I beg to differ. If Mary Shelley is the first sci-fi author because of the dystopian future post-apocalyptic novel you describe (I have not read it), surely the first true Sci-Fi writer is St John the Evangelist—he wrote the initial number one book of the apocalypse. Nothing gets more Sci-Fiish than four riders spreading pestilence, right?
Awesome find! I didn't even think of that. That is probably in the "inspiration" pile, but of course, one could trace the geneology of all the zombie novels to the Book of Revelation!
Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac, bold and innovative writer. Inspiration for Edmond de Rostand's drama. He wrote "L'Autre monde ou les états et empire de la Lune" (the other world: comical history of the states and empires of the moon - there's a Wikipedia entry about the book). Along with The states and empires of the Sun, both published around the 1650s, the book is one of the earliest sci-fi. by Arthur C Clarke said it has the first description of rocket-powered spaceships.
Here’s my Homage to Mary Shelley and Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus in 3.5 chapters and probably a concluding 4th, when the mood strikes me. You can follow the link or find it in my archive in Ghetto Mezzanine. Enjoy! And keep up your grest work!
This is a great list! Brings back memories of my youth and reading HG Wells and Jules Verne. Makes me want to read them all over again. And read Frankenstein for the first time!
These old-timers were really important for me when I was a kid. And I do think they formed a lot of our thinking in the XX century. We even got to the Moon once :)
Another honorary mention should be given to Somnium by Johannes Kepler. Even though the getting to Moon part is not scientific (done by a witch), the description of how Earth looks from Moon is scientifically accurate.
His name was H.G. Wells, not G.H.
Whoops, missed it in edit. Thanks!
Herbert George Wells, to be precise.
Fixed.
I beg to differ. If Mary Shelley is the first sci-fi author because of the dystopian future post-apocalyptic novel you describe (I have not read it), surely the first true Sci-Fi writer is St John the Evangelist—he wrote the initial number one book of the apocalypse. Nothing gets more Sci-Fiish than four riders spreading pestilence, right?
Awesome find! I didn't even think of that. That is probably in the "inspiration" pile, but of course, one could trace the geneology of all the zombie novels to the Book of Revelation!
Not a word on Cyrano de Bergerac...
That's an unusual suggestion! Awesome, care to expand?
Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac, bold and innovative writer. Inspiration for Edmond de Rostand's drama. He wrote "L'Autre monde ou les états et empire de la Lune" (the other world: comical history of the states and empires of the moon - there's a Wikipedia entry about the book). Along with The states and empires of the Sun, both published around the 1650s, the book is one of the earliest sci-fi. by Arthur C Clarke said it has the first description of rocket-powered spaceships.
Yeah, great find! I definitely missed that.
Really neat piece which, like Science Fiction, sparks Wonder, Speculation and fun Independent Research. For instance, I was prompted to check this out . . . much to my enjoymemt. Enjoy! https://www.hbrucefranklin.com/articles/history-of-science-fiction/
I read this one when I was doing research for mine. I went in a slightly different direction in the end, but it's quite thorough and well-written!
Nice. Both are quite rich.
Here’s my Homage to Mary Shelley and Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus in 3.5 chapters and probably a concluding 4th, when the mood strikes me. You can follow the link or find it in my archive in Ghetto Mezzanine. Enjoy! And keep up your grest work!
https://ghettomezzanine.substack.com/p/syzygyman-881
Nice, I will give it a read!
Also, "ghetto", "mezzanine", "syzygy" -- are you playing a game of Scrabble with someone? ;)
haha! only if I’m w-i-n-n-i-n-q-p-s-z . .
o shit. scratch that.
This is a great list! Brings back memories of my youth and reading HG Wells and Jules Verne. Makes me want to read them all over again. And read Frankenstein for the first time!
Thanks!
These old-timers were really important for me when I was a kid. And I do think they formed a lot of our thinking in the XX century. We even got to the Moon once :)
Another honorary mention should be given to Somnium by Johannes Kepler. Even though the getting to Moon part is not scientific (done by a witch), the description of how Earth looks from Moon is scientifically accurate.
Yes, maybe you're right. I even thought to include it. The witch part stopped me, but Kepler is Kepler, one of the greatest early scientists.