Trips to the Moon

Written in AD 160, Lucian of Samosata's story of a journey to the moon may be the first science fiction story ever written. Purporting to be a lost chapter of the Odyssey, it tells how Ulysses' ship is carried to the moon by a vast whirlwind. Lucian's descriptions of the earth seen from space are remarkably similar to those of modern astronauts. This volume also includes "Icaromennipus", another moon-voyage story by Lucian (though this time the flight is made by mechanical means). Includes an introduction and extensive notes.