I found this fair-condition paperback at the Salvation Army thrift store, and nabbed it for a Halloween release.

This is one of the great foundation novels of science fiction and of horror (and a great indication of how hard it can be to separate genres sometimes!). It has a brooding, ominous charm, but I haven't found it quite as entertaining on repeated readings - though I have discovered new elements in the story that escaped me entirely when I first read it as a horror-hungry teen. Among them: an interesting little digression involving the origin of the family that the Creature encounters in the little cabin; it's a romance straight out of Don Quixote, very colorful and sad - and pretty much unrelated to the rest of the book. That part of the story never makes it into the film versions, and no wonder; it'd make a fair film all by itself!

Speaking of film versions, I have a fondness for the 1931 James Whale version starring Boris Karloff, even though it's not among the more faithful adaptations.

[There's a TV Tropes page for the novel - with links to pages for various adaptations - that's entertaining and informative.]

I left this book on a bench at Veteran's Park at about 2:30 or so, while on a release trip with eponine38; hope the finder enjoys the book!

*** Released as part of the 2012 Chills & Spills release challenge. ***

*** Released for the 2012 Spook-tacular Halloween release challenge. ***

*** Released as part of the 2012 Movie release challenge. ***