Description

In the early 19th Century, the industrial revolution, the harnessing of electricity, and rapid mechanization was disrupting age-old societal structures.  Our ancient fear of the ‘other,’ and a growing fear of the power of technology, sparked a reimagining of the golem by Mary Shelley in her book Frankenstein or The Modern Promethius (1831), this time animated not by mysticism but by galvanism.  Even today, this is a remarkably good read if you like gothic horror.  And it fits so well with the drumbeat of loss of control, and fear of the unknown, that sounds throughout history whenever the new threatens the old order.  Frankensten is considered by many to be the first sci-fi novel.