Precursors of Science Fiction (Bookshelf)
From Project Gutenberg, the first producer of free ebooks.
Science Fiction (often called sci-fi or SF) is a popular genre of fiction in which the narrative world differs from our own present or historical reality in at least one significant way. This difference may be technological, physical, historical, sociological, philosophical, metaphysical, etc, but not magical (see Fantasy).
—Excerpted from Science Fiction on Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia.
Precursors of Science Fiction, are works that are of a Science Fiction nature, but are written before, or contemporaneous with Jules Verne's time (1828-1905). This list of works is generally held to begin with Lucian of Samosata's (120 - 180) work Vera Historia,—in which a group travelers voyage beyond the Gates of Hercules to the Moon. Over time, other authors dot the landscape of the Precursors of Science Fiction genre until the days of Verne's contemporaries, such as Mary Shelley; and others.
Lucian of Samosata, ca. 120 - 180
Links for Lucian of Samosata: Wikipedia ISFDB
- Vera Historia from The Works of Lucian of Samosata — Volume 02
(English)
trans. H. W. Fowler and F. G. Fowler - Vera Historia from Trips to the Moon (English)
trans. Thomas Francklin
Voltaire, 1694-1778
Links for Voltaire: Wikipedia, ISFDB
- Romans — Volume 3: Micromégas (French)
Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft, 1797-1851
Links for Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley: Wikipedia, ISFDB
- Frankenstein (English)
- Frankenstein (English) 1818 edition
- Frankenstein (English) 1831 edition with illustrations
- Frankenstein
(English)
- Frankenstein, or Modern Prometheus (English)
- The Last Man (English)
Edward Bulwer Lytton 1803-1873
Links for Edward Bulwer Lytton: Wikipedia, ISFDB
- The Coming Race (English)
Fitz-James O'brien 1828-1862
Links for Fitz-James O'brien: Wikipedia, ISFDB
- The Diamond Lens (English)
W. H. Hudson 1841-1922
Links for W. H. Hudson: Wikipedia, ISFDB
- A Crystal Age (English)
John Ames Mitchell 1845-1918
Links for John Mitchell: Wikipedia
Richard Jefferies 1847-1887
Links for Richard Jefferies: Wikipedia, ISFDB
- After London, or Wild England (English)
Mark Twain, 1835-1910
Links for Mark Twain: Wikipedia, ISFDB
- A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court {English)
- A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court {English)
- A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Part 1. (English)
- A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Part 2. (English)
- A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Part 3. (English)
- A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Part 4. (English)
- A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Part 5. (English)
- A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Part 6. (English)
- A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Part 7. (English)
- A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Part 8. (English)
- A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Part 9. (English)
Albert Robida, 1848-1925
Link for Albert Robida: Wikipedia
- La Vie Électrique (French) Even if you don't read French, this is worth a look for the fabulous illustrations
Link for book: wikipedia
Stevenson, Robert Louis, 1850-1894
Links for Robert Louis Stevenson: Wikipedia, ISFDB
- The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (English) — first Project Gutenberg edition
- The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (English) — second Project Gutenberg edition
Ward, Herbert Dickinson, 1861-1932
Link for Herbert Dickinson Ward: Wikipedia
