Morgan Andrew Robertson was an American author of short stories and novels and the self-proclaimed inventor of the periscope. Born November 30th 1861 in Oswego, a small port town on Lake Ontario, near the Canadian border, he went to sea as a cabin boy at the age of 16 and served in the merchant marine from 1876 to 1886, eventually rising to the rank of first mate. Tired of life at sea, he studied jewelry making at Cooper Union in New York City and worked for ten years as a diamond setter. When that work began to harm his vision, he turned to writing sea stories, placing his work in such popular magazines as McClure's and The Saturday Evening Post. Best known for his book Futility, now classified as a novella. It was first published in May 1898 by the firm of M.F. Mansfield & Co. and later republished in May 1912 as The Wreck of the Titan. Other than the many stories in this collection, he also authored many other works. At least 200 in total. On May 27, 1894, he married Alice M. Doyle, daughter of William and Anna (Ross) Doyle of New York.¿A few months before his death, of heart disease, in an Atlantic City hotel, he was given financial relief by the publication of a special edition of his works, sponsored by friends. He had no children, but was survived by his wife, a brother, and a sister. He passed away unexpectedly on March 24th 1915 at the age of 54. His widow passed away on April 30th 1932 when she was 82.Though his legacy is most often tied to the eerie parallels between his fiction and later history, Robertson's vast body of work reflects a vivid imagination, deep seafaring experience, and a willingness to ask "what if?" May all of his stories continue to inspire reflection, conversation, and creativity today.