Edison's Conquest of Mars

by Garrett Putman Serviss

"Edison's Conquest of Mars" by Garrett P. Serviss is a science fiction novel published in 1898. Written as a sequel to an unauthorized version of H. G. Wells's "The War of the Worlds," the story follows Thomas Edison leading Earth's united forces in a counter-attack against Mars. After developing revolutionary technology including anti-gravity ships and disintegration rays, humanity launches an armada into space. The novel pioneered numerous science fiction concepts, from space suits to asteroid mining, making Serviss arguably the first American professional science fiction writer.