Olaf Stapledon was a British philosopher and author of influential works of science fiction. In 2014, he was inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.
Stapledon's writings include Star Maker, containing the first description of Dyson spheres. Freeman Dyson credited the novel with giving him the idea. Last and First Men is a "future history" of 18 successive species of humanity, and describes genetic engineering and terraforming.
