Books dealing with all those brave souls whose exploits in the name of science, chiefly from the Renaissance to the late 19th/early 20th century, contributed to our understanding that the world isn't flat and there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in our philosophy. -- Nonfiction and fiction both welcome, but if fiction, it must deal with a voyage of discovery that ACTUALLY TOOK PLACE (such as, e.g., Sten Nadolny's "Discovery of Slowness" -- which deals with John Franklin's life and voyages).

Please note, too, that this list is neither about scientific research nor about history (or the history of science) as such.