What defense could she raise against mutant science.telepathy, invisibility, teleportation.especially since Earth was not aware of its danger! Kris Ottman Neville (May 9, 1925 - December 23, 1980) was an American science fiction writer from California. He was born in St. Louis. His first science fiction work was published in 1949. His most famous work, the novella Bettyann, is considered a classic of science fiction.