Robur the Conqueror

by Jules Verne

"Robur the Conqueror" by Jules Verne is a science fiction novel published in 1886. When mysterious lights and flags appear worldwide atop famous landmarks, a brilliant inventor named Robur disrupts a flight enthusiasts' club meeting in Philadelphia. He kidnaps the president, secretary, and valet aboard his revolutionary flying machine, the Albatross, to prove the superiority of heavier-than-air flight. Their globe-spanning journey sparks conflict between technological progress and stubborn pride, leading to dramatic confrontations in the skies.