Posted 11/15/2008 @ 12:27:12 pm by readingscififantasy.com

Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelly was first published in January of 1818 under an anonymous name. It was not until the 3rd edition in 1823 that the author's true name was on the novel. In Greek mythology, Prometheus was the Titan who created mankind and gave him fire. At first, the book received poor reviews, but was popular with the public.

Previously, there were novels that used horror, terror, and fantasy. Frankenstein was the first book that used science that was currently being used or thought possible in the near future. In Shelly's time, there were many new discoveries being made in nature and the medical sciences. This novel used chemistry and the new science of electricity for the development of Victor Frankenstein's creature, thus the first of it's genre.

Science fiction is literature that deals with the impact of actual or imagined science on society. Many feel that the author wrote this book as a warning to mankind of the moral wrongful use of science. Mary Shelly, as many of her time, had no formal education but was a very well read young woman. Frankenstein was published when Shelly was 19 years old.

In the many theatrical and film adaptations of Mary Shelly's novel the creature has assumed to be the main character and has taken on Frankenstein's name. These versions move away from the book, but the overall story line is still the same. Unfortunately, most people today know only the film versions of this great classical novel.

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