How Three Men Went to the Moon
"How Three Men Went to the Moon" by Frank R. Stockton is a fictional tale inspired by the imaginative works of a French author. The story follows two Americans and a Frenchman who embark on a journey to the moon in a large, hollow projectile fired from a massive cannon in Florida. The projectile is equipped with provisions, lighting, ventilation, and a machine for creating atmospheric air. Accompanied by two dogs and some chickens, the travelers experience weightlessness as they pass beyond Earth's gravitational pull and enter the moon's influence. As they approach the moon, they begin to orbit it, risking becoming a permanent satellite. They endure extreme cold and darkness on the moon's shadow side, but find relief upon returning to the sunny side, where they observe the lunar landscape. Eventually, they realize they are moving in an elliptical orbit, which prevents them from landing on the moon. Instead, they fall back towards Earth. Their projectile crashes into the Pacific Ocean near a U.S. steamship, narrowly avoiding disaster. The ship's crew, aware of the moon expedition, marks the location and returns to San Francisco for rescue equipment. After an unsuccessful search, they discover the projectile floating on the ocean's surface. The travelers are found alive, playing dominoes inside, having survived the fall due to the ocean's depth. They are rescued and celebrated upon their return to San Francisco and their homes. The story concludes with the acknowledgment of the journey's imaginative nature, attributed to the creativity of a French author.
By Frank R. Stockton · First published 1898 · Genre: Science Fiction, Satire, Adventure · 2,678 words
First lines
That is, how it is said that they went to the moon. That no man ever did go is very certain, and that no one ever will go, is very probable, but true as these statements are, they did not prevent a Frenchman from writing a story about a trip to the moon, undertaken by two Americans, and one Frenchman.
I cannot tell you all this story, but I can give you a few of the incidents that occurred during the journey, and although these are purely imaginary, they are very interesting and amusing. If any one ever had made this journey he would probably have gone as these three people went in the story. Everything is described as minutely and carefully as if it had really happened.
What this Textopian page supports
How Three Men Went to the Moon is listed on Textopian as a short story by Frank R. Stockton, dated 1898 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Frank R. Stockton
- Date: 1898 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Satire, Adventure, Humor, Fantasy
- Length: 2,678 words
- Structure: 1 section, 64 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for How Three Men Went to the Moon by Frank R. Stockton
- 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
Genres
- Science Fiction — The narrative features an imaginative journey to the moon using pseudo-scientific concepts and speculative technology.
- Satire — It parodies conventional scientific endeavors and space travel, using irony and exaggeration to critique beliefs.
- Adventure — The plot follows a risky and eventful journey with unexpected twists and perilous situations.
- Humor — The story employs absurd and whimsical details that create a comical, light-hearted atmosphere.
Tags
space travel · fantasy · adventure · satire · humor · science fiction · absurdity · whimsical · improbable · imaginative · speculative · retro