Fred Merrick White (1859–1935), who published under the name Fred M. White, was an author of novels and short stories active during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He is particularly remembered for his contributions to early science fiction and speculative fiction, most notably through his "Doom of London" series. This collection of six stories, which first appeared in Pearson's Magazine with illustrations by Warwick Goble, vividly depicted various disaster scenarios striking the British capital.
Within the "Doom of London" series, White explored themes of societal collapse and environmental catastrophe. Notable entries include The Four Days' Night (1903), which envisioned a lethal smog blanketing London; The Dust of Death (1903), which dealt with a diphtheria outbreak spreading from sewers and refuse tips; and The Four White Days (1903), which depicted the city paralyzed by sudden, extreme winter weather.
Beyond his disaster fiction, White was also a pioneer in the development of the spy story. His 1899 series, The Romance of the Secret Service Fund, stands as an early example of the genre. Decades after his death, this work received renewed attention when it was edited by Douglas G. Greene and republished in 2003, cementing White's legacy as a versatile writer of early genre fiction.
