Creature From The Black Lagoon
Posted by: Loren Coleman on September 28th, 2006
There is a new cryptofiction novel, Creature From The Black Lagoon: Time’s Black Lagoon.
Book Description
In 1954, an expedition found what seemed to be a missing link in the evolutionary chain: an ancient, immensely powerful amphibian creature. Scientists tried to tame it, break its will, and even change its very being with surgery and torture, but the beast rebelled, killing nearly all in its way. But was the creature truly a throwback, a freak survivor of some prehistoric era — or was it something more?
Six decades later, one scientist attempts to find out, using a time machine to journey into the past. What he finds not only shatters his vision of what the Creature might be, but could change the history of the human race forever. Paul Di Filippo reinvents the Creature with a tale of time travel, horror, and mystery that blends Cold War science fiction with today’s cutting edge cyberpunk.
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Loren Coleman no longer writes for Cryptomundo. His archived posts remain here at Cryptomundo.
When I read the words ‘Time Machine’ in a sci-fi novel promotion I automatically dismiss the thing. I guess it’s just me but that vehicle is almost as worn out as a ‘dream sequence’ in a love story.
That original film is one of my all time favorite “monster movies” but I have to agree with MountDesertIslander, that is a played out scenario. It’s like watching the 28th season of some Star Trek show and the stupid transporter is on the fritz again, or something has gone horribly, horribly wrong with the holodeck or they have to eject the ol’ warp core again. (I may have shown what a total sci-fi geek I can be but I digress…)
“The Creature From the Black Lagoon” was a favorite film of mine as a child, I just loved the idea of some kind of aquatic reptile man swimming around with cool webbed hands. The summery of this new one holds true to recent policies of bringing back a classic piece of cinema only to defecate upon in front of everyone.
I understand one of the major story points is going back to that era but like the others above, my mind did a 180 degree turnaround on this when I saw ‘time machine..’. The story is titled ‘TIME’s Black Lagoon’ so time travel became essential to the whole thing but it would be MUCH more plausible if he were to just stumble upon one in MODERN times…would the creature still not possibly be seen as the ‘throwback’. Why doesn’t he just hop in a time machine and stop the assasination of archduke Ferdinand or something useful…
D
I admit its my reflex to agree with the previous posters but I’ll try to withhold judgement until I read a review or two.
I would have preferred a simple return via boat than time machine.
I will have to reserve judgment until I can read it as well. The skill of the writer will determine if the time travel is acceptible to the readers — Though I do understand the monotony of seeing the same thing over and over.
*Whew * for a second there I thought this would be telling about a new movie of the story. I hate those remakes. The writers never ‘get it’ and dump what made the original concept a success tring to ‘update’ what should never be updated.
Sadly, the time travel scenario takes a very plausible idea and “undoes” the whole thing. 1954 wasn’t so long ago that a more realistic idea might be to simply return in the present to look for more.
Very cool film indeed. Also Loren saw you on the History Channel yesterday talking about Ghost Ship sightings.
The sci-fi time machine thing could work, but it would be more interesting to me personally if it was more accessible and real. It would be a lot creepier and easier to relate to if it was a plausible setting. It might be entertaining but hard to put myself in the shoes of a cryptozoologist who travels back in time six decades. I hope to be pleasantly suprised.
I would think having a time machine would be enough to “change the history of the human race forever!” It seems to me that the time travelling angle would be a distraction from the creature story. Either make it a time travel novel or a creature novel, not both.
Hum, I took the possibility of ‘changing the history of the human race forever’ to mean the time travel went way back, like pre-history.
Will have to hunt the book now.
I have it on order myself.
I view it as an expansion of the original concept.
Mostly I view it as a fun read about a fun character.
Maybe it will be crap, maybe it will be good. I am hopeful.
Time Travel? UGHHHHH.
Has anyone ever seen Ron Popiel and the Creature from the Black Lagoon together? Just wondering.
The time travel element can still work if it’s done well. But if it’s just another ‘military experiment’ gone awry type of tale, then I don’t have much hope for it.
Very nice book cover though.
Just an FYI (as the original was one of my favorite movie monster flicks), I believe I read there is going to be a new big budget Creature From the Black Lagoon movie. I wonder if there some possible connection between the book and this with regards to plot elements?
jhamm nailed it.
Either creature or time travel not both.
Favorite childhood “monster” movie.
My perception of what is a monster has changed since then.
Jeez, aren’t any of you guys Doctor Who fans? Anyway, my take on the summary was also that he went way back in time, and the “change the history of humanity” thing would likely be that the creatures had their own civilization.
I watched this flick at the drive-in with my mom. I was 9 years old. I spent 3/4 of the movie in the floorboard scared out of my wits. Later, when I had aged a bit, (12 yrs old), I watched the movie as a Satueday Matinee. It is a favorite. I think a well done remake is in order, although it would be hard to beat the original.
The CFTBL is my alltime favorite monster flick. I still am nervous swimming over deep green waters. Also the actress Julie Adams is one of the hottest starlets from the 50′s. Anyone who looks that great on an Amazon expedition can trek with me anytime.