Task to Luna by Alfred Coppel (1962)
"Task to Luna" is a science fiction novel that follows the story of a man named John who is sent to the moon on a mission to establish a colony. However, upon arrival, he discovers that the moon is not as desolate as he was led to believe and that he is not alone on his journey. With unexpected challenges and encounters, John must navigate the dangers of space and confront his own personal demons in order to complete his task and return home.
By Alfred Coppel · First published 1962 · Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure, Thriller · 1,773 words
First lines
Two rocketships bit into lunar dust. Two men -- a
Yankee, a Russian dueled in nightmare shadow and
What this Textopian page supports
Task to Luna is listed on Textopian as a short story by Alfred Coppel, dated 1962 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Alfred Coppel
- Date: 1962 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Adventure, Thriller
- Length: 1,773 words
- Structure: 1 section, 32 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Task to Luna by Alfred Coppel
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Task to Luna?
- How does this short story by Alfred Coppel fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Science Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Science Fiction — The primary setting of 'Task to Luna' is outer space, specifically the moon. The futuristic themes and the concept of space exploration are characteristic of Science Fiction.
- Adventure — The plot focuses on the adventurous journey to the moon and the challenges faced by the characters, making it fall under the Adventure genre.
- Thriller — The narrative contains suspenseful moments and high stakes situation associated with reaching and surviving on the moon, justifying its categorization in the Thriller genre.
Tags
Science Fiction · Space Opera · Time Travel · Mystery · Detective · Futuristic · Aliens · Space Exploration · Adventure · Thriller · Speculative Fiction · Fantasy