This is a personal revision of the Phantom related or inspired books I had the opportunity of reading.
"THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA"
Gaston Leroux
The original French novel is an indispensable reading for anyone interested in learning and enjoying more about Phantom, and his whole world. Although classified as a mystery or terror classic, it holds the magic of ALW's musical, having many bittersweet moments, and complex and sometimes hilarious characters.
Be careful, though, with the different translations! The most easily found translation, made by "de Mattos", has many passages simply left out , for example.
"PHANTOM"
Susan Kay
ISBN: 0-440-21169-7
This version of POTO could be defined as a biography of the Phantom. In a very well written book, sensual and touching, Kay introduces us to Erik's past, telling his whole personal story through a singular and tormented life, until he finally becomes the Phantom of the Opera. There is a lot more to Erik here than being just a disturbed deformed genius - Kay give us beautiful insights into the heart of this loving, sexy and courageous Erik, who also has an adorable sense of humor. Great reading!
NIGHT MAGIC
Charlotte Vale Allen
ISBN: 0-8041-0513-8 - Out of print
This romance doesn't follow the storyline of POTO, but rather borrows its general theme. Here, Marisa (the Christine character) will be the one who wishes to enter the "Phantom"'s world, a recluse architect and musician (also named Erik), badly scarred in a car accident. For those who have been missing reading a love-making scene between Phantom and Christine, this book is filled with them, at first quite sweet and compelling, becoming somewhat repetitive and empty as the story goes. What spoils this book a little is the "fairy-tailish" aspect it assumes sometimes, when overcoming Erik's face is just a tiny easy problem for a couple who is rich, madly in love, and have a group of relatives and friends always around to support them. On the other hand, it's good to see a loving and braver "Christine", whose main wish is making her Erik smile, and forgetting all he had to go through, being his redemption herself. A very pleasant and romantic version of POTO.
BEAUTY AND THE OPÈRA or THE PHANTOM BEAST
Suzy McKee Charnas
Short story published recently in the collection/book "Modern Classics of Fantasy", edited by Gardner Dozois
ISBN: 0-312-16931-0
Totally opposite to the romantic and sweet image of "Falling Angel" of Erik, this version shows a crude side of Erik's and Christine's relationship, instead of pretending Erik's only flaw was a scarred face. Here, she agrees to stay with Erik through five years, and during this time, we meet a strong-willed Christine (which is good for a change) who has to learn to accept and control Erik's dark and repulsive side, and eventually, to love it. A really interesting and realistic version, if you are willing to read about an Erik who has cruelty fits such as burning a little poodle alive, or his disgusting habits of feeding himself. One may wonder all through the book, however, if they actually love each other, or if there is some other obscure explanation to support this incredibly abusive relationship.
THE ANGEL OF THE OPERA:SHERLOCK HOLMES MEETS THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA San Siciliano ISBN:1-883402-46-8
BEAUTY
Susan Wilson
ISBN: 0-684-83422-7
NOTRE-DAME DE PARIS (THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE-DAME)
Victor Hugo
It is almost improper to include this novel side by side with harlequin romances, but in my opinion hardly any other book is more phantomish than this. It combines excellent writing, extremely touching scenes, a perfect plot and two "Erikish" characters that only by themselves would be enough to make the whole story unforgettable - Claude Frollo and Quasimodo.
Quasimodo, quite different from the cute Disney version, besides being badly deformed, is deaf and almost unbound from the real world. Yet he is completely altruistic and pure, with a formidable courage and determination.
Esmeralda is a naive, light headed young girl, who was stolen by the gypsies when she was a baby, and her only hopes of seeing her parents again are an amulet she carries with her, and keeping her castity untouched.
Captain Phoebus is, in good English, a complete jerk. Infatuated with a fancy lady, Fleur-de-Lys, he only deludes poor Esmeralda, pretending to care for her, for quick amusement, keeping her totally obsessed in love for him, while he entertains his days in taverns, or listing love words to other women.
Claude Frollo is the most astonishing character, a priest who carries on secret experiments with science and alchemy, contenting himself with a small chamber in the Cathedral, where he lives for his studies. His other passion is his younger brother, whom he raised with all care and love. Dark, intelligent, passionate, tormented, and at last, mad, he can hardly be classify as a villain.
The story? Hard to make a synopsis. It is a saga of disencounters, as each complex and deep character entangles with the other, and through fate, a character by itself, breaks the basis of their lives, and eventually leads them to absolute ruin and torment. A great criticism to society, to hypocracy, and to the traps set by human minds. Marvellous.
Some (phantomish, most of them) extracts.
HER MONSTER
Jeff Collignon
ISBN: 1-56947-001-4
More Beast than Phantom, Eddie is deformed at birth into a half-animal, half-person being, and therefore hides in a cabin away in the mountains. With the help and intermediation of his mother, he publishes many famous books under a pseudonym, and lives a peaceful and monotonous life; until the day a Californian teenager with colorful hair and a rebel image, Kat, goes to visit him. A friendship develops between them, though they talk without seeing each other. A very interesting book, it's really a pity that it ends when it should be unfolding the plot.
MASKERADE
Terry Pratchett
ISBN:0-06-105251-5
One word for this book: hilarious!! It's been a while since I read it, so I won't be able to give a full revision before reading it again. It is Phantom-related only until a certain point, but it is really refreshing to see the Opera House in a less obscure way, and actually laugh at many aspects of the story! One thing I remember - Christine is pictured as a totally stupid and good-willed character, (kind of the "blond-jokes-stereotype") and this alone is already enough to make you roll on the floor giggling.
The story line is completely absurd and nonsensical, but in a very good way. Perdita X is the heroine, who interacts with Christine, other Opera people, and the nut witches of the Pratchett's books. She has an incredible and beautiful voice, but a not-so-great look, and that gets the shocking comment by the Phantom, (who chose to teach Christine instead of Perdita, in spite of Perdita's better voice), "I can teach Christine to sing like you, but I can't make you look like Christine." - well, if you ever wondered if he would care for looks...
But it all makes sense in the end. A very fun book, I'll come up with a better and more solid revision after reading it again.
SHADOW PRINCE
Terri Lynn Wilhelm
ISBN: 0-06-108227-9
This romance tells the story of a sucessful plastic surgeon, Ariel, that eventually falls in love with a mysterious patient of hers, Johan, who always hides himself in the shadows, concealed his face. Slowly she will teach him to trust others again, and to see himself as a man. In order to do so, she will spend lots of time trying to overcome his reservations, his secrets, and her own complexes and fears. Here we have a realistic take on the consequences deformities bring to a person, both physical and mental, even though plastic surgery and therapy are tiringly discussed throughout the book as a somewhat miraculous escape. Not exactly high level literature, it still holds the readers's attention clear through the book, and offers some very touching scenes. The hero, though quite charismatic, is definetely not Erik - but he does show some Phantomish streaks every now and then.
THE FIRE ROSE
Mercedes Lackey
ISBN: 0-671-87750-X
In a fantasy style, this is the story of Jason Cameron, the Master of the Fire Element, whose failed attempt of a magic work turns him into a mix of wolf and man. Unable to go on with his studies and researches, he hires Rosalind, a plain but intelligent girl, to help him, moving into his fancy house and reading him books. Rosalind is a "poor orphaned" woman, whose knowlegde, will for learning, and independence is over-emphasized throughout the book, to the level of annoyance. Not really Phantomish, but quite enjoyable.
EMBRACE THE NIGHT
Amanda Ashley
ISBN: 0-8439-4378-5
Sarah is an orphaned girl, who is bound to a wheelchair and cared for by nuns. Gabriel, the name given by Sarah to her "angel", is a good-hearted, depressive, loving Vampire. Against all odds, they build a father-daughter relationship, where he looks after her and even frees her from some of her biggest troubles in her life. As she grows older, she starts to retribute him the man-woman love, but he is clearly conscious of being a Vampire, a being shunned away from this world. Gabriel resembles Erik in only these few aspects: having a beloved woman that would probably never be his, due to what he is; the self-despising, for being what he is; and the unconditional love and persistence. It is harlequin romance, alright, but quite interesting. You even get a nice "Raoul" as a bonus. The ending is rather original, a good twist. Not much of a plot in general, but still...
BEAUTY - "A retelling of the story of Beauty and the Beast"
Robin McKinley
ISBN:0-06-440477-3
As far as Beauty and the Beast, I'm familiar with two versions, the old French movie and the Disney one. This book, a retelling of the story, is actually, in my humble opinion, a murderer of the same.
Over half of the book goes on how Beauty, a young lady who actually didn't find anything beautiful about herself, (nor did anyone else), deals with her sisters, family in general, characters that come from nowhere and hold no interest at all.
And talking of non-interesting characters, Beauty is the proper example of it! If you can bear reading (or skipping pages) until her meeting with Beast, well, it doesn't get much better either. Beast is sweet, alright, but most of the writing is descriptive, and by that I mean description of the castle and the enchanted objects. But don't expect the charismatic and magic characters from the Disney version. Everything comes across as very dull. The end, well known, has no enchantment whatsoever.
Phantomish? Perhaps a couple of situations between the two, at the end of the book. If it's worth reading everything else to get to that, the reader can decide...
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