A clever blend of classic monsters and futuristic sci-fi, tied together with quirky humour to deliver a rollicking good read.
Feature image credit: NewSouth Books
In the future, as we are so often told, humankind has reached out to colonise the furthest reaches of space. What we didn’t expect was that ancient evils would join us for the journey.
The story takes place on board the spacecraft known as Demeter, a seasoned space traveller with AI-powered controls and a love/hate relationship with the ship’s medical AI system, and spider-like repair robots (known as Renfields). The most powerful of ancient evils, Dracula, has engaged in the mass murder of the crew and passengers, through the mind control of a werewolf. Only two young passengers, siblings Agnus and Isaac, survive, thanks to the efforts of the medical AI, Dr. Steward. The biggest problem they now face is, no one believes what happened and blame a system malfunction.
Many years later, after multiple upgrades and system overhauls, Demeter is back in space and, uncharacteristically, out for revenge. Demeter is joined by Frankenstein’s monster – created from the remains of the 312 deceased passengers of the fateful voyage; a treasure obsessed ancient mummy called Steve; a female vampire; and, survivor Agnus, a werewolf relative of the original aggressor. Demeter and the gang set out to extract revenge on the murderous Dracula.
Barbara Truelove has created the most pleasantly surprising of works in Of Monsters and Mainframes, a classic horror/futuristic sci-fi/semi-comedy blend. It’s like a ‘what if…’ answer made after one too many drinks, to one too many questions, simultaneously – but it works so very well.
Truelove has taken the peripheral elements of Stoker’s Dracula – the ship, Demeter, was the original transport, arriving in England with a dead crew. Mina Harker, Renfield and his passion for spiders, Dr. Seward (renamed Steward) all appear in variations. She’s thrown in a twist on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, a hereditary werewolf and a sassy, riches-obsessed mummy, sprinkled it liberally with silliness and sarcasm, and delivered one captivating read.
Reviewed by Glen Christie
The views expressed in this review belong to the author and not Glam Adelaide, its affiliates, or employees.
Distributed by: New South Books
Released: June 2025
RRP: $34.99
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