Customer Reviews

From the Earth to the Moon

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This translation, one of the Barnes and Noble "Classics Editions", is the 1874 English translation by Edward Roth, a Philadelphia school-teacher. In no sense a translation, it is more a parody or retelling of the French original with many embelishments and additions by the author. The editor is Aaron Parett, an English professor from Montana. In an appendix the editor mentions that for furthur reading one might try the complete translation by Walter James Miller, "The Annotated Jules Verne: From the Earth to the Moon" published by Crowell: 1978 and reprinted by Gramercy: 1995. (In reading reviews, make sure the review applies to this ISBN: 07060765197)

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.

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.

I am a 12-year-old girl and I am really into astronomy and math and science and I'd have to say that this is a great and educational read if you are someone like me. Oh an it's also a great version (inexpensive, too!) to read on my Kindle2.

Every book written by Jules Verne that I have ever read I have thought to be a true masterpiece, and this novel is no exception! It features the Gun Club, a club established during the Civil War whose members tend to be a little...er..."incomplete," as one of the characters himself puts it. These men are growing bored in the absence of opportunities to construct and test out new artillery weapons, so their president, the imperturbable, confident Barbicane, proposes they send a projectile to the Moon via a gigantic cannon! This idea is greeted with great approval from the world over, as Barbicane and his club work to organize all the details of the experiment and make sure everything will go perfectly. But despite lots of support from many nations, one man, Barbicane's main enemy, Captain Nicholl, bets several thousand dollars that the experiment will go amiss. To add to the confusion, right in the midst of things, a suave, passionate Frenchman named Michel Ardan decides to ride to the Moon in the projectile himself! I thought this book was, more than anything, very amusing. Verne's way of making his characters truly jump off the page with their vivid dialogue and lovable quirks provides for an abundance of understated humor. I also admired the book's thoroughness in its portrayal of the organization needed to help really get this project "off the ground," from the discussions of the necessary precautions to take, through the math and scientific facts that guide the crafty inventors, up to the assembly of the cannon. The plot is full of unexpected twists and turns and character revelations which fit nicely into the story. A must-read!

A book that doesn't seem like it was written 100 years ago. A easy to read book filled with an enthusiasm for the future that few books have. The method to get to the moon is well laid out to the point of actually believing it could work. It is a project that I would have liked to see happen if I had lived 100 years ago. Timeless

Jules Verne's novel "From the Earth to the Moon" is the imaginative story of an attempt, made shortly after the U.S. Civil War, to send a projectile to the moon. This daring plan is masterminded by veteran artilleryman Impey Barbicane, president of the Baltimore Gun Club. The novel follows the progress and remarkable outcome of the venture.

"Earth. . .Moon" is a terrific adventure story and a pioneering classic of 19th century science fiction. It's also an affectionate satire of the United States and the American character as seen through Verne's eyes. Verne's witty writing had me laughing out loud throughout the book. And furthermore, the novel is about courage, loyalty, and faith in the ability of human beings to overcome incredible obstacles.

Verne populates his adventure tale with a number of likeable and memorably drawn characters. He cleverly mixes in real scientific data with his fantastic tale. He also establishes the book's literary genealogy early on with references to Locke's Moon Hoax and Edgar Allan Poe's story of Hans Pfaal.

I read this book in the Lowell Bair translation, which is published as a Bantam Classic. "Earth. . .Moon" is suspenseful and exciting; it's also surprisingly poignant and ultimately inspiring. It's an enduring masterpiece by one of the 19th century's great visionary geniuses.

This book is completed destroyed by errors in printing. The text is unreadable at points; various spelling errors litter the book. The chapters are not separated, and even worse, are sometimes still in the same line as the sentence before it! Do not buy the black and tan cover, printed by General Books. I wish I had looked through the books closer before the return window expired.

An excerpt:

"Fbance, Pabis,

"SO September, 4 a. m.

" Barbicane, Tampa Town, Florida, United States.

" Substitute for your spherical shell a cuylindro-eonical projectile. I sk-i. ll go inside. Shall arrive by steamer' Atlanta.'

"MlCHKt ABDAJf." CHAPTER XVIH

What happened here!? At another point in the book, instead of "etc.," it has "&c." I would love to return this, but unfortunately I can't. Amazon shipped it to the wrong address and by the time I got it, the return window from the original order had expired. Very disappointed.

WOW!!! WAY BEFORE ITS TIME.

FOR A PUBLISHING IN 1865---!!!---WOW.

AFTER READING SOME OF THE CURRENT TRASH--

THIS WAS REFRESHING--THANK YOU.

With the end of the American Civil War, the Baltimore Gun Club (dedicated to artillery pieces) sinks into depression as its expertise is no longer needed. However, salvation comes when the president of the Club, Impey Barbacane, challenges the Club to use its artillery expertise to launch a manned vehicle to the Moon. It's the kind of challenge that no American can resist, and soon the world is treated to the very first attempt to leave the Earth.

Jules Verne, that master of early science-fiction first published this remarkable book in 1865, and it is amazing how many of Verne's ideas found their echo in the real space program of 100 years later. Verne places his three(!) intrepid explorers in a "cylindro-conical" projectile that was quite close in size to the Apollo Command Module, the launch structure was built in Florida, and more. Indeed, for its time, this book must have been viewed as as much a work of science as fiction - the author went to great lengths to explain the science behind his proposed flight system.

Now, admittedly, the science behind Verne's cannon-fire launch system is HEAVILY flawed, and it never could have worked. But, considering the scientific knowledge of the day, the wonder is that the book is so logical and realistic. And even more, the story is often humorous and always entertaining. If you want to read a really entertaining work of paleo-science-fiction, then get this book, you will not be disappointed!