And do not forget Boilerplate:

http://www.bigredhair.com/boilerplate/intro.html

The world’s first science fiction periodical, Frank Reade dime-novels had helicopters and airships before Jules Verne, but while the famous French adventure novelist is still considered a major literary author around the world today.

Drop by James Lileks' Frank Reade Jr site:
http://lileks.com/misc/frankreade/index.html

From Lileks' commentary: "The author was in fact Luis Senarens, which someone called “the American Jules Verne.” You’ll see why that’s so, and you’ll come to love these intrepid tales. And you’ll never quite shake the desire to pop that nerd in the kisser, either."

First, who was responsible for the engravings, which were the real stuff of fantasy for a kid?

Second, thanks to OldFert for the Lileks link, which provided more information than expected. Lileks's cutesie-pie remarks on those dime novels is the perfect illustration of what has always been so annoying about his arch commentary on just about everything that's ever caught his attention. "Insufferably smug," indeed.

"...you’ll never quite shake the desire to pop that nerd." Well, yeah, (James).

Rob De Witt: I saw an article where Lileks was interviewed. The author referred to him as a smarty pants, which I think is a good description. I like his Bleats and other forays into light pop culture (spanning several decades). He's a fun read.

More than half a century ago I read the tales of Tom Swift and his xyz. Victor Appleton was the purported author, though I have the feeling that is was someone else. Good kid read adventures with chums and enemies, most of whom were soon engaged in a battle, sometimes for the heart of a fair maiden...
A generation later than Frank Reade & progeny.