Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a classic tale that has been told for decades and will be told for more decades to come – only, the telling of this monstrous tale might take a different form in the future. Developer Dave Morris has just created a particularly interesting and interactive form of the age-old tale for the iPad. This version of Shelley’s classic novel takes a modern turn where the story itself is concerned. It is also a clear example of what can happen to literary classics once they have been adapted to fit e-readers (in this case, the iPad).

Some literary critics aren’t adapting to Morris’ version of Frankenstein quite as well as Morris might have liked. On the other hand, various younger readers are finding Morris’ original rendition quite a lot of fun. The app retails for $4.99 right now in the Apple App Store. Why do you want it? Let’s just say that this isn’t your average e-book…

How Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein Has Changed

Adaptations of classic novels have always been present. From literary critics to original versions of classic tales, most novels have been adapted at one point or another. Now, with the invention of the e-reader, novels will take on a whole new turn. The first change that Dave Morris has made is to set the age-old tale in Paris instead of Germany (why Morris has done this is still unclear to this reviewer). The second thing that Morris has done is turn the tale into a “choose your own adventure” e-book.

Do you remember those books? Just in case you don’t (or are too young to), a “choose your own adventure” book is a book that follows a basic narrative, but lets a reader choose the outcome of each possible adventure. In Morris’ version, readers can choose to follow Shelley’s original tale or simply create a different adventure (though most choices really do follow the original quite nicely). Why mess with a classic? Presumably, Morris is simply trying to engage readers who otherwise wouldn’t pick up a novel like Frankenstein – when was the last time you read a classic book? Not only is the actual text unique, but Morris has also taken advantage of all that the iPad can do graphically.

Showcasing what the iPad Is Capable Of

Morris’ version of Frankenstein is a sight to be seen. The pages of Shelley’s work come alive thanks to graphics that shine and the iPad platform. Really, Morris is showing the world what the iPad can do and what the iPad is really capable of. Since Apple is making a foray into literature and textbooks, Morris’ version of the Shelley classic is a prime example of just how much the iPad rocks when it comes to literature and teaching in general.

If you don’t have an iPad right now, you won’t be able to access the new Morris’ version of Frankenstein on any other platform. If you do have an iPad, it’s worth spending those few dollars to see what the future of literature will look like.