In the summer of 1816, known as the 'Year Without a Summer' due to a volcanic eruption, 18-year-old Mary Shelley was staying near Lake Geneva with Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley. To pass the time during the gloomy weather, Byron challenged everyone to write a ghost story. Mary’s contribution was 'Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus.' Unlike traditional ghost stories, she used the 'science' of the day—galvanism (the use of electricity to stimulate muscle movement)—as the catalyst for her monster. This shift from supernatural magic to speculative technology is why 'Frankenstein' is widely considered the first true science fiction novel. The book explores the ethical responsibilities of the creator and the dangers of playing God, themes that remain central to the genre over two centuries later.