H. G. Wells (1866-1946) was an English writer whose early scientific romances helped define modern science fiction. Trained as a biologist under T. H. Huxley, he turned the era's scientific debates into fiction with The Time Machine (1895), The Island of Doctor Moreau, The Invisible Man and The War of the Worlds within a few prolific years. He went on to write realist novels, popular histories and political works, arguing throughout for a rationally planned world order.