that one day, the troubled biological parents of three of the children in the family would appear in their lives. Michael and Mary Shelley were Christian fanatics wandering from place to place, in and out of jail and psychiatric hospitals, and notorious for stalking politicians and judges. One evening, when Lenore was at home with some of the children, Mary Shelley knocked on her door, changing the family's life forever. Further information First broadcast in December 2024. Australian Gospel is published by Black Inc. Help and support is always available. You can call Lifeline 24 hours a day on 13 11 14. Find out more about the Conversations Live National Tour on the ABC website.
