‘It’s Life, Jim, but Not as We Know It’: The Gothic Monster in Science Fiction

Abstract

The Gothic has always been associated with the concept of the monster, and there are numerous ways in which this can manifest itself. From the traditional vampire and werewolf to the more modern zombie there really is no limit to the number and range of monsters to be found stalking the pages of Gothic fiction. Over the years Gothic criticism has made much of the role of the monster — detailing that it is a role that has largely grown from the more human Gothic villain, and whilst it is true that the Gothic villain is ‘always the most complex and interesting character’¹ much the same can be said of the Gothic monster, and it is the extent to which science fiction has adopted some of the quirks and behaviour patterns of the Gothic monster that this chapter will focus upon.