National Park After Dark The Mother of Science Fiction: Inventing Frankenstein
Jul 21, 2025
54:31
This week NPAD is on vacation, but as a special treat, we wanted to share an episode of our other podcast, Watch Her Cook, with you. This episode has a few surprising NPAD tie ins, and we are so excited to share it with you all. We will be back to our regularly scheduled National Parks programing next week! - Cassie and Danielle
What began as a vivid dream on a stormy night during the “Year Without a Summer,” after a round of German ghost stories by the fire, would go on to spark the birth of science fiction. In this episode, we will explore Mary Shelley’s journey from her childhood to becoming the author of Frankenstein, and how her imagination–and pain–brought a creature to life that still resonates with us so deeply today.
Listen to Watch Her Cook on Apple and Spotify! Follow us on Instagram
Sources:
• Time: Did a Real-Life Alchemist Inspire Frankenstein?
• Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus
• Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley- Poetry Foundation
• JStore: Mary Shelleys obsession with the cemetery
• Artificial intelligence and Frankenstein- comparative analysis
• Frankenstein or Modern Prometheus: Issues in biomedical science
• Frankenstein at 200: Why hasn’t Mary Shelley been given the respect she deserves?
• Mary Shelley Biography
• This day in history: Frankenstein published
• Smithsonian Magazine- Breaking auction records
For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at:
Instagram: @nationalparkafterdark
TikTok: @nationalparkafterdark
Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page!
What began as a vivid dream on a stormy night during the “Year Without a Summer,” after a round of German ghost stories by the fire, would go on to spark the birth of science fiction. In this episode, we will explore Mary Shelley’s journey from her childhood to becoming the author of Frankenstein, and how her imagination–and pain–brought a creature to life that still resonates with us so deeply today.
Listen to Watch Her Cook on Apple and Spotify! Follow us on Instagram
Sources:
• Time: Did a Real-Life Alchemist Inspire Frankenstein?
• Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus
• Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley- Poetry Foundation
• JStore: Mary Shelleys obsession with the cemetery
• Artificial intelligence and Frankenstein- comparative analysis
• Frankenstein or Modern Prometheus: Issues in biomedical science
• Frankenstein at 200: Why hasn’t Mary Shelley been given the respect she deserves?
• Mary Shelley Biography
• This day in history: Frankenstein published
• Smithsonian Magazine- Breaking auction records
For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at:
Instagram: @nationalparkafterdark
TikTok: @nationalparkafterdark
Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page!