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3.0étoiles sur 5
First part good, second part, not so much., Oct. 19 2003
Verne writes a great story in From the Earth to the Moon, ending on a cliff hanger that leaves you wondering, exploring all the science of his day, and the possibilities therein. Sometimes it can get a bit long-winded, but overall, a fun read.The second portion is far less so, however. One gets the impression that, after his first novel was published, he suffered a large amount of scientific criticism, or else new scientific data came in, denying some of what he had written. Perhaps he simply gave in to critics who claimed the novel seemed unfinished. And so he wrote a second novel, and wrote too much. A Trip Around It suffers from extreme long-windedness, and tedious explanations of what we have observed of the moon, and what was hypothesized about the moon in Verne's day. I kept on reading, skimming finally, waiting for the action to begin, waiting for something to develop- and was disappointed. This is a novel about three men who are all rather big on themselves, traveling in cramped quarters, describing fictional and real geography. And it's simply not fun to read a novel whose characters are only proud people. This was perhaps a book that served a scientific purpose for understanding the lunar terrain, when it was written. Now it is more of a historical note on Verne's failure, and how not to write.
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5.0étoiles sur 5
A Star Amongst the Books of Jules Verne, Oct. 4 2003
Par Un client
Every book written by Jules Verne that I have ever read I have thought to be a true masterpiece, and this novel is no exception! It features the Gun Club, a club established during the Civil War whose members tend to be a little...er..."incomplete," as one of the characters himself puts it. These men are growing bored in the absence of opportunities to construct and test out new artillery weapons, so their president, the imperturbable, confident Barbicane, proposes they send a projectile to the Moon via a gigantic cannon! This idea is greeted with great approval from the world over, as Barbicane and his club work to organize all the details of the experiment and make sure everything will go perfectly. But despite lots of support from many nations, one man, Barbicane's main enemy, Captain Nicholl, bets several thousand dollars that the experiment will go amiss. To add to the confusion, right in the midst of things, a suave, passionate Frenchman named Michel Ardan decides to ride to the Moon in the projectile himself! I thought this book was, more than anything, very amusing. Verne's way of making his characters truly jump off the page with their vivid dialogue and lovable quirks provides for an abundance of understated humor. I also admired the book's thoroughness in its portrayal of the organization needed to help really get this project "off the ground," from the discussions of the necessary precautions to take, through the math and scientific facts that guide the crafty inventors, up to the assembly of the cannon. The plot is full of unexpected twists and turns and character revelations which fit nicely into the story. A must-read!
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5.0étoiles sur 5
An exciting classic by a great prophetic mind, Jui 19 2003
Jules Verne's novel "From the Earth to the Moon" is the imaginative story of an attempt, made shortly after the U.S. Civil War, to send a projectile to the moon. This daring plan is masterminded by veteran artilleryman Impey Barbicane, president of the Baltimore Gun Club. The novel follows the progress and remarkable outcome of the venture."Earth. . .Moon" is a terrific adventure story and a pioneering classic of 19th century science fiction. It's also an affectionate satire of the United States and the American character as seen through Verne's eyes. Verne's witty writing had me laughing out loud throughout the book. And furthermore, the novel is about courage, loyalty, and faith in the ability of human beings to overcome incredible obstacles. Verne populates his adventure tale with a number of likeable and memorably drawn characters. He cleverly mixes in real scientific data with his fantastic tale. He also establishes the book's literary genealogy early on with references to Locke's Moon Hoax and Edgar Allan Poe's story of Hans Pfaal. I read this book in the Lowell Bair translation, which is published as a Bantam Classic. "Earth. . .Moon" is suspenseful and exciting; it's also surprisingly poignant and ultimately inspiring. It's an enduring masterpiece by one of the 19th century's great visionary geniuses.
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