Was Jules Verne a prophet or just ahead of his time?

[Agartha]

I love Jules Verne with a passion, and I have read most of his books several times. I have always find it intriguing at how many of his inventions became reality, and how many things of the future (us now) he predicted almost 200 years ago.

According to this National Geographic article he predicted (invented?) future machines, such as electric submarines, Television newscasts, solar sails, lunar modules, sky writing, videoconferencing, taser, etc...
Please read the article here: LINK

So who was this amazing French author? Was he a time traveller? Was he a prophet? Or simply an incredibly clever man who was way ahead of his time?

[Rinoa]

I feel he was possibly a prophet, there is just too many things he foresaw for it to be a coincidence, I like the fact that his explanations were less cryptic than Nostradamus predictions.

[Rockhopper]

He was an incredible author as was H.G.Wells. They based their stories on what was known at the time.

Verne used lighting that had been invented by William Crookes (fluorescent), the submarine was based on the lead acid batteries, He used AC power that Tesla had developed and so on. Advanced thinker - yes, prophet no.

H.G.Wells was another who used the technology to develop stories around that technology of the time. Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote stories around the discoveries of Lovell (canals on Mars). Lovecraft wrote stories about other worlds which were being found at his time too.

Tim.

[Lenzabi]

So many trends they understood. Event predicted the idea of caterpillar tread riding armored behemoths fighting across Europe. space travel. Many predictions, many came true.

Our present technology level would likely make them pleased. Our present paradigm of greed and mental stultification on the other hand would not.

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