Definitely Mary Shelley. Her creation of the Frankenstein monster is iconic. Jules Verne is also highly regarded. He had an amazing ability to imagine future technologies and adventures, as seen in his many works. H.G. Wells was a pioneer too. His stories often dealt with scientific concepts that were both fascinating and a bit scary, like in 'The War of the Worlds' where he imagined an alien invasion.
Well, Mary Shelley is a must - mention. Her 'Frankenstein' is a classic that has influenced countless works. Then there's Jules Verne. He was a master of adventure - based science fiction, like in 'Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea'. H.G. Wells was also extremely important. His works often had a darker tone and explored complex ideas like in 'The Invisible Man' and 'The Island of Doctor Moreau'.
Mary Shelley is very well - known. She wrote 'Frankenstein' which is a cornerstone of the genre. Jules Verne is another. His works like 'Journey to the Center of the Earth' are widely read. And H.G. Wells, with books such as 'The War of the Worlds' and 'The Time Machine' is also a major figure in 19th century science fiction.
Jonathan Swift is a well - known author of the 18th - century. He wrote 'Gulliver's Travels' which is highly regarded. Henry Fielding is also famous for 'Tom Jones'. And Daniel Defoe with his 'Robinson Crusoe' is a well - known name in 18th - century fiction.
Jane Austen is a well - known author of 19th - century fiction. Her works like 'Pride and Prejudice' are beloved for their sharp social commentary and engaging characters. Charles Dickens is also very famous. His books, such as 'Great Expectations', give detailed pictures of the lives of different classes in Victorian England.
Aldous Huxley is a prominent figure. His 'Brave New World' is a very well - known 20th century science fiction novel. Frank Herbert, the author of 'Dune', also stands out. The world he created in 'Dune' is vast and complex. And H.G. Wells, who wrote 'The War of the Worlds' and 'The Time Machine', was a pioneer in the field of science fiction in the 20th century.
Jules Verne is very important. His works like 'Around the World in Eighty Days' and 'Journey to the Center of the Earth' were highly imaginative and introduced many readers to the concept of science - based adventure. H.G. Wells is another key figure. His books such as 'The War of the Worlds' and 'The Invisible Man' are classics. He was great at exploring scientific ideas and their potential consequences.
Jules Verne is a very famous one. He wrote 'Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea' and 'Around the World in Eighty Days'. Another is H.G. Wells, known for 'The Time Machine' and 'The War of the Worlds'.
Isaac Asimov is another great 20th - century science fiction author. He is famous for his 'Foundation' series. Asimov's writing was characterized by his in - depth exploration of scientific ideas, such as robotics and the future of humanity. His stories often had complex plots and well - developed characters.
There were also some lesser - known authors who dabbled in what we would now call science - fiction - like ideas. These authors were often influenced by the changing intellectual climate of the 16th century, with the Renaissance bringing new ideas about the world. However, many of their works were not as well - known as Lucian's. They might have written about things like flying machines or strange underwater worlds, inspired by the new technologies and exploration of the time.
Francis Godwin was also important. His works incorporated some early forms of science - fictional concepts, like space travel in a very primitive way compared to modern ideas but quite innovative for the 17th century.
Arthur C. Clarke. He wrote '2001: A Space Odyssey'. His works often involved space exploration and advanced scientific concepts. He had a great influence on the public's perception of the future in space.
Jules Verne, although he started in the 19th century, his works continued to influence 20th century science fiction. His ideas about adventure in technological settings were carried forward. Stanislaw Lem from Poland was also influential. His works, like 'Solaris', explored complex philosophical ideas in a science - fiction setting. And Robert A. Heinlein was a major figure, with his books covering a wide range of science - fiction themes from space travel to social engineering.