Savinien Cyarno de Bergerac, remembered most for his large nose and quick
tongue, may also be remembered as a prophet. His prophetic visions took shape in his science fiction writing.
His two romances to the moon and the sun (normally under a single English title Voyages to the Moon and Sun) were published in 1656 and 1662. Published only a few years after Galileo spoke before the Inquistion. Cyrano describes the orbit of the planets around the sun. He described the weak gravitational pull of the moon and proposed seven means of interplanetary travel. He imagined a form of rocket propulsion. He described the ancient gods and mythical beings as travelers from outerspace. Orginally inhabitants of the sun, now living on the moon. These beings could easily change their shape and become anything.
Cyarno saw houses that sat on a huge screw and went underground in the event of bad weather. He saw houses driven by sails that moved with the seasons. He described devices that recorded and played back speech. In his fiction he used bulbs to make the moon as bright as day.
Many science ficion writers have been able to predict the future. Cyarno, however, was the first. His prevision of electronic devices, mobile homes, tape recorders and the light bulb all came true.