From the Earth to the Moon

Rating:
Summary: Preparations for a cannon shot to the moon.
Review: This is a prophetic, both scientifically and socially, novel by Jules Verne that was first published in 1865. Verne was a satiric critic whose novel strongly hints at the future military industrial complex. This story depicts a club of artillery experts, the Baltimore Gun Club, bemoaning the end of the U. S. Civil War. The President of the Club, Impey Barbicane, comes up with a new project: a cannon shot to the moon. The idea for having passengers comes from a Frenchman. Most of the novel is concerned with the preparations for the launch which occurs at the end of the book. The story continues in Verne's sequel, "Round the Moon" (1870). It's amazing how many things Verne correctly predicted. Verne was perhaps the first author who attempts to make his novels agree with the science known at his time, although there are still mistakes. Verne is also making a number of political points as well in comparing the freedom observed in the U. S. and the real lack of such freedom in France of the 1860s. Readers should also note that Walter James Miller has provided an annotated edition of this novel in 1978 that is excellent.

Rating:
Summary: First part good, second part, not so much.
Review: Verne writes a great story in From the Earth to the Moon, ending on a cliff hanger that leaves you wondering, exploring all the science of his day, and the possibilities therein. Sometimes it can get a bit long-winded, but overall, a fun read.

The second portion is far less so, however. One gets the impression that, after his first novel was published, he suffered a large amount of scientific criticism, or else new scientific data came in, denying some of what he had written. Perhaps he simply gave in to critics who claimed the novel seemed unfinished. And so he wrote a second novel, and wrote too much. A Trip Around It suffers from extreme long-windedness, and tedious explanations of what we have observed of the moon, and what was hypothesized about the moon in Verne's day. I kept on reading, skimming finally, waiting for the action to begin, waiting for something to develop- and was disappointed. This is a novel about three men who are all rather big on themselves, traveling in cramped quarters, describing fictional and real geography. And it's simply not fun to read a novel whose characters are only proud people. This was perhaps a book that served a scientific purpose for understanding the lunar terrain, when it was written. Now it is more of a historical note on Verne's failure, and how not to write.

Rating:
Summary: First part good, second part, not so much.
Review: Verne writes a great story in From the Earth to the Moon, ending on a cliff hanger that leaves you wondering, exploring all the science of his day, and the possibilities therein. Sometimes it can get a bit long-winded, but overall, a fun read.

The second portion is far less so, however. One gets the impression that, after his first novel was published, he suffered a large amount of scientific criticism, or else new scientific data came in, denying some of what he had written. Perhaps he simply gave in to critics who claimed the novel seemed unfinished. And so he wrote a second novel, and wrote too much. A Trip Around It suffers from extreme long-windedness, and tedious explanations of what we have observed of the moon, and what was hypothesized about the moon in Verne's day. I kept on reading, skimming finally, waiting for the action to begin, waiting for something to develop- and was disappointed. This is a novel about three men who are all rather big on themselves, traveling in cramped quarters, describing fictional and real geography. And it's simply not fun to read a novel whose characters are only proud people. This was perhaps a book that served a scientific purpose for understanding the lunar terrain, when it was written. Now it is more of a historical note on Verne's failure, and how not to write.

Rating:
Summary: A wildly entertaining story
Review: While I naturally have long admired Jules Verne for his outstanding scientific vision and prodigious talent as a writer, I really had no idea that he could also write in such an entertaining and humorous fashion as revealed in this short novel. My memories of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea consist to a large degree of stretches of pages devoted to pure scientific language that could be hard to get through, but this book is an easy read full of action and laugh-out-loud commentary. Don't get me wrong, though--the science is here, and Verne goes into a lot of details concerning the project from conception to reality, walking us through all of the steps involved in constructing the cannon and its projectile. Surely, though, Verne knew that the very idea of launching men to the moon via a superhuge cannon was not really an idea that could work; as such, he lets the story and especially his characterizations of the main players in the drama, take center stage over the science. What we end up with is a study of sorts of the American character, a tribute to the power of imagination and dreaming, the glorification of science, and a very funny story about some really amazing characters.

I can not begin to relate the number of truly humorous anecdotes and observations filling the pages of this story. Barbicane, J. T. Maston, and Michel Ardan are quite memorable characters, and their acts and exploits will entertain you to no end. Verne introduces subtle but hilarious remarks and observations throughout the entire book that will make you laugh out loud. If the idea of hard scientific theorizing has scared you away from Verne, pick this book up and be wholly entertained. I would recommend, though, that you pick up a copy that also contains the sequel, Round the Moon. This first book essentially culminates in the firing of the men into space inside the projectile, and you will certainly want to read the story of what happens to the men afterward. I now have to find a copy of the second book, so I urge others to save yourselves time and buy both stories in one package.