Use of "Frankenstein" as an adjective

Question

"Rebel and Imperial salvage technicians are resourceful and creative assets possessing an uncanny talent for integrating parts of one craft design into craft of a different design producing Frankenstein fighters with unique and often surprising defensive and offensive capabilities."

Is my use of Frankenstein in the above sentence correct or acceptable? Since the word is not referring to a specific person, should it be lowercase instead? Would "F/frankenstein-like" be a better choice here?

Thanks,
Jason

Clive · Accepted Answer

What's a Frankenstein fighter?

Anonymous · Answer

I was going for the analogy of Frankenstein being made of basically different body parts and these fighter craft being augmented with parts not meant for that particular fighter design. Perhaps this is a bad analogy?

Jason

AlpheccaStars · Answer

I thought of a Frankenstein fighter as a fighter who attacks the monster Frankenstein.
That is like a fire fighter who is a person who attacks and fights fires.

Clive · Answer

I was going for the analogy of Frankenstein being made of basically different body parts and these fighter craft being augmented with parts not meant for that particular fighter design. Perhaps this is a bad analogy?

Using the word 'Frankenstein', with or without a capital, does not make me think of the meaning you are trying to convey.

Clive

BarbaraPA · Answer

For what it's worth, Dr. Frankenstein was not made of different body parts. He built the monster. It's a common mistake to refer to the monster as Frankenstein, but that was "Frankenstein's monster" not Frankenstein himself.

CSnyder · Answer

For what it's worth, I knew exactly what you were trying to convey and think that the phrasing works fine.

Fivejedjon · Answer

CSnyderFor what it's worth, I knew exactly what you were trying to convey and think that the phrasing works fine.

Me too.

It is true that Frankenstein was actually the creator of the monster, not the monster, but I think the word 'Frankenstein' means the created monster to most people.

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you everyone for taking the time to provide feedback. I appreciate it.  Jason

Khoff · Answer

I would agree that most people think (incorrectly) that Frankenstein is the monster. But rather than suggesting "a creature made up of parts of other creatures," as you seem to want it to mean, when the term is used metaphorically it generally mean "a creation which turns against its creator and destroys him." If someone has come up with an idea or a product that has turned out to be very bad for the creator, he might say "I've created a Frankenstein."

(edited to correct typos)

Use of "Frankenstein" as an adjective

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