Trips to the Moon

Lucian, of Samosata, 120-180Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

Rating 3.8
Word count
207K words
Chapters
21

Tags

Foreign Literature Science Fiction Classic FantasyTravelogueMoon VoyageScience FantasyUtopian ImaginationHumor ReliefIntellectual CommentarySatirical StyleAncient Greek LiteratureFantasy World

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Trips to the Moon by of Samosata LucianAuthor: Lucian, of Samosata, 120-180,Language: English, Class: PA: Language and Literatures: Classical Languages and Literature, Release Date: Dec 1, 2003

Editor's review

This English translation of Trips to the Moon is a celebrated work by the ancient Roman satirist Lucian of Samosata (c. 120–180), released free by Project Gutenberg. Lucian is known for his dialogues and satirical style; this book uses an imaginary voyage to the moon to poke fun at social, philosophical, and human frailties, and is regarded as an early meeting point of proto-science-fictional imagination and satire. Its value lies not in hard-SF technical detail but in using an absurd interplanetary journey to refract earthly concerns; readers encounter both an ancient author's bold invention of an unknown world and his wit and humor. The public-domain e-edition is easy to search and read alongside other texts, making it suitable for research and teaching in classical literature, the origins of early science fiction, or the Western satirical tradition. When reading, it is advisable to place it in the cultural context of second-century Rome and attend to its rhetorical play and satirical intent rather than expecting a modern science-fiction novel.

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Reading tips

  1. First learn about Lucian's life and the cultural background of second-century Rome, then enter the text
  2. Read it as satire and note the social and philosophical allegory behind the exaggerated narrative
  3. Read bilingually where possible and annotate allusions and rhetorical devices
  4. It is short; read it through once, then go back to sort out its structure and layers of satire

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

Contents

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9
  10. 10
  11. 11
  12. 12
  13. 13
  14. 14
  15. 15
  16. 16
  17. 17
  18. 18
  19. 19
  20. 20
  21. 21

FAQ

Is this a science-fiction novel in the modern sense? It is generally not regarded as modern science fiction. Lucian wrote in the second century; his core is satire and rhetorical play, and the moon voyage is only a frame for mockery, not technical imagination grounded in scientific extrapolation. It should not be judged by the expectations of modern science fiction.
Why is it recommended to note its significance in science-fiction history? It is often traced in early science-fiction history as one of the precursors of moon-voyage imagination, showing that using interplanetary journeys to carry social critique and thought experiments has a long history. Reading it within the science-fiction lineage helps illuminate the genre's ancient roots and satirical tradition.
What reader level is the public-domain English text suitable for? The text is an English translation of classical satire, with syntax and allusions of some difficulty; it suits readers with solid English reading ability who are willing to consult background materials. Those just starting may first read introductory material or choose an annotated edition.

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About the author

Lucian, of Samosata, 120-180 Author

Lucian of Samosata (120–180) was a satirical writer who composed in Greek during the Roman Empire and was born in Samosata, Syria. The collection here holds thirteen of his works, including several volumes of his complete works in Greek as well as English translations, which shows how widely his writings circulated. He is best known for Lucian's True History, often regarded as an important early work of fantastic narrative. His subjects are varied, touching on myth, philosophy, rhetoric and the social customs of his time, and his tone is witty and playful, making use of irony and parody, often through invented travels and dialogues that mock the ideas and fashionable doctrines of his contemporaries. Public information about his life is limited and many details remain uncertain, yet the works themselves reveal a thorough familiarity with classical culture and a self-conscious sense of literary experiment; they have influenced later satirical literature and fantastic fiction.