Mary Shelley’s parents were both writers and a. scientists b. politicians c. philosophers
Shelley got the idea for Frankenstein a. while visiting her mother’s grave b. while on vacation in Geneva c. while eloping with Percy Shelley
She began writing Frankenstein when she was a. sixteen b. eighteen c. twenty
Discussion/essay questions
In the past 200 years, Frankenstein has inspired plays, movies, and TV shows. Frankenstein’s monster has become an iconic character. Why do you think Frankenstein is such a long-lasting story?
Transcript
Mary Shelley was an English novelist. She is best known for her novel Frankenstein, which she began writing when she was eighteen years old. Shelley was born Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin in London in 1797. Her parents were both famous writers and radical philosophers during the French Revolution. Shelley’s mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, died less than two weeks after giving birth to her. Shelley had a chaotic childhood. She grew up with five step-siblings and half-siblings. When she was only sixteen, she eloped with the poet Percy Shelley. She had and lost her first child the next year. Shelley got the idea for Frankenstein on vacation in Geneva, when she was challenged to write a “ghost story.” She published it in 1818. Four years later, Percy drowned in a storm. She saved his heart and kept it in her desk drawer until her death in 1851. Shelley wrote seven novels in her life. Her work contains some of the earliest examples of science fiction.
Dune is set a. in the Middle Ages b. in the near future c. in the far future
The civilization in Dune depends heavily on a. futuristic technology b. a substance called “spice” c. help from the gods
Frank Herbert’s original series includes a. five books b. six books c. more than 20 books
Discussion/essay questions
Dune has been very influential in the sci-fi genre. In fact, some people have argued that the Star Wars film series reuses many of Herbert’s ideas. How important are original ideas in stories?
Dune was inspired by multiple cultures, including Indigenous American and Islamic cultures. However, the story has been criticized for its portrayal of these groups. Do authors have a responsibility when writing about different cultures? What do you think that responsibility is?
Transcript
Dune is a 1965 science fiction novel by American author Frank Herbert. It tells the story of a human civilization set thousands of years in the future. In the Dune universe, humans have expanded into space, occupying many planets. They have intentionally destroyed most of their technology, and they depend on a substance called “spice” that enhances cognitive abilities. Powerful families, called Houses, control land and resources. The story follows a young heir named Paul, who becomes an idol on the desert planet his House has occupied. The novel was originally published as two serialized stories. After its release, Herbert wrote five more books set in the Dune universe, and his son Brian Herbert continued the series after his death. The first book won two sci-fi awards. It has been adapted into multiple films and a television series.
The stories in I, Robot are structured as a. journal entries b. parts of an interview c. letters
The Three Laws of Robotics are meant to ensure that a. robots think like humans b. robots function properly c. robots make ethical decisions
The “Frankenstein complex” is the belief that a. robots will never be as smart as humans b. robots will eventually turn against their creators c. robots are incapable of emotions
Discussion/essay questions
In recent years, scientists have made many advancements in artificial intelligence. Do you think robots will ever be able to think like humans? Do you think it will happen in the near future? Why or why not?
Transcript
I, Robot is a collection of science fiction stories by American writer and scientist Isaac Asimov. The stories were originally published in science fiction magazines. They were compiled into a book in 1950. The stories are structured as parts of an interview with a robotics expert named Susan Calvin. Throughout the book, robots follow Asimov’s famous Three Laws of Robotics. These laws are designed to ensure that robots make ethical decisions. At the time, Asimov’s book was unique for describing robots as humanlike beings. Asimov often criticized a trope he called the “Frankenstein complex,” which was the belief that robots would eventually turn against their creators. Although technology has changed since I, Robot was published, it is still seen as an important exploration of morality in artificial intelligence.
Can you think of some other books, movies, or TV shows that use humour to criticize society?
Transcript
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is a comedy science fiction novel by English author Douglas Adams. The book is based on a radio series that Adams created in 1978. The protagonist, Arthur Dent, learns from his alien friend Ford Prefect that the world is about to end. Ford helps Arthur escape, and the two begin to travel through the galaxy. Along the way, Arthur learns that Earth was really a computer built to reveal the truth about “life, the universe, and everything”. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is a very satirical story. Many of the humorous events in the book represent problems in society. Adams published four more novels about Arthur Dent’s adventures before his death in 2001.
Although A Wrinkle in Time is loved by critics now, Madeleine L’Engle originally had trouble finding a company that would publish her book. L’Engle believed that one reason for that was the book’s female protagonist, which was uncommon in science fiction at the time. How has society’s view of female characters changed since then?
Transcript
A Wrinkle in Time is a 1962 science fiction novel by American author Madeleine L’Engle. The protagonist of this book is a teenage girl named Meg Murry who lives with her mother and her three siblings. One day, Meg, her younger brother Charles Wallace and their friend Calvin meet three mysterious women. Their names are Mrs Whatsit, Mrs Who, and Mrs Which. The women claim that Meg’s father is in danger and that they need the children’s help to rescue him. The story follows the group as they travel through space and time to find Meg’s father. Along the way, the characters discover new planets to explore and evil entities to defeat. Literary critics have praised this book because it explains complex themes in a way that children can understand. Some of the themes in this novel are the nature of evil and the danger of conformity.
