xkcd #2799: Frankenstein Claim Permutations ( imgs.xkcd.com )

"When I began trying to form a new claim by stitching together these parts in such an unnatural way, some called me mad."

Image Transcription: XKCD Comics image

[A two-column table.]

[First row:]
- [column "Claim":]
  - [Open book. Left page says "F", right page shows the monster labeled "?". Arrow pointing to book says "by MS".]
  - "No, the monster in Mary Shelley's book is unnamed. Frankenstein is the doctor who created him."
- [column "Notes":] This is the normal claim
[Second row:]
- [column "Claim":]
  - [Open book. Left page says "?", right page shows the monster labeled "F". Arrow pointing to book says "by MS".]
  - "No, the monster in Mary Shelley's novel is named Frankenstein."
- [column "Notes":] Also common, and not worth getting mad about IMO
[Third row:]
- [column "Claim":]
  - [Open book. Left page says "MS", right page shows the monster labeled "?". Arrow pointing to book says "by F".]
  - "No, Frankenstein is the name of the author. The monster Mary Shelley created is unnamed."
- [column "Notes":] At a glance this could pass for one of the normal claims
[4th row:]
- [column "Claim":]
  - [Open book. Left page says "MS", right page shows the monster labeled "F". Arrow pointing to book says "by ?".]
  - "No one knows who wrote the novel about Doctor Mary Shelley creating the monster Frankenstein."
- [column "Notes":I would read this book
[5th row:]
- [column "Claim":]
  - [Open book. Left page says "F", right page shows the monster labeled "MS". Arrow pointing to book says "by ?".]
  - "No, Frankenstein is the name of the doctor. The monster he created is Mary Shelley."
- [column "Notes", merged with 6th row:] Fully chaotic
[6th row:]
- [column "Claim":]
  - [Open book. Left page says "?", right page shows the monster labeled "MS". Arrow pointing to book says "by F".]
  - "No, the doctor who creates Mary Shelley in Frankenstein's novel doesn't have a name."
- [column "Notes", merged with 5th row:] Fully chaotic

[Title text:] When I began trying to form a new claim by stitching together these parts in such an unnatural way, some called me mad.