Herbert George Wells (1866 – 1946) was a prolific English writer of science fiction stories and novels, and is credited as being the father of science fiction.

"In the Avu Observatory" is a story about a scientist working at a remote observatory in a remote forest in Borneo. One night, the astronomer's assistant, Woodhouse, is attacked by a huge bat-like creature in the middle of the night. In the pitch black of the observatory, he suddenly finds himself fighting for his life against.... what?