★ 本書錄音採用英式發音
★ 英語級數：Intermediate（中級）
《科學怪人》（Frankenstein）這部小說，描寫一位年輕的科學學生在科學實驗中創造出了一個生物。這是一部偉大的恐怖小說，但也探討了哲學上的一些觀念，以及人類是否有權「扮演上帝」的議題。這是一本極早期的科幻小說典範。
1816年夏天，瑪麗·雪萊（Mary Shelley, 1797–1851）與丈夫柏西·雪萊（Percy Shelley, 1792–1822），連同拜倫（Lord Byron, 1788–1824）和其他友人一同前往日內瓦旅行。由於天候惡劣，大夥無法外出活動，便待在屋內消磨時間。他們閱讀恐怖小說，接著比賽寫恐怖小說。瑪麗想像一個科學家創造了一個生物，卻反被他所創造的「東西」所嚇到的故事，她的想像最後成為了《科學怪人》的故事。
這本小說除了告誡執迷的危險，也談到了孤獨的問題。這個怪物之所以會行徑失控，是由於外表被排斥，而非本性惡劣。在故事中，他幾次展現了他良善的一面。
小說出版後，有批評家評說「恐怖又噁心」，但其他評論家驚訝的是這本小說竟出自女性之手。然而，《科學怪人》非常暢銷，並於1823年搬上舞台劇，從此廣為人知。之後，也有多部電影、電視劇和戲劇改編或源自於這本小說。
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Frankenstein is a novel about a young science student who creates a creature as a scientific experiment. It is a great horror story but also discusses ideas about philosophy and questions man’s right to “play God”. It is a very early example of science fiction.
During the summer of 1816, Mary Shelley traveled to Geneva with her husband Percy Shelley, Lord Byron, and others. The weather was too bad for outdoor activities, so the friends spent time inside. They read ghost stories and then had a competition to write the best horror story. Mary dreamt about a scientist who created life but was horrified by the “thing” he had made; her dream became the story of Frankenstein.
As well as being a warning about the dangers of obsession, the novel also talks about the problem of being lonely. The monster only becomes violent because he is rejected for his appearance, not because he is naturally evil. He shows himself to have a good character several times in his story.
When the book came out one critic said it was “horrible and disgusting”. Others were shocked that a woman had written it. But Frankenstein was extremely popular. It became widely known when it was made into a stage play in 1823. It has inspired many films, TV adaptations and plays since then.