J.-H. Rosny Aîné is the second most important figure in modern French science fiction after Jules Verne. Rosny, who was a member of the distinguished Goncourt literary academy, was also the first writer to straddle the line between mainstream literature and science fiction. Until now, Rosny has best been known to the English-speaking public for his prehistoric thriller, Quest for Fire. Rosny leant nobility to the prehistoric novel with classic works such as Vamireh (1892), Eyrimah (1893) and Nomai (1897), in which he combined the notions of modern drama with the ability to depict Man's early days in a colorful, yet believable fashion, straddling the line between mainstream literature and fantasy.