Within the history of the French popular fiction, The Conquest of the Air (1875) with its trip around the world in forty days in a steam-powered flying machine, is significant in terms of its prediction of the development of future aviation; as well as its contribution to the development of Vernian fiction. Alphonse Brown was one of the first French writers to follow in the footsteps of Jules Verne, penning a series of "extraordinary voyages" relying on air power and futuristic inventions. He was one of the main contributors to the leading scientific anticipation magazine of the times, La Science illustrée, and the author of City of Glass published by Black Coat Press.