In 1877, author Jules Verne organized a costumed masquerade ball in his home town of Amiens, France, and sent out over 700 invitations. This affair was unlike anything before because hundreds of attendees came in costumes based on characters and places from his popular series of “scientific fiction” novels, known as Voyages Extraordinaires (Extraordinary Voyages).

The common wisdom is that the first costumed science fiction-themed convention did not take place until over sixty years later, in 1939. Had Jules Verne once again anticipated the future?

An illustration about the event from the French newspaper Le Monde Illustré, lead author Kathe Gust to discoverer how Jules Verne’s popularity as an author, and his connection to his adopted home town, lead. him to put on this amazing event. Based on scattered French newspaper accounts and letters from the time, she has woven together the story of what was arguably the first science fiction-themed masquerade ball ever held. She also discovered a second masquerade he put on several years later that wass inspired by his novels.

The book includes historical photos and illustrations from the time, including full-color plates, that are not widely available. It also provides the author’s translations of some of the texts that she used, citations and bibliographic references, and a full index to help readers locate references in the text.

This book is not only an interesting story from a human perspective, but also sheds light on the history of early science fiction literature, and costumed masquerade balls that were popular in the 19th century. It provides new insight into the man who is widely regarded as the Father of Science Fiction Literature.

Kathe Gust

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