[EricH]

If we're going the sci-fi route...

Jules Verne. Rather prolific, and shockingly accurate with some of the devices he wrote about. Example, the Nautilus in 20000 Leagues Under the Sea could be considered to be quite similar to modern submarines, at least in concept if not in fact. Or, the Albatross from Clipper of the Clouds, which was made of paper (in a composite form), was heavier than air, and could beat any ligher-than-air craft at the time, at least in the story--see "airplane" and "helicopter". Some would consider Verne to be the inventor of sci-fi--as I recall, he did come before Asimov.

Also, Robert Heinlein.