Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind
Hello, Stranger. Let's talk about Patrick Süskind's Perfume: The Story of a Murderer. The Short of It Plot: If he gathers enough material, he'll be able to craft the perfect smell. He'll finally smell human. Page Count: 263 Award: 1987 World Fantasy Award Worth a read : Yes Primary Driver: (Plot, World, or Character ) + Atmosphere Bechdel Test : Fail. Technobabble: Barely. Review: Evil is a challenge. How do you make a monster believable? If it's too ridiculous, there's no justification. If motivations are too believable, well, your monster is not really evil. Süskind nails it. This is evil as a fundamental lack of morality; an indifference to the needs and wants of others. And it's terrifying. Pacing is not always great, plot meanders a bit - but the mood, which is the essential characteristic of a horror story, stays oppressive, and unsettling. At less than 300 pages, this is worth reading for that alone. The Medium of It...