Which of these novels is considered an important precursor to science fiction?

Read the excerpt from a history of the world in 100 objects. power is usually not willingly given, but forcefully taken; and in both europe and america the nineteenth century was punctuated by political protest, with periodic revolutions on the continent, the civil war in america and, in britain, a steady struggle to widen the suffrage. what would be a benefit of reading this text rather than listening to an audio version of it? the reader could analyze the text features in the excerpt. the reader could visualize the description given. the reader could set his or her own pace and reread parts for clarity. the reader could hear the sounds of the political protest.

Read the passage. then, identify the theme that is supported by the passage. most ships cannot survive a terrible thunderstorm. the ocean is an angry beast that will tame any who try to control it. the gods have the power to control human destiny. men are willing to die to eat the delicious cattle of the gods.

Lens quotation: "character is what you are in the dark." -dwight lyman moody