In honor of the current Artemis II space mission, I decided to read Jules Verne’s From the Earth to the Moon and its sequel, Around the Moon. It’s amazing that this was written over a century before Americans landed on the moon in 1969! Jules Verne was a pioneer of the science fiction genre, creating adventure tales full of scientific possibilities, history, humor, and larger-than-life characters. These stories are a tribute to the amazing things humans can accomplish in the face of seemingly impossible odds.
The story introduces the Baltimore Gun Club, an organization of weapon experts/inventors looking for a new challenge after the end of the American Civil War. Their club president, Impey Barbicane, proposes building a cannon with a giant hollow bullet and shooting it to the moon.
Such a massive undertaking brings people not just from the USA, but from around the world to participate. Though the project is unifying; there is still conflict, rivalry, and even a duel! At the end of the day, two Americans and a Frenchman volunteer to risk it all by riding inside the rocket.
From the Earth to the Moon is a short read ending in a cliffhanger. Around the Moon is a bit longer but picks right up and details the journey to the moon and back again. Sometimes this story reads like “hard” science fiction and other times its lighthearted imaginary genius. There were several times my eyes crossed at some of the physics explanations, but then I would laugh aloud at witty banter between characters. This book is worth the wild ride!
Favorite Quotes:
“I have been asking myself whether, while confining ourselves to our own particular objects, we could not enter upon some grand experiment worthy of the nineteenth century; and whether the progress of artillery science would not enable us to carry it out to a successful issue.”
“My good sir, there will always be enough [air] for a solitary individual; besides, once arrived up there, I shall do my best to economize, and not to breathe except on grand occasions!”
“How many things have been denied one day, only to become realities the next!”
“Well, I feel that we should always put a little art into what we do. It’s better that way.”
“Hurrah!” cried one voice (need it be said it was that of J. T. Maston). “Distance does not exist!” And overcome by the energy of his movements, he nearly fell from the platform to the ground. He just escaped a severe fall, which would have proved to him that distance was by no means an empty name.”
“They had all comprehended the idea in an instant, and saw no real difficulty in it. An American sees no real difficulty in anything.”
I’ve found Jules Verns hard to read. Much harder than other of his contemporaries, like Sir. Arthur Conan Doyle or H.G. Wells. But he created some mind-blowing concepts.
I loved this book. I read it in junior high school. I will admit that many of the mathematical explanations were over my head at the time, but it was still a fun adventure story nonetheless. The movie adaptation was good too.
I agree with you both. Verne was so technical in his world-building. But really interesting stories…