From the Earth to the Moon

By Jules Verne

Set at the end of the American Civil War, From the Earth to the Moon is a forward-looking tale of space adventure. With no other pressing assignments the Baltimore Gun Club, at the urging of its President, Impey Barbicane, decides to build a gun large enough to propel a projectile from the Earth to the Moon. With a wager being placed on the outcome and the mission being elevated to a "manned" mission, a space race to the Moon begins.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Digireads.com Publishing
• Release date: Jan 1, 2010
• ISBN: 9781596252134

Jules Verne

Jules Verne (1828-1905) was a French novelist, poet and playwright. Verne is considered a major French and European author, as he has a wide influence on avant-garde and surrealist literary movements, and is also credited as one of the primary inspirations for the steampunk genre. However, his influence does not stop in the literary sphere. Verne’s work has also provided invaluable impact on scientific fields as well. Verne is best known for his series of bestselling adventure novels, which earned him such an immense popularity that he is one of the world’s most translated authors.

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FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON

BY JULES VERNE

A Digireads.com Book

Digireads.com Publishing

Print ISBN 13: 978-1-4209-2681-1

Ebook ISBN 13: 978-1-59625-213-4

This edition copyright © 2011

Please visit www.digireads.com

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I. THE GUN CLUB.

CHAPTER II. PRESIDENT BARBICANE'S COMMUNICATION.

CHAPTER III. EFFECT OF THE PRESIDENT'S COMMUNICATION.

CHAPTER IV. REPLY FROM THE OBSERVATORY OF CAMBRIDGE.

CHAPTER V. THE ROMANCE OF THE MOON.

CHAPTER VI. PERMISSIVE LIMITS OF IGNORANCE AND BELIEF IN THE UNITED STATES.

CHAPTER VII. THE HYMN OF THE CANNON-BALL.

CHAPTER VIII. HISTORY OF THE CANNON.

CHAPTER IX. THE QUESTION OF THE POWDERS.

CHAPTER X. ONE ENEMY VS. TWENTY-FIVE MILLIONS OF FRIENDS.

CHAPTER XI. FLORIDA AND TEXAS.

CHAPTER XII. URBI ET ORBI.

CHAPTER XIII. STONES HILL.

CHAPTER XIV. PICKAXE AND TROWEL.

CHAPTER XV. THE FÊTE OF THE CASTING.

CHAPTER XVI. THE COLUMBIAD.

CHAPTER XVII. A TELEGRAPHIC DISPATCH.

CHAPTER XVIII. THE PASSENGER OF THE ATLANTA.

CHAPTER XIX. A MONSTER MEETING.

CHAPTER XX. ATTACK AND RIPOSTE.

CHAPTER XXI. HOW A FRENCHMAN MANAGES AN AFFAIR.

CHAPTER XXII. THE NEW CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES.

CHAPTER XXIII. THE PROJECTILE-VEHICLE.

CHAPTER XXIV. THE TELESCOPE OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.

CHAPTER XXV. FINAL DETAILS.

CHAPTER XXVI. FIRE!

CHAPTER XXVII. FOUL WEATHER.

CHAPTER XXVIII. A NEW STAR.

CHAPTER I. THE GUN CLUB.

During the War of the Rebellion, a new and influential club was established in the city of Baltimore in the State of Maryland. It is well known with what energy the taste for military matters became developed among that nation of ship-owners, shopkeepers, and mechanics. Simple tradesmen jumped their counters to become extemporized captains, colonels, and generals, without having ever passed the School of Instruction at West Point; nevertheless; they quickly rivaled their compeers of the old continent, and, like them, carried off victories by dint of lavish expenditure in ammunition, money, and men.

But the point in which the Americans singularly distanced the Europeans was in the science of gunnery. Not, indeed, that their weapons retained a higher degree of perfection than theirs, but that they exhibited unheard-of dimensions, and consequently attained hitherto unheard-of ranges. In point of grazing, plunging, oblique, or enfilading, or point-blank firing, the English, French, and Prussians have nothing to learn; but their cannon, howitzers, and mortars are mere pocket-pistols compared with the formidable engines of the American artillery.

This fact need surprise no one. The Yankees, the first mechanicians in the world, are engineers—just as the Italians are musicians and the Germans metaphysicians—by right of birth. Nothing is more natural, therefore, than to perceive them applying their audacious ingenuity to the science of gunnery. Witness the marvels of Parrott, Dahlgren, and Rodman. The Armstrong, Palliser, and Beaulieu guns were compelled to bow before their transatlantic rivals.

Now when an American has an idea, he directly seeks a second American to share it. If there be three, they elect a president and two secretaries. Given four, they name a keeper of records, and the office is ready for work; five, they convene a general meeting, and the club is fully constituted. So things were managed in Baltimore. The inventor of a new cannon associated himself with the caster and the borer. Thus was formed the nucleus of the Gun Club. In a single month after its formation it numbered 1,833 effective members and 30,565 corresponding members.

One condition was imposed as a sine quâ non upon every candidate for admission into the association, and that was the condition of having designed, or (more or less) perfected a cannon; or, in default of a cannon, at least a firearm of some description. It may, however, be mentioned that mere inventors of revolvers, fire-shooting carbines, and similar small arms, met with little consideration. Artillerists always commanded the chief place of favor.

The estimation in which these gentlemen were held, according to one of the most scientific exponents of the Gun Club, was proportional to the masses of their guns, and in the direct ratio of the square of the distances attained by their projectiles.

The Gun Club once founded, it is easy to conceive the result of the inventive genius of the Americans. Their military weapons attained colossal proportions, and their projectiles, exceeding the prescribed limits, unfortunately occasionally cut in two some unoffending pedestrians. These inventions, in fact, left far in the rear the timid instruments of European artillery.

It is but fair to add that these Yankees, brave as they have ever proved themselves to be, did not confine themselves to theories and formulae, but that they paid heavily, in propriâ personâ, for their inventions. Among them were to be counted officers of all ranks, from lieutenants to generals; military men of every age, from those who were just making their debut in the profession of arms up to those who had grown old in the gun-carriage. Many had found their rest on the field of battle whose names figured in the Book of Honor of the Gun Club; and of those who made good their return the greater proportion bore the marks of their indisputable valor. Crutches, wooden legs, artificial arms, steel hooks, caoutchouc jaws, silver craniums, platinum noses, were all to be found in the collection; and it was calculated by the great statistician Pitcairn that throughout the Gun Club there was not quite one arm between four persons and two legs between six.

Nevertheless, these valiant artillerists took no particular account of these little facts, and felt justly proud when the despatches of a battle returned the number of victims at ten-fold the quantity of projectiles expended.

One day, however—sad and melancholy day!—peace was signed between the survivors of the war; the thunder of the guns gradually ceased, the mortars were silent, the howitzers were muzzled for an indefinite period, the cannon, with muzzles depressed, were returned into the arsenal, the shot were repiled, all bloody reminiscences were effaced; the cotton-plants grew luxuriantly in the well-manured fields, all mourning garments were laid aside, together with grief; and the Gun Club was relegated to profound inactivity.

Some few of the more advanced and inveterate theorists set themselves again to work upon calculations regarding the laws of projectiles. They reverted invariably to gigantic shells and howitzers of unparalleled caliber. Still in default of practical experience what was the value of mere theories? Consequently, the clubrooms became deserted, the servants dozed in the antechambers, the newspapers grew mouldy on the tables, sounds of snoring came from dark corners, and the members of the Gun Club, erstwhile so noisy in their séances, were reduced to silence by this disastrous peace and gave themselves up wholly to dreams of a Platonic kind of artillery.

This is horrible! said Tom Hunter one evening, while rapidly carbonizing his wooden legs in the fireplace of the smoking-room; nothing to do! nothing to look forward to! what a loathsome existence! When again shall the guns arouse us in the morning with their delightful reports?

Those days are gone by, said jolly Bilsby, trying to extend his missing arms. It was delightful once upon a time! One invented a gun, and hardly was it cast, when one hastened to try it in the face of the enemy! Then one returned to camp with a word of encouragement from Sherman or a friendly shake of the hand from McClellan. But now the generals are gone back to their counters; and in place of projectiles, they despatch bales of cotton. By Jove, the future of gunnery in America is lost!

Ay! and no war in prospect! continued the famous James T. Maston, scratching with his steel hook his gutta-percha cranium. Not a cloud on the horizon! and that too at such a critical period in the progress of the science of artillery! Yes, gentlemen! I who address you have myself this very morning perfected a model (plan, section, elevation, etc.) of a mortar destined to change all the conditions of warfare!

No! is it possible? replied Tom Hunter, his thoughts reverting involuntarily to a former invention of the Hon. J. T. Maston, by which, at its first trial, he had succeeded in killing three hundred and thirty-seven people.

Fact! replied he. Still, what is the use of so many studies worked out, so many difficulties vanquished? It's mere waste of time! The New World seems to have made up its mind to live in peace; and our bellicose Tribune predicts some approaching catastrophes arising out of this scandalous increase of population.

Nevertheless, replied Colonel Blomsberry, they are always struggling in Europe to maintain the principle of nationalities.

Well?

Well, there might be some field for enterprise down there; and if they would accept our services——

What are you dreaming of? screamed Bilsby; work at gunnery for the benefit of foreigners?

That would be better than doing nothing here, returned the colonel.

Quite so, said J. T. Matson; but still we need not dream of that expedient.

And why not? demanded the colonel.

Because their ideas of progress in the Old World are contrary to our American habits of thought. Those fellows believe that one can't become a general without having served first as an ensign; which is as much as to say that one can't point a gun without having first cast it oneself!

Ridiculous! replied Tom Hunter, whittling with his bowie-knife the arms of his easy chair; but if that be the case there, all that is left for us is to plant tobacco and distill whale-oil.

What! roared J. T. Maston, shall we not employ these remaining years of our life in perfecting firearms? Shall there never be a fresh opportunity of trying the ranges of projectiles? Shall the air never again be lighted with the glare of our guns? No international difficulty ever arise to enable us to declare war against some transatlantic power? Shall not the French sink one of our steamers, or the English, in defiance of the rights of nations, hang a few of our countrymen?

No such luck, replied Colonel Blomsberry; nothing of the kind is likely to happen; and even if it did, we should not profit by it. American susceptibility is fast declining, and we are all going to the dogs.

It is too true, replied J. T. Maston, with fresh violence; there are a thousand grounds for fighting, and yet we don't fight. We save up our arms and legs for the benefit of nations who don't know what to do with them! But stop—without going out of one's way to find a cause for war—did not North America once belong to the English?

Undoubtedly, replied Tom Hunter, stamping his crutch with fury.

Well, then, replied J. T. Maston, why should not England in her turn belong to the Americans?

It would be but just and fair, returned Colonel Blomsberry.

Go and propose it to the President of the United States, cried J. T. Maston, and see how he will receive you.

Bah! growled Bilsby between the four teeth which the war had left him; that will never do!

By Jove! cried J. T. Maston, he mustn't count on my vote at the next election!

Nor on ours, replied unanimously all the bellicose invalids.

Meanwhile, replied J. T. Maston, allow me to say that, if I cannot get an opportunity to try my new mortars on a real field of battle, I shall say good-by to the members of the Gun Club, and go and bury myself in the prairies of Arkansas!

In that case we will accompany you, cried the others.

Matters were in this unfortunate condition, and the club was threatened with approaching dissolution, when an unexpected circumstance occurred to prevent so deplorable a catastrophe.

On the morrow after this conversation every member of the association received a sealed circular couched in the following terms:

"BALTIMORE, October 3.

"The president of the Gun Club has the honor to inform his colleagues that, at the meeting of the 5th instant, he will bring before them a communication of an extremely interesting nature. He requests, therefore, that they will make it convenient to attend in accordance with the present invitation. Very cordially,

IMPEY BARBICANE, P.G.C.

Reviews for From the Earth to the Moon

[nx74defiant · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

First half Verne is very interested in the logistics of firing a vehicle to the moon. He spends a lot of time doing the math.The second half is more about the people and how they deal with the situation.

[michael_rose-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Surprisingly prescient in many ways, though some details were overlooked even by the standards of the time in which it was written (being shot out of canon capable of escape velocity – it's putting all its thrust into the initial shot and none thereafter, because it's not a missile – would cause sufficient g forces to kill you). Perhaps this is the fault of the characters, and not the author, but I cannot recall anyone involved having thought about how to get back.

[sf_addict · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What a quirky little book! The synopsis sounds ridiculous by today's standards; design a 900 foot cannon to shoot a huge ball to the moon using cotton impreganted with some highly flammable substance as 'fuel' (called Pyroxite)And yet the book is laced with good sound science that one would expect to find in a modern hard SF book! The distance to the moon is known as is its orbital velocity and details such as the apogee and perigee of the moon are figured into the itineray. Its all jolly good fun with a mild poke at the Americans-even though the main characters are American and it reads as if written by an American, at times one detects the odd poke at the 'Yankees' as Verne's character refers to his colleagues. A group called the Gun Club form with the intention of making bigger and better arms, but when peace is declared its members feel somehow deprived of an enemy to fight and so must look elsewhere. Then up pops the idea of a huge gun, bigger than anything they have seen before, and it will be used to fire a cannon at the moon to gain relations with the selenites up there (i.e. colonise!) and plant the American flag declaring the world theirs! But thats how people thought back in the day, and bear in mind this was written over 100 years before the 1969 moon landing!All in all quite incredible and great fun!

[sdtaylor555 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

So boring, and you know most of this won't work now so you're thinking what's the point. The tech talk was mostly over my head too.

[goodwillbooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

According to the Introduction by Robert A. W. Lowndes, "From the Earth to the Moon" is the first story of a moon-flight using the rocket principle. The book was a success in its time, and given the incomplete publishing history I found, with the most recent edition published in 2006, is still a success. I would venture to say it has more to offer to today's audience than simply a classic adventure story, which it certainly remains. But it is also, today, a fascinating historical artifact, documenting to some extent the degree of scientific knowledge and sophistication of the 19th century audience. The story presents some scientific knowledge, which is useful; it presents other scientific conjectures which are laughable, but quaint (for instance, upon completion of the telescope, the country was awaiting word or sightings of settlements and "roaming herds of lunar animals"). Despite the antiquated science, the book continues to work as a classic adventure story, and Verne captures the excitement of the country's population monitoring the progress of the "great experiment"; it is easy to see why the book was a success, and it's enjoyable to consider the reactions of people reading it upon its initial publication.

[john257hopper · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Mostly rather dull, lacking the sense of dynamism and adventure of Verne's other classics, at least until the final third of the novel when Captain Nicholls properly joins the plot as Michel Ardan's and Barbicane's antagonist. The early part of the book reads too much like a dry Victorian technical manual on casting cannons. I also find it difficult to get past the now ridiculous science.

[choccy_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Whoa, thank goodness I didn't read the back cover of the book, or else several fun surprises would be spoiled.Holy Verne, it's been so long since my last fix of his work. Two years perhaps. From the Earth to the Moon is light but still well written. This book was published in 1865, more than a hundred years (!) prior to the first successful moon landing by the men of Apollo 11.I'm not able to prove all the scientific calculation and details described so eloquently here, but they're sure as hell convincing enough. Again, Verne never ceases to amaze me with his knack of making technical details to be interesting.He actually made some correct predictions, such as:1. the country who successfully sent a manned mission to the moon is the US. Well, he did manage to include a French guy to join the mission - nationalistic interest perhaps?2. the two states contesting to be the launch site were Florida and Texas. Yep, and Florida won too in real life.3. the shape of the capsule and there were three people on board. Remember Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins?Verne did see far into the future. And he complemented all of those with wisecracking humor in between. Je vous adore beaucoup, monsieur!Distance is an empty word, distance does not exist!Believe in the power of imagination and let it flow, because you'll never know what the future holds.

[markbstephenson · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A very quaint period piece with some satire and hyperbole thrown in for fun.

[bookconcierge · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Once the Civil War has ended the members of the Baltimore Gun Club are without a purpose; they had been busy improving weaponry during the war. Their president, Impey Barbicane, has a compelling idea, however. They will build a giant cannon and send a projectile to the moon!

The fourth of the Extraordinary Voyages series, this was first published in 1865. That was 104 years before the USA actually did send a man to the moon, and it’s interesting to read the “science” and compare Verne’s suppositions with what actually happened in 1969.

Verne populates the novel with a colorful cast of characters. The members of the Gun Club are mostly veterans, and many had been severely injured on the battlefield: “Pitcairn calculated that in the Gun club there was not quite one arm for every four men, and only one leg for every three.” But these men are hardly disabled; they have the courage of their convictions and nothing will deter them from achieving their goals. There’s a great deal of humor in the interactions between the characters, as they argue among themselves what properties the cannon and projectile will have and where and when the launch will take place.

It was an enjoyable adventure tale, though I admit to skimming over much of the scientific calculations. It’s easy to see why these Extraordinary Voyages have remained popular for over a century.

[npjacobsen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I had heard people talk about this book, but had never taken the time to read it. Written in 1865, it is amazing that Verne got most of the science right. The main difference between the book and the actual moon shot some 100 years later was the placement of the propulsion system. The dialogue seems rather basic and the book is probably geared to more of a middle school type audience. The explanations of all the problems to be overcome and the discussions of the solutions became tedious at times, but Verne was just showing he had considered this story very carefully. This is still a classic and I recommend it to any science fiction fan. Jules Verne was truly a man way ahead of his time.

[prop2gether · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

While the science about the moon is certainly dated, this adventure is still chockful of enthusiastic suppositions about what might be on the moon. There were several sections which were dry calculations, but the chapters were short and the story kept moving. In fact, there were some assumptions Verne made which are very close to fact, and the troubles which the trio encounter in their projectile mirrored some of those of Apollo 13, many years later--and the characters prefigure some of the resolutions (think about the problems with oxygen). All in all, I enjoyed the read.