From the Earth to the Moon

By: Jules Verne

Narrated by: Bernard Mayes

Length: 5 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

The War of the Rebellion is over, and the members of the American Gun Club, bored with inactivity, look around for a new project. At last they have it: "We will build the greatest projectile the world has ever seen and make the moon our 38th state!"

When From the Earth to the Moon was published in 1865, it was regarded as pure fantasy. Who could imagine a rocket that would carry men and animals through space? Today, like so many of Jules Verne's prophecies, space travel is a reality. Here's a fun adventure story that shows how Verne, with foresight that is at times almost eerily accurate, envisioned a trip to the moon.

(P)1999 Blackstone Audio Inc

Disappointed

Not the quality of the majority of Jules Verne stories. Performance was done very well. Just disappointed in the story, it is the first of his titles I have read that I really didn’t care for.

More humor, intentional and accidental in this tale of prep and planning humanity’s first space voyage.

An early example of Science Fiction and, to a lesser degree, a social satire. Limited by available scientific data, Verne’s theories of surmounting the task of traveling to the Moon vary from remarkably accurate to ridiculous. Entertaining, if a bit dry at times. It would takes us another century to catch up to Verne’s speculation.

Solidly good Verne story

I've read and listened to quite a few Jules Verne books over the years and this is about average for him. There are so many technical details and long periods go without action, but it still kept my interest. I think it could be boring to some people, especially if they're not used to his technical writing.

What brings the book up are the characters. Verne always has some dynamic people. Most of the characters are from an American gun club who have decided they want to send a rocket to the Moon. To mix things up someone comes along who wants to go to the Moon on that rocket. They must change their calculations to accommodate him!

The newest television adaptation of Around the World in Eighty Days has a scene with a little boy talking about his model rocket. I loved this little mini tribute to this book and wonder if there are more such references.

I thought the narration was excellent.

typical Vern

First off, the narration is oknat best. Secondly this is typical vern writing. It is a big build up to a less than spectacular ending.

good classic story.

Given the age of the story, its great. one of the first ever Science Fiction stories ever written in the 1800's

Not What I Expected

Very technical, and very political. Characters are entertaining, but most time is spent on math.

Not what I thought it was

This book was fairly entertaining, but I was hoping for a more modern concept. This was from the 1800's and it feels like it more so than other Jules Verne books. Still, not completely bad though.

Great early literature.

I enjoyed listening to this early literary piece written before the attempt to reach the moon. The theories and ideas then were amazing.

An Early Science Fiction Classic

I've wanted to read this book since I was a child but never found the time until Audible. This book inspired not only the Apollo astronauts but also the engineers and scientists who made their journey possible.

Verne takes great care to make his version of the trip plausible -- and he gets close on many details. We can't just launch toward the Moon, we must meet it in space. Our ship must attain an escape velocity. The launch site selected is Tampa -- almost directly across the Florida peninsula from Kennedy Space Center.

Alas, this novel is actually a bit of satire, gently mocking the "can do" attitude of early Americans. He apparently wrote this during the US Civil War, and calls Americans "Yankees" throughout. The politics of America in those days would have made much of his story impossible.

At times it reads more like a diary than a novel, and at others it's more like an artillery manual.

Still, its an engaging book where we literally reach for the Moon.

The reader's performance is solid and kind of reminds me of a grandfatherly voice reading this tale to a child. His character voices are mostly effective, helping us keep track of the different characters.

If you are looking for a classic and willing to put yourself in the mindset of another time give From the Earth to the Moon a try.

Great Story!

A good listen but there are portions where you will get bored due to the scientific/mathematical explanations but overall great read!