Notions Unbound

Name: Notions Unbound
Price: 14.00 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781491202135

✍️ Chad Landshield

Reader Score

4.4

(1 review)

$14.00

In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days

📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A historical horror tale about an inventor and a dwarf creating a deadly artificial human.

In eighteenth-century France, Chad Landshield explores how scientific drive can lead to moral ruin. The main character, Wolfgang von Kempelen, tries to build a human-like creation after his fame with The Turk. He is aided by the Marquis de Vauchier, who works in seclusion but provides essential help. This machine they build causes death, acting as a clear signal against misusing knowledge. The tale fits into gothic stories where characters face punishment for crossing natural lines. Rather than fixing current ethical problems, it shows a past situation where thoughts were treated like goods. It targets readers who want to see the grim aspects of the Enlightenment and what happens when humans try to control life.

Key Themes

abuse of ideas artificial human being intellectual freedom

Literary Context

The story is set in eighteenth-century France during the Age of Enlightenment. This period saw cultural and technological innovations emerging from the dark ages. The narrative utilizes this historical backdrop to explore the rise of mechanical wonders and the societal shifts they caused.

Difficulty

●●● Challenging

Recommended For Fans Of

Mary Shelley · H.P. Lovecraft · Anne Rice

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Horror Fiction

🏛 Createspace Independent Publishing Platform 📅 2013 📖 374 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781491202135

📝 Description: Notions Unbound

Chad Landshield’s novel moves the story back to France during the early Enlightenment era, a time when old beliefs were crumbling under new ideas. The plot focuses on Wolfgang von Kempelen, an inventor famous for building a mechanical chess player known as The Turk. Wanting to achieve something even greater, he decides to build a living artificial person. He gets help from the Marquis de Vauchier, a smart but isolated dwarf who assists in making this elaborate deception real. Together, their efforts lead to tragic and lethal results, showing how dangerous it can be when innovation goes too far without limits. This book serves as a warning about how powerful groups can twist intellectual freedom for their own gain. Landshield uses elements of gothic horror and supernatural fear to look at these issues. The narrative tracks the creation of this artificial being and its sad end. People who like scary stories set in history that focus on scientists losing control will likely enjoy it. Those looking for fun, easy reading or modern day plots should pick something else. The story stays focused on the relationship between Kempelen and Vauchier rather than making wide claims about the time period.

💎 Our verdict on Notions Unbound

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Chad Landshield’s novel effectively moves the story back to France during the early Enlightenment era, capturing a time when old beliefs were crumbling under new ideas. The narrative focuses on Wolfgang von Kempelen and his attempt to build a living artificial person with the help of the Marquis de Vauchier. Their efforts lead to tragic and lethal results, showing how dangerous it can be when innovation goes too far without limits. This work serves as a warning about how powerful groups can twist intellectual freedom for their own gain. Landshield uses elements of gothic horror and supernatural fear to look at these issues. The story stays focused on the relationship between Kempelen and Vauchier rather than making wide claims about the time period. It suits readers who like scary stories set in history that focus on scientists losing control, avoiding modern plots or easy reading.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

This book serves as a grim warning about how powerful groups can twist intellectual freedom for their own gain. It is ideal for readers who enjoy scary stories set in history that focus on scientists losing control. Those interested in the dark aspects of the Enlightenment and what happens when humans try to control life will find much to ponder here. Landshield uses elements of gothic horror and supernatural fear to look at these issues, tracking the creation of an artificial being and its sad end. It does not offer fun, easy reading or modern day plots, but rather a focused narrative on the relationship between Kempelen and Vauchier. The tale acts as a clear signal against misusing knowledge, targeting readers who want to see the consequences when innovation goes too far without limits.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Chad Landshield’s novel effectively moves the story back to France during the early Enlightenment era, capturing a time when old beliefs were crumbling under new ideas. The narrative focuses on Wolfgang von Kempelen and his attempt to build a living artificial person with the help of the Marquis de Vauchier. Their efforts lead to tragic and lethal results, showing how dangerous it can be when innovation goes too far without limits. This work serves as a warning about how powerful groups can twist intellectual freedom for their own gain. Landshield uses elements of gothic horror and supernatural fear to look at these issues. The story stays focused on the relationship between Kempelen and Vauchier rather than making wide claims about the time period. It suits readers who like scary stories set in history that focus on scientists losing control, avoiding modern plots or easy reading.