Popular science writer Kitty Ferguson investigates little-explored byroads in the history of science, from Kepler's nearly disastrous venture into science fiction to a twentieth-century experiment involving cats and rocket fuel. She introduces long-forgotten discoverers and takes us on astounding adventures with the likes of Jesuit astronomer Ferdinand Verbiest, who invented the first automobile and won a bizarre astronomy competition in seventeenth-century China against his former torturer.

Rediscover the legendary names of a suppressed scientific revolution -- remarkable lives, astounding discoveries, and incredible inventions which would have produced a world of wonder. Each chapter is a biographic treasure. Ours is a world living hundreds of years behind its intended stage of development. Complete knowledge of this loss is the key to recapturing this wonder technology. -- From publisher's description.

The 'SCIENCE FICTION Ultimate Box Set: 170+ Dystopian Novels, Space Adventures, Lost World Classics & Apocalyptic Tales' presents an unparalleled amalgamation of literary genius, weaving together the profound imaginations of some of the most paramount figures in the science fiction genre. The anthology spans a multitude of themes including dystopia, interstellar travel, exploration of unknown worlds, and the existential ponderings of humanity in the face of apocalypse, realized through a diverse range of literary styles, from the suspenseful and foreboding atmospheres crafted by H.P. Lovecraft to the intricate societal critiques embodied by George Orwell. This collection not only showcases the broad spectrum of speculative fiction but also highlights standout pieces that have fundamentally shaped the course of science fiction literature. The contributing authors and editors, from Jules Vernes pioneering adventures to H.G. Wells groundbreaking societal allegories, represent an era-spanning cadre of visionaries who collectively pressed the boundaries of the imagination and confronted the societal and philosophical questions of their times. Their works, deeply entrenched in varying historical, cultural, and literary movements - from the romanticism of Mary Shelleys 'Frankenstein' to the modernist satire in Aldous Huxleys 'Brave New World' - provide a comprehensive overview of the evolution of science fiction as a reflective lens on society. For readers seeking to immerse themselves in the expansive universe of speculative fiction, this anthology offers an extraordinary journey through time and space, exploring humanitys greatest fears, hopes, and ethical dilemmas. By traversing the imaginations of over forty authors, the collection affords a unique opportunity to engage with the seminal texts that have defined and continued to shape the science fiction landscape. Delve into the 'SCIENCE FICTION Ultimate Box Set' to experience the vast educational value, embrace the diversity of thought, and partake in the ongoing dialogue between these monumental works and the present-day reader.

"Like discovering new planets..." — Bryon Rupert McCafferty, pop culture guru of Online Critics Corner Forget about being lost in space. Many of the sci-fi short stories in this never-before-published anthology have been lost in file cabinets, desk drawers, and attics. Here are 16 new and/or all-but-unknown futuristic tales by such masterful science fiction writers as Ray Bradbury and John W. Campbell, Jr. Even a once-anonymous scientification story by Edgar Allan Poe. Mindbending entertainment! "Lost" Stories by: William R. Burkett, Jr. C.J. Daniels, H. L. Osterman, Ray Bradbury and Henry Hesse, James Blish, Bruce Silto, H. Beam Piper, Mabel Seeley, Fritz Leiber, Henry Kuttner, John W. Campbell, Edgar Allan Poe, Philip K. Dick, Shirrel Rhoades, Hugo Gernsback, William Campbell Gault

In the tradition of Daniel Boorstin, the cofounder of "Omni" delivers an original work of history that demonstrates why modern science rests on a foundation built by ancient and medieval non-European societies.