From the Earth to the Moon

From the Earth to the Moon (French: De la terre à la lune) is a science fiction novel written by French writer Jules Verne in 1865, the oldest science fiction I've ever had the pleasure of reading. Its quite archaic with its primitive (but at the time quite spot on) scientific facts about ballistics, science, and astronomy. 

The book tells the story of a Gun Club creating a spaceship (the Colombiad Space gun) that blasts off to the moon at the end. The Gun Club's President, his armor making rival, and French poet are the ones who get launched out in the nether of space. Everything in between is mostly scientific facts and happenings going on the United States and around the world based off the Gun Club's actions.  

Although one could say that all the hard 'facts' or science in this book is pretty unrealistic and probably goes off to the realm of surrealism it must also be noted that it is quite close to reality given the science of the day (1865). To my understanding of science and physics I look at the facts of this book and see it for its imaginative creativity, and I also see it for its literal realism, for the facts are quite close to reality according to online sources. I'd like to call it a sort of magickal realism if you will. From there you can go into the idea of metaphysics but the book is perhaps too science driven to go to that extreme. However, you can't talk about man leaving his place of origin and exploring other planets without entering into that realm.

"The story is also notable in that Verne attempted to do some rough calculations as to the requirements for the cannon and, considering the comparative lack of any data on the subject at the time, some of his figures are surprisingly close to reality. However, his scenario turned out to be impractical for safe manned space travel since a much longer muzzle would have been required to reach escape velocity while limiting acceleration to survivable limits for the passengers." (wiki)

Another thing to note is that the story takes place some time after the Civil War, and the Gun Club is based in Baltimore, lead by Union scientists, who were formerly soldiers. Some even had their limbs blown off in battle. There's descriptions of men in the club with hooks and such. 

This book is a part of a series and its sequel is called Around the Moon, which describes everything once they actually land on the moon. This first book is the preparations and the launching-FIRE! So I have my work cut out for me, I still have another novel to read. Thankfully, this book was only one hundred and fifty-three pages so its quite a short read. 

One more thing to note is that this book had quite an influence on popular culture-cinema and literature. This book inspired the movie A Trip to the Moon, the first science fiction film ever (which is how I learned about this) and H.G. Wells made a reference to it in his 1901 novel The First Men in the Moon. 

Its quite a fast and enjoyable read. I thought that I would find the archaic writing and old school science facts to be boring, quite dull, but instead I found it to be imaginative and exciting. After reading Alfred Bester's The Stars My Destination this was a good follow-up, ancient science fiction from the aftermath of the civil war, the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel, Around the Moon, which I will promptly order from my local library at some point in the near future.  

If you like old school text and science fiction this will be something you will want to check out.
  
“How many things have been denied one day, only to become realities the next!”