Review of The Different Kinds Of Monsters

[G D H]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Different Kinds Of Monsters" by Seth Chambers.]

---

3 out of 4 stars

---

Share This Review

---

Sci-fi enthusiasts are often prone to receiving every SF-tagged novel as “hard sci-fi”—the limit-breaking biotech, flouted natural laws, time fiddled with, aliens to meet, or zombies to gaz or euthanize. For such ones, The Different Kinds of Monsters by Seth Chambers would be the ultimate welcome-back-to-reality blow that reminds them that other dimensions of science fiction do exist. Chambers' brilliant work is a sociological and supernatural science fiction, and a somewhat simple yet astounding fantasy.

In early 20th-century Como Bluffs, an allosaur awakens from its “stony sleep.” It is often said (in the book!) that “blood calls to blood.” What the sayers of this catchy phrase missed, however, is that endorsed by supernatural forces, blood may, could, and can also call to the “unblood”. What better candidate in this line of the unblood than a blood-thirsty unblood?—The fossilized 130-million-year-old blood-matter-rich bones of an “allosaurus fragilis,” a once distinguished host of the cruel blood banquet in the then hall of the dinosaur kings?

Several decades later (prior to the 9/11 WTC attacks), having grown steadily conscious of the inauspiciousness of an odd peculiarity—that Emily, the stone cold skeletal frame of an ages-dead Jurassic biggie, an allosaur, has gleefully taken to following he and his family around through God-knows-how means, Dylan Armitage hits the road AGAIN to catch a quick grasp of what is coming way before it does. The only problem, he soon understands, is that whatever this may be, it is losing no time in stirring up the ominous soup he fears would soon be forced down his guts.

Grounding his work as a sociological sci-fi, the author has done another beautiful work in staging the middle realm of the only nature of relationship permitted by society between its superposed hoard of values plus relational ethics and the human individual, that of UNQUESTIONED CONFORMITY of the latter to the former. Closely witnessing the making and evolution of Dylan's personal psychology and inner psyche, we perceive this middle interrelational realm as dark and bleached. Seth Chambers tilts his authorial hindsight to focus Dylan Armitage, his weirdo of a hero.

He takes us through the different chapters of Dylan's life, each invoking strong irrepressible feelings in us, early of skepticism to the far-off dinosaurian fantasy thrown in without caution and soon afterwards of diehard enthusiasm as both story and mystery begin to burgeon and take on form and grace. After the story climaxes to the point of no return, another question comes to hang above us all: to what extent can the forbidden territory unspelt yet shunned in society's book of DOs and DON'Ts be pushed back in mind and practice without sparking a cultural uproar?

I easily loved how this book stood for itself—I had challenged it to prove its worth after dozing off on my first read. The author has invested deeply in characterization to depict specific personal psychologies as symbols for each deep theme. The most vivid is found even in the title itself—The Different Kinds of Monsters. After meeting each iconic monster, a supporting theme soon sprouts: “some monsters are born not of their own will.” Supporting or central, it depends on each reader; but for me, this latter theme is central to the surface story.

The author's use of a recursive plot and alternating timelines gave us thankful reliefs at moments when we just would have loved to flee and recover from particular shocks in the story. His use of first-person narration also made the story greatly enjoyable, as It helps readers to have a bird's eye view of Dylan's story. He also uses purposeful paradox to paint reality in some later parts of the book which could easily be missed by an inattentive reader.

Not a “junior paleontologist” myself, I did not savour the fact that there was no indexed reference point to check up the several valid, but strange and relatively new, scientific and casual names for dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures which occured repeatedly across the text of the book. Nevertheless, pitching my final judgement on a fair consideration of the main good points about the book and the fact that only very few typos were discovered in the text, I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars.

There are a couple of highly graphic erotic scenes on display in this book. Readers should also be psychological prepared to digest a number of themes which are uncommon to popular culture, and that demands a certain level of maturity to process and classify. I recommend this book to mature lovers of soft sci-fi and fantasy, and to all who desire to experience another side of life. Perhaps, true Jungians may also find one or two things to take home in line with the Electra Complex.

******
The Different Kinds Of Monsters
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[AvidBibliophile]

The supernatural forces and fossilized bones in this story would definitely delight readers who have an invested interest in mystical paleontology, so thank you for an entertaining review!

[G D H]

The supernatural forces and fossilized bones in this story would definitely delight readers who have an invested interest in mystical paleontology, so thank you for an entertaining review!

I dare say it will — for leaving aside the deep themes, there's a most interesting story on play. You're ever welcome, and it's I who am most pleased that you had an interesting read all through this review.

Long live our dinosaur friends !!!

[kandscreeley]

Well, the erotic scenes aren't my cup of tea. However, I love a good sci-fi. You make this one sound interesting. Thanks.

[Prarthna]

Your review has piqued my curiosity. The plot seems very unique and intriguing. Thanks for the great review.

[Ailakhu Yusau Aizhebiomon]

In as much as I like enjoyed reading your review, I am not a huge fan of sci-fi books and may not get to read this. Thank you for your insightful review.

[NancyDrew12]

The cover of this novel is very cool. I've always been interested in dinosaurs so that instantly drew me in. Your review is very detailed! Thank you!

[Hyacinth Bella]

I was always put off by science fiction because I always think that I wouldn't understand them well because they are full of scientific jargon I wouldn't understand. I think this book would be a lot to digest in, and I would not read it anytime soon. Thank you for your review, however!

[G D H]

Well, the erotic scenes aren't my cup of tea. However, I love a good sci-fi. You make this one sound interesting. Thanks.

Thanks so much. I haven’t been here in a long while, and doing my best to catch up with the many new changes. To be honest, The Different Kinds of Monsters is not just a book I reviewed for a few bucks to swag around, it made a huge impression on me. I can remember reading whole chapters in it repeatedly on several occasions in the first few months after the submission of my review, as I tried to have a more insightful idea of what other themes the book might be hinged on. Arguably one of the most intrinsically written books I have read in a long time.

Much love to another sci-fi lover in the room

[G D H]

Your review has piqued my curiosity. The plot seems very unique and intriguing. Thanks for the great review.

Hi! Stopping to say thanks. Feel bad to have been away for so long. Truly is, this book’s plot. I love how it engages the reader, to be bored by it is a near impossibility.

[G D H]

In as much as I like enjoyed reading your review, I am not a huge fan of sci-fi books and may not get to read this. Thank you for your insightful review.

I love how you stormed through till the end, despite not being an avid fan of sci-fi. Open-mindedness is one I have a great value and respect for. Thanks for stopping by. Oh, one more thing—I was going to tell you that your recent review of Natural Relief for Anxiety and Stress was truly done real good. Your honesty, undeniably impressive; your enthusiasm, infectiously expressed. I am hit!

[G D H]

The cover of this novel is very cool. I've always been interested in dinosaurs so that instantly drew me in. Your review is very detailed! Thank you!

Fancied only I thought same. I mean, see those teeth

Big thanks for stopping by. Really sorry that this is coming late. “Always been interested”? Wow, I just got me a twin!

[G D H]

I was always put off by science fiction because I always think that I wouldn't understand them well because they are full of scientific jargon I wouldn't understand. I think this book would be a lot to digest in, and I would not read it anytime soon. Thank you for your review, however!

To tell you the truth, I used to think the same. But then I found out that sci-fi—like the MCU (or Marvel Cinematic Universe), Tolkien’s LOTR or even Nickelodeon teen sitcoms like the famed “Sam & Cat”—is a world of its own, with its own people, its own language, and its own culture. I believe that if you can think of it as a weird form of linguistic immersion, you would soon begin to lose much of your stress before sci-fi novels. Thanks big time