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!” 

A Trip to the Moon

A Trip to the Moon (French: Le Voyage dans la Lune) is a 1902 French space exploration surrealist silent film directed by George Melies. The film is inspired by a variety of sources, notably Jules Verne's novels From the Earth to the Moon and Around the Moon. I've already checked out these novels in pdf form through Google and I gotta say that it is quite impressive science fiction writing for the time, 1865 and 1870. Fitting for the time of the Industrial Revolution.

The film follows astronomers who decide to build a rocket and get launched into space to reach the moon via a cannon. They explore the moon's surface and find Selenites, (lunar inhabitants) these sort of insect creatures that explode when they get hit by the astronomers. They end up capturing a Selenite and bring it back to Earth. The film features a bunch of French theatrical performers, "led by Méliès himself in the main role of Professor Barbenfouillis, and is filmed in the overtly theatrical style for which Méliès became famous." (Wiki)

The film was very successful and ended up getting pirated a lot in the United States. This movie ended up having a profound influence in cinema because of its use of narrative, through this more movies ended up developing stories more effectively. Although the movie became out of place when Melies went into retirement, later in 1930 the film resurfaced when film devotees noted its importance on the history of cinema.

"A Trip to the Moon was named one of the 100 greatest films of the 20th century by The Village Voice, ranked 84th. The film remains the best-known of the hundreds of films made by Méliès, and the moment in which the capsule lands in the Moon's eye remains one of the most iconic and frequently referenced images in the history of cinema. It is widely regarded as the earliest example of the science fiction film genre and, more generally, as one of the most influential films in cinema history." (Wiki) Now for more on the movie.

The film starts with a meeting of the Astronomic Club, where the leader Professor Barbenfouillis proposes a mission to the moon. After a bit of dissent five other brave astronomers; Nostradamus, Alcofrisbas, Omega, Micromegas, and Parafaragaramus—agree to the plan. They build a rocket in the shape of a bullet and get shot into space via a cannon. They get a little help with the rocket from the 'marines', women dressed in sailor's outfits. As they fly off to the moon the Man in the Moon watches the spaceship, and it hits him in the eye.

One they get on the surface of the moon the astronomers walk around (without the need of a spacesuit) and after a while they get tired and sleep. As they sleep a comet passes, and the Big Dipper appears with human faces in each star, "old Saturn leans out of a window in his ringed planet, and Phoebe, goddess of the Moon, appears seated in a crescent-moon swing. Phoebe causes a snowfall that awakens the astronomers, and they seek shelter in a cavern where they discover giant mushrooms. One astronomer opens his umbrella; it promptly takes root and turns into a giant mushroom itself."

Then, a Selenite (an insectoid alien inhabitant of the Moon, named after one of the Greek moon goddesses, Selene) appears but is easily killed by an astronomer, as the Selenites explode after being hit by blunt force. More Selenites appear and the astronomers get zerg rushed (reference to Blizzard pc game starcraft, insect-like aliens that come to kill you in great numbers), captured, and brought to the Selenite king. An astronomer hits the king on the head and the king explodes. The astronomers get chased as they run back to their spaceship.

As they approach the ship Barbenfouillis himself tips the spaceship off the moon and into space, while a Selenite is attached to it. The ship, astronomers, and Selenite end up in the ocean on Earth. At the ending scene we see a celebratory parade for the astronomers, the captured Selenite in a cage, and a statue bearing the motto "labor omnia vincit" (work conquers all).

The movie is quite thrilling, fun, adventurous, surreal, and perhaps even psychedelic. Running at only thirteen minutes its a great film to show to a film class, friends, and science fiction aficionados. Its the history of cinema at work. And although it isn't quite developed you could say that its still quite good for its time, 1902. This is the oldest movie I've ever seen and its great. I highly recommend watching it. If anything you should watch it so you can see where cinema and science fiction cinema comes from. Education for sure.

You can watch the film here.