Frankenstein
Author Mary Shelley
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Story
Victor Frankenstein, an ambitious scientist, has become obsessed with discovering the secret of life and eventually assembles a creature from corpses. He animates his creation but the creature he brings to life is a monster. Frankenstein abandons his creation thinking it will die but the monster survives. Shunned by society and filled with loneliness, the creature sets out to destroy his maker.
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Why we chose it
The most famous horror story – and some argue the first true science fiction story - Frankenstein has had a huge influence on popular culture and inspired a genre of horror stories. Although the subsequent films focus on horror and monsters, the novel itself asks far reaching ethical and moral questions about the creation of artificial life and the responsibilities of scientists.