The Frankenstein complex is a term coined by Isaac Asimov in his robot series, referring to the fear of mechanical men.
[1] Some of Asimov's science fiction short stories and novels predict that this suspicion will become strongest and most widespread in respect of "mechanical men" that most-closely resemble human beings (see android), but it is also present on a lower level against robots that are plainly electromechanical automatons.
[citation needed] The "Frankenstein complex" is similar in many respects to Masahiro Mori's uncanny valley hypothesis.
In Shelley's story, Frankenstein created an intelligent, somewhat superhuman being, but he finds that his creation is horrifying to behold and abandons it.
[citation needed] The same theme occurs in many later works of fiction featuring robots, although it is rarely referred to as such.