Jules Verne
Although French science fiction innovator Jules Verne is best known for fantastical tales such as Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and Journey to the Center of the Earth, he also wrote a number of fast-paced action-adventure stories. Dick Sand: A Captain at Fifteen falls into this category, following the protagonist of the title through an around the world whaling trip that goes horribly wrong.
Jules Gabriel Verne was born on February 8th, 1828 on Île Feydeau, a small artificial island on the Loire River in Nantes. His father wanted his son to take over the family law practice. Jules started along this course and despite graduating with a licence en droit in January 1851 was soon diverted by the lure of literature and by his own ambitious talents in this direction. He wrote for the theatre and for magazines and soon with the publication
...11) Facing the Flag
12) In the Year 2889
A Journey to the Center of the Earth, also translated as A Journey to the Interior of the Earth, follows a man, his nephew and their guide down an Icelandic volcano into the center of the earth. There they encounter an ancient landscape filled with prehistoric animals and natural dangers. There is some discussion as to whether Verne really believed that such things might be found in the center, or whether he shared the alternate view,
...