The narrative follows Jed Cochrane, a television producer, who is unexpectedly assigned to a mission to the moon, where he is to assist in a psychiatric project involving a scientist named Dabney. Dabney has made a significant scientific discovery regarding faster-than-light communication, but he feels unappreciated and frustrated. Cochrane, along with his secretary Babs Deane and a team of scientists, travels to Lunar City, where they are to help Dabney gain recognition for his work. Upon arrival, Cochrane grapples with feelings of insignificance and cynicism about his role in the grand scheme of things. He is disillusioned by the realization that he is just another expendable employee in a vast corporate machine. The team learns that Dabney's discovery, while groundbreaking, lacks practical application, as it cannot be used for communication between Earth and the moon due to the need for a vacuum. As the story progresses, Cochrane devises a plan to create a publicity campaign that will elevate Dabney's status and generate excitement about space exploration. He proposes a journey to the stars, leveraging the media to create a narrative that captures the public's imagination. The team successfully launches a spacecraft equipped with Dabney's technology, and they embark on an adventure that takes them far beyond the moon. During their journey, they encounter various challenges, including the need to navigate through uncharted space and the potential dangers of extraterrestrial environments. Cochrane's leadership and quick thinking become crucial as they face the unknown. The narrative explores themes of ambition, the quest for recognition, and the human desire to explore and conquer new frontiers. Ultimately, the mission becomes a blend of scientific exploration and media spectacle, as Cochrane and his team strive to balance the realities of space travel with the expectations of an eager audience back on Earth. The story culminates in their landing on a new planet, where they must confront the implications of their discovery and the responsibilities that come with it. The journey serves as a metaphor for the broader human experience, reflecting the complexities of ambition, identity, and the pursuit of greatness in an ever-expanding universe.
By Murray Leinster · First published 1954 · Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure, Space Opera · 10 chapters