With stories like The Time Machine and The War of the Worlds, H.G. Wells established himself as a sci-fi writer of almost clairvoyant talent. But these tales of hi-tech adventure hold an ominous warning - beware the dark side of progress.

From the light sabre to the Death Star, Star Wars is one of the defining science fiction works of the later 20th century. George Lucas' imagination has inspired generations of scientists and engineers to push the envelope of technology.