The idea for this work originated in a Sci-Fi film series, which I hosted at New Mexico State University – Carlsbad in 1998. One of the films was the 1931 version of Frankenstein, which was loosely base on the Mary Shelly novel. While researching the origins of Mary’s story, I became interested, not only in her life, but also the message apparent in the subtitle, The Modern Prometheus. Then in the fall of 2001, the American Library Association advertised a traveling exhibit titled, "Frankenstein: Penetrating the Secrets of Nature." The stated objective of the display was to encourage “audiences to examine the intent of Mary Shelley's novel, Frankenstein, and to discuss Shelley's and their own views about personal and societal responsibility as it relates to science and other areas of life.”[1] Since I am an engineer/scientist, I am interested in the social implications of all technological and scientific discoveries. We were unable to get the exhibit for our university branch, but it started me thinking about writing an essay on the subject. Gradually, the concept evolved into the current work.

The material in this book was initially created for a course in Greek mythology at New Mexico State University at Carlsbad in their Continuing Education department. Since the students in the class were older and already held four-year college degrees, I taught it as one might an upper division or graduate course.

The approach is unusual and perhaps even unique in that it introduces mythology through the use of chronological stories solely from ancient Greek literature. As originally conceived, it consisted of a smidgen of Hesiod's Theogony followed by Greek tragedies by Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides that told the story of Oedipus, his ancestors and descendents. The Greek gods were introduced as they were encountered in the unfolding story of Oedipus' family and rounded out by presenting the Homeric Hymns that told the story of their divine lives.