Autor: W. H. Rhodes

William Henry Rhodes, who commonly used the pen name Caxton, was an American lawyer, politician, and writer born on March 16, 1822, in Windsor, Vermont. He moved to California during the Gold Rush and established himself in various professions, including law and politics, becoming notably involved in local governance. Rhodes»s most enduring contribution to literature is the science fiction story «The Case of Summerfield» (1871), which was among the early works of speculative fiction that prefigured elements of the steampunk genre. The plot features a mad scientist who creates a destructive weapon, exemplifying themes of technological innovation coupled with moral questions, a motif recurrent in later science fiction narratives. While «The Case of Summerfield» remains Rhodes»s most recognized work, his writing career also encompassed poetry, essays, and other short stories, revealing a versatility in style and genre. His literary style is characterized by a blend of narrative tension and a richly descriptive language that was well-suited to the serial publication style of the time. Rhodes»s contributions, though limited in quantity, have earned a place in the canon of 19th-century American speculative fiction, and his work continues to be of interest to scholars and enthusiasts of early science fiction. Rhodes passed away on August 11, 1875, in San Francisco, California, but his legacy endures in his inventive literary works that reflect the zeitgeist of his era.