Milo Milton Hastings (1884–1957) was an American author, inventor, and nutritionist whose diverse career spanned multiple disciplines. Born in the late nineteenth century, Hastings made significant contributions to both practical agriculture and speculative fiction. As an inventor, he is credited with developing the forced-draft chicken incubator, as well as Weeniwinks, an early health-food snack. His professional writing reflected these varied interests, encompassing agricultural guides, health-focused texts, and early science fiction.
Hastings's literary output was characterized by a unique blend of scientific curiosity and imaginative storytelling. In his science fiction works, he explored technological advancements and societal structures, contributing to the early twentieth-century speculative genre. Beyond fiction, his practical publications on poultry farming and nutrition demonstrated his commitment to scientific progress and public health. His writing on chickens and agriculture served as essential guides for farmers of his era, while his health-related texts advocated for nutritional awareness.
Today, several of his writings remain accessible to modern readers through digital archives like Project Gutenberg, preserving his contributions to early American science fiction and agricultural science. Over his lifetime, Hastings was married twice and raised three children, balancing his domestic life with his active career as an author, inventor, and health advocate.
