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How can you measure the fame of one person? Is someone famous or just well-known? Within the world of Science Fiction literature there are five authors who I would say are more widely known than their counterparts, although this may not make them famous. At the peak of their profession, I would argue that HG Wells, Jules Verne, Isaac Asimov, Robert A Heinlein and Arthur C Clarke are the most famous'.

HG (Herbert George) Wells is now perceived to be one of the fathers of science fiction. The 19th and 20th century English writer, started by writing factual science essay to earn a small living to supplement the wages of a tutor. Wells soon found that there was more money to be made in the writing of short stories for magazines, and by 1895 he was well established as a contributor to a number of popular magazines. 1895 was the year, though, that his career started to take off, as it was the year that The Time Machine; and The Island of Dr. Moreau' were first published. Wells soon had a large popular following for his scientific romances' and he became one of the most successful writers of his time. There was further success with the novels of The Invisible Man' (1897) and The War of the Worlds' (1898).

Wells' science fiction novels are as readable today as they were when they were first published. There may be flaws in the science behind the novels, but Wells has managed to transcend his own work to become a science fiction character himself. Wells, as a character, has appeared in episodes of Doctor Who' and Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman'. His influence on science fiction is still felt today, as he influences the work of new authors, as well as the continued production of Hollywood films based on his novels.

Jules Gabriel Verne, shares the accolade of founding father of science fiction with Wells, although during their lifetimes they were fierce rivals. At an initial disadvantage of a more limited reading base, as his novels were written in French, his worldwide popularity grew as his works were translated. His works have had a better reputation based on the accuracy of the science involved, but they are mostly recognised of being more prophetic than Wells'. In fact his work made prophecies about modern Paris and even air conditioning for cars.

Verne would write about air, space and underwater travel and exploration decades before they became feasible. Verne wrote many classics; Journey to the Centre of the Earth' (1864), Twenty Thousand Leagues

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