The Supreme Progress

Featuring 18 groundbreaking proto-science fiction tales, this collection showcases early explorations of themes such as interplanetary love, forensic science, and ecological disaster. Notable works include Charles Cros' "An Interastral Drama," which explores a forbidden romance between an Earthman and a Venusian, and Eugène Mouton's "The End of the World," addressing human-induced climate change. Edited by Brian Stableford, the anthology highlights the imaginative scope of these pioneering stories, many of which foreshadow concepts later popularized by prominent science fiction authors.