Morgan Andrew Robertson (1861-1915) was a popular American author of short stories and novels who claimed to have been the inventor of the periscope.

'The Grinding of the Mills' is the bizarre tale of two men born at the same moment in the same hospital but from very different backgrounds. It appears that key future events in their lives are predetermined by the timing and location of their birth...although given their different characters and circumstances, they respond in very different ways to similar challenges. When the men meet, their relationship takes a dramatic turn. At their first meeting, one saves the life of the other. Later on, events cause one to resolve to murder the other.