Mary Shelley wrote the first modern sci-fi novel before she was twenty. Her work asked: What happens when humans play god? What does it mean to create — and regret it? This contest invites you to write a story that explores the moral or emotional consequences of science.

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Don’t just imagine new tech — imagine the aftermath. A failed clone. An AI that dreams. A device that records guilt. The best entries will explore ethical tension, personal loss, or societal consequence — not just invention.

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• Start with the human. Who invented this? Who uses it? Who gets left behind?

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• Focus on aftermath, not origin. Shelley’s “Frankenstein” begins after the monster is born. Begin with the fallout.

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• Let science reflect the soul. A memory-erasing pill isn’t just a plot device — it’s a metaphor for denial. Think symbolically.

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• Raise questions, not answers. Your story doesn’t need to solve anything. It just needs to ask something unforgettable.

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• Use setting to reinforce your themes. A sterile lab. A crumbling world. A quiet house after a miracle goes wrong. Let atmosphere do the emotional heavy lifting.