Born in England in 1866, H.G. Wells's parents were shopkeepers in Kent, England. His first novel,The Time Machinewas an instant success and Wells produced a series of science fiction novels which pioneered our ideas of the future. His later work focused on satire and social criticism. Wells laid out his socialist views of human history in hisOutline of History. He died in 1946. Pieter Harting (1812 1885) was a Dutch biologist and naturalist, born in Rotterdam. He made contributions in a number of scientific disciplines, and is remembered for his work in the fields of microscopy, hydrology, botany, and biostratigraphy. Writing under the pen name 'Dr. Dioscorides', Harting takes the reader on a journey through Londinia and beyond in the year AD 2071, detailing scientific progress, technological advancements, and a changed moral and political landscape. Samuel L. Clemens wrote under the pen name Mark Twain and went on to author several novels, including two major classics of American literature: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Writing grand tales about Sawyer, Finn and the mighty Mississippi River, Mark Twain explored the American soul with wit, buoyancy, and a sharp eye for truth. He was also a riverboat pilot, journalist, lecturer, entrepreneur and inventor.