Final answer:
Mary Shelley is widely commended for her novel Frankenstein, which is considered among the earliest works of science fiction.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mary Shelley is often commended for having written one of the earliest examples of science fiction: the classic novel Frankenstein. Her novel incorporated elements of the Gothic tradition, which was popular in her time, and touched upon themes that represent the underlying turbulence and progressive thoughts of the Romantic era, including science, creation, and the responsibilities of the creator. Shelley's mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, who wrote on women's conditions in society, and her father, William Godwin, a philosopher and novelist, undoubtedly influenced her literary genius. Despite personal tragedies, such as the death of her children and the societal scandal surrounding her relationship with Percy Bysshe Shelley, her strength as a writer remains an inspiration to many.