Karel Čapek was a Czech writer, playwright, and journalist. He is best known for:
* R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots) (1920): This play introduced the word "robot" to the world, derived from the Czech word "robota" meaning "forced labor".
* War with the Newts (1936): A satirical novel about a species of intelligent newts who rise to power.
* The Absolute at Large (1922): A science fiction novel about a machine that produces "absolute" energy, leading to chaos.
* The Makropulos Case (1922): A play about a woman who lives for centuries due to a secret elixir.
Čapek wrote many other works, including short stories, essays, and plays. He was a prominent figure in Czech literature and culture, and his work continues to be read and studied today.