ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the notion of the Other and the constitution of the Gothic monster in Crichton's text, examines not only the fictional interplay among the cultures of the novel but also the real-life contributions of the historical Arab Ibn Fadlan (877–960) and the English Beowulf poet on the construction of the American Gothic tradition. In order to achieve his purpose, Crichton employs the Gothic monster in his novel. In Michael Crichton: A Critical Companion, Elizabeth Trembley calls Eaters of the Dead the "most gothic of Crichton's novels", stating that "the mist monsters are supernatural creatures of astonishing evil". Textually, the mist monsters of Eaters of the Dead are indeed murderers undeserving of sympathy. However, a meager group of scholars have taken notice of Eaters of the Dead, and, with the exception of some of the work of Elizabeth Trembley, most of their scholarship has not been favorable of the novel.
