J.R.R. Tolkien, author of “The Lord of the Rings,” was a linguistics professor and created multiple languages for his fictional world of Middle-earth. ¹⁾

Mary Shelley, author of “Frankenstein,” wrote the novel at the age of 18 and is considered one of the pioneers of science fiction. ²⁾

Isaac Asimov, renowned for his “Foundation” series, is one of the most prolific science fiction authors, having written or edited over 500 books. ³⁾

Ursula K. Le Guin, known for “A Wizard of Earthsea,” was one of the first female authors to gain prominence in the male-dominated science fiction and fantasy genres. ⁴⁾

H.P. Lovecraft, famous for his Cthulhu Mythos, was virtually unknown during his lifetime but gained posthumous recognition as a significant influence on horror fiction. ⁵⁾

Terry Pratchett, creator of the Discworld series, wrote over 40 Discworld novels, selling over 85 million copies worldwide. ⁶⁾

Octavia Butler, a highly acclaimed science fiction author, was the first science fiction writer to receive a MacArthur Fellowship (also known as the “Genius Grant”). ⁷⁾

Neil Gaiman, known for “American Gods” and “Stardust,” started his writing career as a journalist before transitioning to comic books and then novels. ⁸⁾

Ray Bradbury, author of “Fahrenheit 451,” wrote his early works using rented typewriters in libraries because he couldn't afford one of his own. ⁹⁾

Margaret Atwood, famous for “The Handmaid's Tale,” is renowned for her speculative fiction exploring themes of gender, identity, and dystopia. ¹⁰⁾

Philip K. Dick, the author of “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” (the basis for the film “Blade Runner”), was known for his exploration of reality, identity, and paranoia. ¹¹⁾

Arthur C. Clarke, author of “2001: A Space Odyssey,” proposed the concept of geostationary satellites in a 1945 paper, which later became the foundation for modern telecommunications. ¹²⁾

China Miéville, known for “Perdido Street Station,” is known for his genre-bending works that combine elements of fantasy, science fiction, and weird fiction. ¹³⁾

Anne McCaffrey, creator of the Dragonriders of Pern series, was the first woman to win a Hugo Award and a Nebula Award for her science fiction writing. ¹⁴⁾

Frank Herbert, author of “Dune,” drew inspiration from various sources, including Middle Eastern culture, ecology, and his own experiences as a journalist. ¹⁵⁾