Help me find this novel from the 1990s

February 13, 2024 1:08 AM

It's a UK novel, probably published in late 1980s or early 1990s, with a title like "Exquisite Monsters" or "Beautiful Monsters" or "Exquisite Beasts" and it's about a strange family, intermingled with the Atomic Age and weird science.

I was reminded of this book when I watched "Poor Things," and at first thought the movie was the adaptation of the book I have in mind. But that turned out to be Alasdair Gray and not this book I'm thinking of.

Any ideas?

posted by chavenet to Media & Arts (5 answers total)

Best answer: Could it be Hopeful Monsters by Nicholas Mosley?
posted by rd45 at 2:01 AM on February 13 [3 favorites]

Is it Einstein’s Monsters? Martin Amis short story collection
posted by Hugobaron at 3:32 AM on February 13 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Could it be Hopeful Monsters by Nicholas Mosley?

Yes, of course it is!

Thank you very much, I would never have gotten there.
posted by chavenet at 3:32 AM on February 13 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Is it Einstein’s Monsters? Martin Amis short story collection

No, that's not it, see above. But there is plenty of good (and bad!) to be had in that collection.
posted by chavenet at 3:33 AM on February 13

just chiming in to say Hopeful Monsters is one of my all time faves. Not bad for the son of Britain's most notorious fascist ...

Don't worry. He was a harsh critic.
posted by philip-random at 2:30 PM on February 13 [1 favorite]