Alexander Petrovich Kazantsev is one of the most famous science fiction writers, as well as a wonderful inventor, musician and chess player. Born in Akmolinsk. He graduated from the Tomsk Technological Institute, worked as a mechanical engineer. During the war he was the chief engineer of the defense research institute. He made his debut in science fiction in 1936 (1st place in the competition of screenplays with the fantastic script "Arenida").