The overthrow or destruction of the human race by mechanical
automatons is likely the oldest form of techno-horror, with examples such as the Greek Myth
Talos dating back to 400 BC.
Shelley's 1818 novel
Frankenstein is widely considered the first sci-fi novel, and it may be interpreted as the basic premise of technological advancement resulting in the creation of dangerous artificial beings. However, this novel relies more on fears of
occultism,
medicine and
forbidden knowledge than it does of electronic technology, thus is not techno-horror in the proper sense. Artificial forms of intelligence became a topic of debate in the mid 19th century following theories of
evolution.
Samuel Butler's 1863 article
Darwin among the Machines is a non-fiction essay which discussed the potential risks and possibility of the human race being superseded by thinking machines. Another early form of techno-horror in film is nuclear terror. In Japan,
Godzilla stood as a metaphor for the
Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In The United States, the
Cold War induced a fear of nuclear power and radiation, particularly the aftermath of bombing and the danger of weapons testing to civilians. For example, in the 1968 film
Night of the Living Dead, nuclear radiation is the cause of the zombie apocalypse. Other stories, originating mostly in
Japanese horror, involve classical terrors such as ghosts, spirits or curses propagating, traveling, or communicating via hi-tech media such as computer networks, cell phones, and cameras. Here, technology is not a threat on its own, but a conduit for dark forces. The subgenre is notably popular in the
West and
Japan and was likely influenced by myths and legends associated with
EVPs. ==Examples==