Jules Verne (1828-1905)

Jules Verne was a French author who helped pioneer the science-fiction genre. Verne wrote about space, air, and underwater travel before navigable aircraft and practical submarines were invented, and before any means of space travel had been devised. Consequently he is often referred to as the "Father of science fiction".

Verne is the second most translated author of all time. While Verne is considered in France as an author of quality books for young people, with a good command of his subjects, including technology and politics, his reputation in English-speaking countries suffered for a long time as a result of poor translation. Some of his works have been made into films.

Jules Verne's novels have been noted for being startlingly accurate anticipations of modern times. Within his works, Verne predicted the inventions of helicopters, submarines, projectors, jukeboxes, and other later devices. He also predicted the existence of underwater hydrothermal vents that were not discovered until years after he wrote about them.