Changes

The novel begins with a couple, Reed and Beck Shelton, who, along with some friends, are camping in the [[Idaho]] wilderness. Reed is very excited about the trip, but Beck would much rather stay home in the comforts of daily life. Reed is trying to get her to broaden her horizons by taking her into the wilderness for a week.  

The novel begins with a couple, Reed and Beck Shelton, who, along with some friends, are camping in the [[Idaho]] wilderness. Reed is very excited about the trip, but Beck would much rather stay home in the comforts of daily life. Reed is trying to get her to broaden her horizons by taking her into the wilderness for a week.  

As the couple approach the cabin that they are going to be staying at, they find it trashed and partially destroyed. Reed suspects a [[bear]], so he and Beck stay up on a knoll overlooking the cabin for the night. However, that night the two are awakened by the sound of something rummaging through the cabin's remains, followed by a series of eerie howls. Finally, in a panic, the two run back down the trail they came on but Beck falls over a waterfall and is knocked unconcious at the bottom. Reed sees a giant creature carry her off into the night. He tries searching for her, but eventually gives up and falls asleep in a meadow.

As the couple approach the cabin that they are going to be staying at, they find it trashed and partially destroyed. Reed suspects a [[bear]], so he and Beck stay up on a knoll overlooking the cabin for the night. However, that night the two are awakened by the sound of something rummaging through the cabin's remains, followed by a series of eerie howls. Finally, in a panic, the two run back down the trail they came on but Beck falls over a waterfall and is knocked unconscious at the bottom. Reed sees a giant creature carry her off into the night. He tries searching for her, but eventually gives up and falls asleep in a meadow.

Meanwhile, their two friends, Michael "Cap" Capella and his wife Sing are on their way to the campsite, unaware of the carnage that has taken place. They stop at Abney, a small alpine village on the edge of the Idaho wilderness, where they spend the night at a small hotel. The owner, Arlen Peak, tells them of some strange occurences that have been taking place. Herds of elk have been running through the area when it isn't migrating season, and some high-pitches howls have been heard in the woods at night. Arlen belives that it is a [[bigfoot]].

Meanwhile, their two friends, Michael "Cap" Capella and his wife Sing are on their way to the campsite, unaware of the carnage that has taken place. They stop at Abney, a small alpine village on the edge of the Idaho wilderness, where they spend the night at a small hotel. The owner, Arlen Peak, tells them of some strange occurrences that have been taking place. Herds of elk have been running through the area when it isn't migrating season, and some high-pitches howls have been heard in the woods at night. Arlen believes that it is a [[bigfoot]].

The next morning, Cap and Sing find Reed in the meadow. He tells them about the awful events that had taken place the night before, and they take him back to the hotel with them. Soon afterwards, a search party is organized the try to find Beck.

The next morning, Cap and Sing find Reed in the meadow. He tells them about the awful events that had taken place the night before, and they take him back to the hotel with them. Soon afterwards, a search party is organized the try to find Beck.

Reed tries to convince the party that it was no bear that did the damage, but most of them refuse to believe and proceed to set out bear stands in an attempt to capture one. Arlen seems to be the only one who will believe Reed, as no bear would have simply picked up a person and carried it. Cap, on the other hand, wishes to find out for himself what it was, and soon has his opportunity as another attack is reported not far away, by a young couple by the name of Ted and Melanie Brooks. Cap takes the saliva and dung samples left by the beast and attempts to get them analyzed at the university that he used to work at as a professor, before being fired because he was repeatedly finding problems with [[theory of evolution|Darwinism]]. The samples do not match any known creature, as they seem to contain the DNA of a chimpanzee, that has been contaminated with human DNA. Soon he meets up with several of his former co-workers, who seem to be trying to cover something up. This becomes apparent when Cap begins investigating the office of his former co-worker, Adam Burkhardt. He finds several jars, with preserved specimens of various mutated animals, none of which have survived.

Reed tries to convince the party that it was no bear that did the damage, but most of them refuse to believe and proceed to set out bear stands in an attempt to capture one. Arlen seems to be the only one who will believe Reed, as no bear would have simply picked up a person and carried it. Cap, on the other hand, wishes to find out for himself what it was, and soon has his opportunity as another attack is reported not far away, by a young couple by the name of Ted and Melanie Brooks. Cap takes the saliva and dung samples left by the beast and attempts to get them analyzed at the university that he used to work at as a professor, before being fired because he was repeatedly finding problems with [[theory of evolution|Darwinism]]. The samples do not match any known creature, as they seem to contain the DNA of a chimpanzee, that has been contaminated with human DNA. Soon he meets up with several of his former co-workers, who seem to be trying to cover something up. This becomes apparent when Cap begins investigating the office of his former co-worker, Adam Burkhardt. He finds several jars, with preserved specimens of various mutated animals, none of which have survived.

Beck gradually adapts to the ways of her new "family", but it soon becomes apparent that the sasquatches are running from something. Beck thinks it may simply be hunters, and she soon discovers that several of them are indeed out, looking for her. They are anything but successful, however, as the sasquatches are exteremely adept at hiding and blending in with their surroundings. However, one man, by putting out fruit as bait, manages to capture some footprints.

Beck gradually adapts to the ways of her new "family", but it soon becomes apparent that the sasquatches are running from something. Beck thinks it may simply be hunters, and she soon discovers that several of them are indeed out, looking for her. They are anything but successful, however, as the sasquatches are extremely adept at hiding and blending in with their surroundings. However, one man, by putting out fruit as bait, manages to capture some footprints.

Cap soon discovers that Burkhardt has moved out, and manages to convince his friend, Nick, to tell him where his former collegue went. It turns out that the professor has moved his lab to the wilderness, so that he can study and experiment alone, "without probing eyes". As Cap tours the lab, he finds several of Adam's accmplishments, which are either dead or deformed chimpanzee [[embryos]]. Finally, entering the back room, he finds several monstrous creatures that have been created. One of them has escaped from its cage and into the wilderness, and now Cap knows what has been doing all the killing. As he prepares to exit the lab, he is caught by one of the professors at the university, Phillip Merril, and two campus policemen. Cap, using the hideous, deformed creatures in Burkhardt's lab, demonstrates how mutations cannot work to produce a higher form of life, even controlled, purposeful mutations. Finally, he manages to get out and goes back to get the police.

Cap soon discovers that Burkhardt has moved out, and manages to convince his friend, Nick, to tell him where his former colleague went. It turns out that the professor has moved his lab to the wilderness, so that he can study and experiment alone, "without probing eyes". As Cap tours the lab, he finds several of Adam's accomplishments, which are either dead or deformed chimpanzee [[embryos]]. Finally, entering the back room, he finds several monstrous creatures that have been created. One of them has escaped from its cage and into the wilderness, and now Cap knows what has been doing all the killing. As he prepares to exit the lab, he is caught by one of the professors at the university, Phillip Merril, and two campus policemen. Cap, using the hideous, deformed creatures in Burkhardt's lab, demonstrates how mutations cannot work to produce a higher form of life, even controlled, purposeful mutations. Finally, he manages to get out and goes back to get the police.

Reed is further convinced that the creature that has been doing the killings was not a bear, when it kills his boss, Sheriff Mills, by wringing his neck, the same way as it had killed all the others. The others continue to search, but when Reed finds a piece of his wife's bloodied buckskin jacket, he is convinced that she is dead and gives up. However, upon investigation he finds that it is several days old, and continues. Soon, a conspiracy is apparent, as Sing is nearly killed by a member of the team, and the head of the search party, Pete, is murdered by another. Reed is nearly killed, but manages to kill his foe before he can try again.  

Reed is further convinced that the creature that has been doing the killings was not a bear, when it kills his boss, Sheriff Mills, by wringing his neck, the same way as it had killed all the others. The others continue to search, but when Reed finds a piece of his wife's bloodied buckskin jacket, he is convinced that she is dead and gives up. However, upon investigation he finds that it is several days old, and continues. Soon, a conspiracy is apparent, as Sing is nearly killed by a member of the team, and the head of the search party, Pete, is murdered by another. Reed is nearly killed, but manages to kill his foe before he can try again.  

==Analysis==

==Analysis==

Through ''Monster'', Frank Peretti shows the flaws of evolutionary thinking, through the ever-popular science fiction genre. Adam Burkhardt had tried to prove that evolution was true by producing a stronger, more dominant creature through viral transfers. However, he proved nothing other than the exact opposite: mutations cannot produce a higher form of life, and all they are able to do is cause deformities, disabilites and death. Burkhardt had intended the animal to be dominant, but had instead produced a deranged killer.

Through ''Monster'', Frank Peretti shows the flaws of evolutionary thinking, through the ever-popular science fiction genre. Adam Burkhardt had tried to prove that evolution was true by producing a stronger, more dominant creature through viral transfers. However, he proved nothing other than the exact opposite: mutations cannot produce a higher form of life, and all they are able to do is cause deformities, disabilities and death. Burkhardt had intended the animal to be dominant, but had instead produced a deranged killer.

[[Category:Books]]

[[Category:Books]]