Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is a classic tale that tells the story of a scientist who creates a monster, hoping to cure his cancer. But this creation is anything but ordinary; it becomes something far more sinister. In the beginning, Dr. Frankenstein is merely intrigued by the monster and his own talents. But when he accidentally causes an explosion at his laboratory, he finds himself afflicted with the monster's insanity. Now the creature has something else in mind: to destroy humanity, destroy its very soul.

But when the Monster devises a cure for his insane father, he must deal with the emotions of mistrust and loyalty that he develops toward his daughter. He also has to take into consideration the conflicting loyalties of a widowed scientist, a Protestant minister, and a gentleman who is also his employer. The novel is filled with scientific descriptions and the portrayal of the times in which science and religion were in conflict. But above all, Frankenstein tells the story of an extraordinary creature that could twist the rules of nature.

But why was Mary Shelley qualified to write such a book? She had been a close friend of her friend, Frankenstein, and she wanted to share his passion for science. As she was growing up, she had also written of the myths of monster and science. By the time she was seventeen, she had already written several fantasy books about monsters and the unknown. But Frankenstein was her first science fiction book.

This story may seem a bit strange for a book review, but I think it makes sense. Contemporary readers will probably find the story too fanciful, but it is important to remember that Mary Shelley was actually an adult, living during the late nineteenth century. For those interested in the time period, she provides excellent background information. But she is not trying to project today's concerns about genetically modified foods or climate change.

What is most interesting about this book, however, is that despite its fanciful premise, Frankenstein is very relevant to today's concerns about genetic modification and climate change. In fact, many readers will be surprised at how much she takes the story in stride. For example, after receiving a letter from Dr. Frankenstein, Mary wonders if there is any truth to the story of the Monster. She goes to see him, and finds that he has created a frozen dinosaur in an effort to prove that it is, in fact, real. In short, he is not attempting to hoax anyone but is working to support the important research being done by others.

This book review may seem like a simple one, but it isn't. In fact, I spent some time thinking about how relevant this book is to the modern day. Reading it reminds me of when I was in college, and how much fun I had researched old science fiction books for class. But like so many of us, when it comes to these classic works of science fiction, we tend to take them for granted. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is truly a fascinating read, and one that can help us better understand the key elements of this genre.