I'm looking for the author of a science fiction series (it may just be a loose collection of his works), written by a patronage era European male scientist/inventor. I remember seeing his name in a comment section on science fiction authors. The author himself (if memory serves) spent his life inventing or investigating the various interests of princes and dukes. Interests which would be as varied as an elaborate fountain or a device to slice a man's arm in four even exact pieces (that was an example, he didn't actually create that device specifically, as far as I know). He drew from these experiences when he wrote his books. His books featured robots (but he did not call them that) and environments that were dystopian/utopian, I think. He would cleverly hide his views inside his books, similar to how Kepler hid his. I know for certain that he was quiet well known for a song/haiku in one or more of his books. The song contained hidden/heavy references to trig or geometry. I remember him being considered as influential in the area of science fiction. He may be German or Russian.
Additionally, I know his works to be available on Amazon. The art on the books being within a small square and featuring art similar to the art in the game Machinarium, but in black and white.
