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The First Men in the Moon (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)

by H.G. Wells (Author), Patrick Parrinder (Author), China Mieville (Author), Steven McLean (Author) "As I sit down to write here amidst the shadows of vine-leaves under the blue sky of southern Italy it comes to me with a..." (more)
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
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Product details

  • Paperback: 256 pages
  • Publisher: Penguin Classics; New Ed edition (31 Mar 2005)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0141441089
  • ISBN-13: 978-0141441085
  • Product Dimensions: 19.2 x 12.8 x 2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 120,663 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #21 in  Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Authors, A-Z > W > Wells, H.G.

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Product Description

Product Description

When penniless businessman Mr Bedford retreats to the Kent coast to write a play, he meets by chance the brilliant Dr Cavor, an absent-minded scientist on the brink of developing a material that blocks gravity. Cavor soon succeeds in his experiments, only to tell a stunned Bedford the invention makes possible one of the oldest dreams of humanity: a journey to the moon. With Bedford motivated by money, and Cavor by the desire for knowledge, the two embark on the expedition. But neither are prepared for what they find – a world of freezing nights, boiling days and sinister alien life, on which they may be trapped forever.


About the Author

H.G. Wells was a professional writer and journalist, who published more than a hundred books, including novels, histories, essays and programmes for world regeneration. Wells's prophetic imagination was first displayed in pioneering works of science fiction, but later he became an apostle of socialism, science and progress. His controversial views on sexual equality and the shape of a truly developed nation remain directly relevant to our world today. He was, in Bertrand Russell's words, 'an important liberator of thought and action'. China Mieville has won the Arthur C. Clarke and British Fantasy Awards for his science fiction. Patrick Parrinder has written on H.G. Wells, science fiction, James Joyce and the history of the English novel. Since 1986 he has been Professor of English at the University of Reading. Steven McLean is Secretary of the H.G. Wells Society. He recently completed his PhD on H.G. Wells at the University of Sheffield.
Inside This Book (Learn More)
First Sentence
As I sit down to write here amidst the shadows of vine-leaves under the blue sky of southern Italy it comes to me with a certain quality of astonishment that my participation in these amazing adventures of Mr Cavor was, after all, the outcome of the purest accident. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews

8 Reviews
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A fun read, and a fascinating sci-fi book, 18 May 2004
By Kurt A. Johnson (Marseilles, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   
This review is from: First Men in the Moon (Paperback)
When the young and penniless Mr. Bedford meets an eccentric scientist, Mr. Cavor, who doesn't realize the importance of his own inventions, it seems most fortuitous. Of greatest interest is Cavor's realization that he can create a substance that shields against gravity. Together, they come to the conclusion that, with this new substance, they can make ships to take them to other planets within the solar system. And so, with Cavor dreaming of scientific breakthroughs and Bedford dreaming of wealth, the two build such a ship, and set off for the Moon.

Arriving at the Moon, the two quickly realize what a strange and amazing place it is. During the lunar day, there is a breathable atmosphere on the surface of the Moon, and their investigations soon demonstrate that the Moon is inhabited by a race of intelligent beings. An insectoid race, the Selenites (or "Moonies" as Cavor whimsically dubs them) have a highly-organized caste system much like terrestrial ants. Can our heroes escape from the Selenites and return to Earth? And, what are the long-term affects of this new meeting of societies going to be?

H.G. Wells (1866-1946) is often remembered for his late-nineteenth century science-fiction, including The Time Machine, The Invisible Man, and The War of the Worlds. This book was first published in 1900, and shows a different side of Wells. Whereas his earlier book were rather preachy, this book is more light-hearted, telling a cracking good story for its own enjoyment, rather than being a vehicle to teach a lesson.

Yep, this is a fun read, and a fascinating sci-fi book. As might be expected from such an old book, the "science" that Wells used is extremely out of date. But, if you are willing to practice a little suspension of disbelief, you will be treated to an excellent story. The story hangs together well with then current science, and shows you science-fiction from an entirely different angle. I really enjoyed this book, and highly recommend it to you.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars Sadly NOT one of his best Sci-fi novels, 22 Jan 2009
By Uncle Barbar (Essex, England) - See all my reviews
  
Oh dear... this is NOT one of H G Wells' best novels by a long way. Was he clever and ahead of his time to guess of man's travels to the moon? Yes. But this is no "War of the Worlds" or "The Time Machine" or even "The history of Mr Polly".

Whereas these titles are fine novels in their own right, "The First Men in the Moon", in my humble opinion is a big flop. It is quite poorly written, childish and deadly dull, even laughable in the end. How the scientist on the moon can send such descriptive messages like he does near the end of the book is quite absurd.

Unlike these other fine novels which kept you page-turning with wonder, I couldn't wait for this one to finish. It's not quite as horrendously bad as Wells' "Food of the Gods" or "The island of Dr Moreau" but it shows that his writing was often either genius or laughable. This definitely comes, for me, into the latter category!

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic piece of Sci-Fi..., 20 Nov 2007
By Mr. R. G. Houston "reader" (Glengormley, Northern Ireland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
What can I say? This is a sci-fi masterpiece, pure and simple. Someone commented when they saw I was reading 'The First Men in the Moon': "What is the point in reading that now, after 1969?" or words to that affect. Completely unperturbed, I finished it and thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Even though man has been to the moon, and indeed we plan to go back (and about time, too!), there is plenty of reasons to read this classic and contemplate its content. For example, although it has been proven that the moon is a dead world, this novel could very easily apply to another world - one beyond our solar system. Plus, what would it mean for space travel if an anti-gravity substance like Cavorite were developed? Read it, and draw your own conclusions.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Wells' lunar social commentary
Very good exploration into social questions regarding the division of labour and those fitted to task amongst other psuedo-ploitic theory. Read more
Published 13 days ago by Abacinated

3.0 out of 5 stars More for Historians of Sci-Fi
As an example of late Victorian sci-fi, "The First Men in the Moon" has some interesting elements - the scientist as artisan, building a spaceship in his shed; the description of... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mr. Ross Maynard

4.0 out of 5 stars Cavorite: better than warp-drive
Herbert George Wells wrote his first book, The Time Machine, in 1895. As a student I was introduced to his eighth book, A History of Mr Polly, and strangely seem to have taken on... Read more
Published on 1 May 2006 by J. Glazer

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun Vintage Sci-Fi
I agree with the above reader. 'First Man In The Moon' is a wonderful piece of pre-space-age science fiction. Read more
Published on 19 Jan 2000

4.0 out of 5 stars Wells' imaginative tale of a Victorian lunar expedition
While the work is sadly dated by modern sensibilities (the moon has an atmosphere, among other problems) "From the Earth to the Moon" remains one his more imaginative... Read more
Published on 26 Mar 1997

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