The blogger is prepared to stipulate that she bought a certain number of books at WorldCon. The actual number is not important. What we should focus on is that despite temptation, I did not purchase both The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter and its sequel, European Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewoman, in hardback editions. In fact I purchased neither! I confined myself mainly to small, portable books. You may leave your accolades for my restraint in the comments.
The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter is the story of Mary Jekyll, who discovers hints among her father’s papers that there may be a reward on offer for information leading to the apprehension of murderer Edward Hyde. Left without money upon the death of her parents, Mary follows the clues (with the help of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson), only to find that her father had far more secrets than she ever dreamed. Along the way, she meets the daughters of other scientists like her father, women created as monsters who now must make their way in the world.
Because it’s Theodora Goss, of course, the narration can’t be straightforward: The conceit of the book is that Catherine Moreau is writing the story, while all the other major characters interject their comments as she goes along. Mary’s newfound younger sister, Diana, is particularly fractious as regards things like symbolism or metaphor or Catherine assuming she knows what other people were thinking as they were having their adventures. I obviously loved this, although your mileage may vary — it’s a fun way to make an already metafictional story even metafictionaler.
If you are in search of deathless literature that delves deeply into the commonalities among the many books that inspired it, The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter may not be your jam. And it’s not trying to be; it’s trying to be exactly what it is: a fun, sweet, weird, fantastical story about the monster girls — existing and imagined — of literature and the found family they create together. If your Labor Day plans involve any sort of lazing about comfortably with a glass of wine in your hand, I commend Theodora Goss to your notice. The sequel, European Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewoman, came out last month and promises (over 700 pages of) metafiction, adventure, and delight.
PS I went to my first con this past weekend! Are y’all proud of me? I got a sticker that said it was my first ever WorldCon, and it was a wonderful experience where I met many amazing humans. Much recommended!