Book Review: I, Monster by Clifton Wilcox

Reviewed by Philip Zozzaro

A gripping and horrifying story of a man’s descent into inhumanity

As a child, Hans inhabited a world driven by fear and harshness. He was often the target of bullying from local youths, and the constant torment he was subjected to left him with little hope. But the need to survive forced Hans into fighting back with a viciousness that left little regard for the damage inflicted upon his opponents. Hans’s heart was increasingly filled with bitterness amid the poverty and threat of violence; even random acts of kindness he received from strangers did little to quell the storm brewing inside him.

Through these vivid depictions, Clifton Wilcox deftly sets the stage for what’s to come in Hans’ future.

He was looking for a purpose to serve, and he found it as a soldier in the new authoritarian regime. He is proficient at following orders, and his efficiency is noted by superior officers in the government. Despite bearing witness to the violence being carried out by fellow soldiers, Hans views himself as removed from the actions. He may order a beating or an execution, but he absolves himself from guilt as he is never the executioner. His amoral apathy amidst the carnage becomes one of the more chilling aspects of his character’s development.

Hans grew up feeling weak and powerless, and his vulnerability was obvious to any potential intimidator. Now, Hans wields the power over many and controls their fates. He runs his concentration camp with an iron fist; any infraction is immediately addressed with swift and severe punishment. He keeps meticulous records of the executions carried out under his watch. His need for control extends even to fellow soldiers and playing mind games to ensure an underling’s loyalty is not beneath him.

His undoing begins with dreams of his victims, which leads to a slight change in demeanor. He must maintain a stolid demeanor as a leader, or he risks falling out of favor with his superiors and being replaced. Soon, the regime is collapsing, and Hans must face the consequences of his actions, his fate to be determined by a jury of 12 people.

I, Monster brilliantly chronicles the evolution and downfall of a villainous figure. Hans is representative of far too many automatons who served totalitarian regimes with aplomb. A pitiful human being who held little regard for others as he climbed the ranks of a despotic regime, he rationalizes unconscionable actions with nary a second thought.

While Hans’s narrative serves as the primary dramatic focus of the story, the aftermath of his verdict proves equally engaging, as society grapples with accountability and whether events like this will recur again. The justice meted out at the various trials is hoped to serve as a deterrent.

Author Clifton Wilcox’s finely written I, Monster will raise questions about how environment can shape one’s mind and whether lessons can be learned in the wake of unspeakable evil. This is an excellent historical novel steeped in a terrifying reality—as thought-provoking as it is dark.

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