Gernsback was born in Luxembourg City in 1884. He emigrated to the US at the age of 20 and later became a naturalised citizen. He tried to launch several magazines and eventually founded Amazing Stories in 1926: it was the first magazine dedicated to the genre of science fiction. His contributions were so significant that he is still hailed as one of the founding fathers of the genre.
The prestigious Hugo Award administered by the World Science Fiction Society is named after him. A street in Luxembourg also still carries his name.
Apart from his literary career, Gernsback was also an avid inventor. His 1963 television eyeglasses for example are said to have anticipated virtual reality.
