The Science of Plant Life by Norman Taylor (HB)

Professor Dr. Gokulananda Mahapatra was born on 24 May 1922 at Bhadrak, Odisha. Gokulananda Mahapatra has authored over 95 science fiction, Science novels and children’s science books and biographies of some renowned scientists and many others. Some of his notable contributions are “Krutrima Upagraha”( Artificial Satellite, 1958) “Sputnik (1958), Madhyanhara Andhakara Darkness of the Noon, 1959) Udhanta Thalia ( The Flying Saucer,1963) “Chandra ra Mrutyu”( Death of Moon, 1966), S unara Odisha (Golden Odisha, 1973).In a lucid style he had portrayed the impact of science on human civilization and how human life is influenced by scientific and technological discoveries and inventions. His fiction played a significant role in the consolidation of the contemporary scientific imagination. He “had a good sense of scientific realism and knew the art of combining it with fantasy. He is known as the H.G. Wells of Odisha. The fantasy of a civilized society on Mars is the main theme of the novel Man Beyond Earth. The description given by two travellers of Earth, how the people there are advanced in social science, is the picture of the future Earth. In the future, the science and technology of Earth can be guessed from the scientific civilization of Mars. Modern science is so advanced that what was imagined fifty years ago is a reality today. What is fantasy today is reality fifty years from now.