Around the Moon

Around the Moon. A direct sequel to Jules Verne's From the Earth to the Moon, this 1870 science fiction novel continues the audacious journey of the Baltimore Gun Club's projectile. The narrative details the voyage of the intrepid travelers—Impey Barbicane, Captain Nicholl, and Michel Ardan—as they circumnavigate the Moon and confront the perils and wonders of space. Blending Verne's signature technical speculation with adventure, the novel stands as a seminal work in the History of science fiction.

Plot summary

Following their launch from Florida in the previous novel, the three astronauts find themselves trapped in the projectile-spacecraft, which becomes a satellite of the Moon. Their journey is marked by scientific observations of the lunar landscape, including detailed descriptions of features like Mare Imbrium and Copernicus crater. A critical crisis arises when they must use rocketry to alter their course, avoiding a fatal crash. The story builds tension through their navigation of space's vacuum and the psychological strain of confinement, culminating in a dramatic splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, where they are rescued by the U.S. Navy ship USS Susquehanna.

Publication history

The novel was first serialized in the French periodical Journal des Débats from November 1869 to September 1870. It was subsequently published in book form in 1870 by Verne's longtime publisher Pierre-Jules Hetzel, as part of the famed Extraordinary Voyages series. The original French edition, titled Autour de la Lune, featured illustrations by renowned artists Alphonse de Neuville and Émile-Antoine Bayard. Early English translations appeared swiftly, cementing Verne's popularity in markets like the United Kingdom and the United States, and the novel has remained continuously in print through various editions from publishers like Wordsworth Editions and Penguin Classics.

Themes and analysis

Central to the novel is Verne's commitment to the scientific method and rational inquiry, as the characters constantly calculate trajectories, observe celestial phenomena, and debate lunar geology. This is contrasted with themes of human curiosity and the romantic spirit of exploration, embodied by the poetically-inclined Michel Ardan. The work also explores the psychological dimensions of isolation and the fragility of human life in the hostile environment of space, predating similar concerns in modern astronautics. Scholars often analyze it alongside the works of H. G. Wells and as a precursor to the Space Race and missions of NASA.

Adaptations

The novel, frequently combined with its predecessor, has inspired numerous adaptations across media. Early cinematic interpretations include the 1902 film A Trip to the Moon by Georges Méliès, which borrows liberally from Verne's concepts. It was adapted into a 1923 French silent film directed by Léonce Perret. The story has also been featured in television series such as the BBC's The Jules Verne Collection and the Walt Disney anthology series Disneyland. Additionally, it has been dramatized for radio and served as inspiration for episodes of shows like Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Reception and legacy

Upon release, the novel was praised for its imaginative yet plausible extrapolation of contemporary ballistic and astronomical science, with critics in publications like The Times acknowledging its educational value. Its legacy is profound within the science fiction genre, influencing pioneers like Arthur C. Clarke and Wernher von Braun. The detailed lunar descriptions were remarkably prescient, with the Apollo 8 mission performing the first manned circumnavigation of the Moon a century later. The book remains a cornerstone of French literature and a testament to Verne's status as a "prophet" of space exploration, studied in academic contexts from the University of Oxford to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Category:1870 novels Category:French science fiction novels Category:Novels by Jules Verne Category:Novels set on the Moon