The First Men in the Moon / H.G. Wells

The First Men in the Moon

category: science fiction, author:

H.G. Wells

published by Gollancz,
original copyright 1901, read in August 2010

Agamedes' opinion: 5 out of 10

My rating for this book is five out of ten: readable, but only if there's nothing else. That rating is based on my enjoyment as I am reading the book... and I read largely for escapism. If you are a science fiction (or literature) fan and interested in the development of the genre -- rate this book as eight: really quite good.

For me, the book suffered somewhat in comparison with the next book on my list, Moving Target. Moving Target is Horatio Hornblower in space: non-stop action, adventure and heroism. The First Men in the Moon is more imagination but less fun.

First Men describes the efforts of two men to get to the Moon, and the civilisation that they discover on the Moon. As far as the Moon civilisation goes, it could have been found by Tarzan in the depths of the jungle, or by John Carter on Mars.

On the plus side: The Moon people are entirely at peace, yet they are neither perfect nor stupid. The narrator is shocked at some of the practices which maintain the Moon civilisation. Then, when the Moon people discover the warlike and predatory nature of Earth humans -- the Moon people use trickery and deceit as they prepare for a preemptive strike against Earth.

Compare this with Out of the Silent Planet, by C.S.Lewis. Wells imagines a peaceful but lively civilisation. On the surface all runs smoothly but there is an underlying cost. Moon people have no war but quickly accept the need for a strong defence. Earth people are inventive, active, belligerent and threatening. Dangerous but not all bad.

Lewis, on the other hand, describes a civilisation of idiots. Well, that's my memory of the book, from reading it in late 2008. Idiots who -- according to Lewis -- are the perfect models for an ideal society. As opposed to Earth -- the "silent planet" -- which has been isolated due to the unutterable evil of its inhabitants.

Wells' opposing civilisations -- Earth and Moon -- each have their good and bad. Wells presents some interesting and valid messages -- without preaching.

The characters, too, are more than two-dimensional. Sure, the scientist is an absent-minded genius who sees new knowledge as the one and only goal. But the narrator is not the standard straight-talking, two-fisted, battle-the-baddies hero. He is an undischarged bankrupt, in for the money and too quick to use violence.

In terms of speculation -- the heart of good science fiction -- the plants of the Moon are excellent. Wells has taken the actual situation, of two weeks day, two weeks night and extreme temperature changes, and built an environment of rapid growth and equally rapid decay. This is good: an ecology which could not occur on Earth.

Interestingly, my copy of the book has someone's pencilled comments. A student, perhaps, forced to read an old book. The student has made a "correction" to the text -- and got it wrong. Fortunately enough, Wells knew the facts of his science.

Even more interesting, was an article in a recent newspaper. Apparently some scientists have now decided that there may, in fact, be some water at the centre of the Moon... Probably not enough to support all of Wells' Selenite civilisation -- but better than nothing!

As I write these quite positive comments I wonder, should I adjust my rating upwards? No... There is a lot of good material in this book. But it fails to make a ripping yarn. The Sleeper Awakes, also by Wells, has just as many good ideas. But Sleeper is also a very enjoyable and easy-to-read book.

One final point. A paragraph that I love. It's either quintessentially British -- or Wells poking fun at lots of other books:

It is within the right of every British citizen, provided he does not commit damage nor indecorum, to appear suddenly wherever he pleases, and as ragged and filthy as he pleases, and with whatever amount of virgin gold he sees fit to encumber himself, and no one has any right at all to hinder and detain him in this procedure.

Absolutely, old chap!

..o0o..

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