• (ReacTor) Five Vintage SF Works About Traveling to the Moon

    From James Nicoll@3:633/10 to All on Mon Apr 13 14:16:29 2026
    Five Vintage SF Works About Traveling to the Moon

    This is how we imagined humanity's first trip to the moon before Apollo 11...

    https://reactormag.com/five-vintage-sf-works-about-traveling-to-the-moon/
    --
    My reviews can be found at http://jamesdavisnicoll.com/
    My tor pieces at https://www.tor.com/author/james-davis-nicoll/
    My Dreamwidth at https://james-davis-nicoll.dreamwidth.org/
    My patreon is at https://www.patreon.com/jamesdnicoll

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From BCFD 36@3:633/10 to All on Mon Apr 13 15:51:05 2026
    On 4/13/26 07:16, James Nicoll wrote:
    Five Vintage SF Works About Traveling to the Moon

    This is how we imagined humanity's first trip to the moon before Apollo 11...

    https://reactormag.com/five-vintage-sf-works-about-traveling-to-the-moon/

    I think I've read the Verne, but nothing else. Not even the Clark.

    --
    ----------------

    Dave Scruggs
    Senior Software Engineer - Lockheed Martin, et. al (mostly Retired)
    Captain - Boulder Creek Fire (Retired)
    Board of Directors - Boulder Creek Fire Protection District (What was I thinking?)

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Lawrence D?Oliveiro@3:633/10 to All on Tue Apr 14 08:00:46 2026
    On Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:16:29 -0000 (UTC), James Nicoll wrote:

    Five Vintage SF Works About Traveling to the Moon

    This is how we imagined humanity's first trip to the moon before
    Apollo 11...

    https://reactormag.com/five-vintage-sf-works-about-traveling-to-the-moon/

    Yeah! Tintin!

    Herg‚ did some quite detailed design of Professor Calculus? ship (of
    course he handwaved the propulsion power source). He gives a tour of
    it in the lead-up to the launch.

    He had the crew all lying on their stomachs, on specially-shaped foam mattresses. I wonder when it was realized that the human body
    withstands stresses better from the back than from the front ...

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Christian Weisgerber@3:633/10 to All on Tue Apr 14 10:36:02 2026
    On 2026-04-13, James Nicoll <jdnicoll@panix.com> wrote:

    Five Vintage SF Works About Traveling to the Moon
    This is how we imagined humanity's first trip to the moon before Apollo 11...

    https://reactormag.com/five-vintage-sf-works-about-traveling-to-the-moon/

    Written in 1961, _Perry Rhodan_ starts with the first manned moon
    mission in 1971, crewed by four American astronauts of the the U.S.
    Space Force. The rocket was a three-stage design: a liquid-fueled
    first stage, and nuclear thermal second and third stage/moon lander/
    return vehicle.

    --
    Christian "naddy" Weisgerber naddy@mips.inka.de

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Scott Dorsey@3:633/10 to All on Tue Apr 14 19:03:15 2026
    Lawrence =?iso-8859-13?q?D=FFOliveiro?= <ldo@nz.invalid> wrote:
    On Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:16:29 -0000 (UTC), James Nicoll wrote:

    Five Vintage SF Works About Traveling to the Moon

    This is how we imagined humanity's first trip to the moon before
    Apollo 11...

    https://reactormag.com/five-vintage-sf-works-about-traveling-to-the-moon/

    Yeah! Tintin!

    Tintin's moon trip was excellent, but I still think the best was in Wicksteed's _The Mouse on the Moon_ in which Grand Fenwick visits the
    moon in a ship powered by nuclear wine and arrives before the Americans
    and Russians.
    --scott
    --
    "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Paul S Person@3:633/10 to All on Wed Apr 15 08:44:51 2026
    On Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:03:15 -0400 (EDT), kludge@panix.com (Scott
    Dorsey) wrote:

    Lawrence =?iso-8859-13?q?D=FFOliveiro?= <ldo@nz.invalid> wrote:
    On Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:16:29 -0000 (UTC), James Nicoll wrote:

    Five Vintage SF Works About Traveling to the Moon

    This is how we imagined humanity's first trip to the moon before
    Apollo 11...


    https://reactormag.com/five-vintage-sf-works-about-traveling-to-the-moon/

    Yeah! Tintin!

    Tintin's moon trip was excellent, but I still think the best was in >Wicksteed's _The Mouse on the Moon_ in which Grand Fenwick visits the
    moon in a ship powered by nuclear wine and arrives before the Americans
    and Russians.

    A film I found both sillier and more entertaining than the original.
    --
    "Here lies the Tuscan poet Aretino,
    Who evil spoke of everyone but God,
    Giving as his excuse, 'I never knew him.'"

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Scott Dorsey@3:633/10 to All on Wed Apr 15 22:12:21 2026
    Ted Nolan <tednolan> <tednolan> wrote:
    Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> wrote:
    On Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:03:15 -0400 (EDT), kludge@panix.com (Scott
    Dorsey) wrote:
    Tintin's moon trip was excellent, but I still think the best was in >>>Wicksteed's _The Mouse on the Moon_ in which Grand Fenwick visits the >>>moon in a ship powered by nuclear wine and arrives before the Americans >>>and Russians.

    A film I found both sillier and more entertaining than the original.

    That would be Wibberley, who also wrote a few SF juveniles that I recall >fondly: _Encounter Near Venus_ & _Journey to Untor_.

    Indeed. Next on the shelf to Wicksteed from the Daily News. But not the
    same Brit.

    I had no idea there was a film made of the book. I watched the trailer
    on youtube and I have to admit it does not look appealing.
    --scott
    --
    "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Tony Nance@3:633/10 to All on Thu Apr 16 07:33:05 2026
    On 4/15/26 12:16 PM, Ted Nolan <tednolan> wrote:
    In article <8icvtktsnukokut0p17pj4oh6j5r1hjn8n@4ax.com>,
    Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> wrote:
    On Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:03:15 -0400 (EDT), kludge@panix.com (Scott
    Dorsey) wrote:

    Lawrence =?iso-8859-13?q?D=FFOliveiro?= <ldo@nz.invalid> wrote:
    On Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:16:29 -0000 (UTC), James Nicoll wrote:

    Five Vintage SF Works About Traveling to the Moon

    This is how we imagined humanity's first trip to the moon before
    Apollo 11...

    https://reactormag.com/five-vintage-sf-works-about-traveling-to-the-moon/ >>>>
    Yeah! Tintin!

    Tintin's moon trip was excellent, but I still think the best was in
    Wicksteed's _The Mouse on the Moon_ in which Grand Fenwick visits the
    moon in a ship powered by nuclear wine and arrives before the Americans
    and Russians.

    A film I found both sillier and more entertaining than the original.

    That would be Wibberley, who also wrote a few SF juveniles that I recall fondly: _Encounter Near Venus_ & _Journey to Untor_.

    The Mouse That Roared remains one of my favorite novels, and I found The
    Mouse on the Moon to be very good as well.

    Tony

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Paul S Person@3:633/10 to All on Thu Apr 16 08:56:04 2026
    On Wed, 15 Apr 2026 22:12:21 -0400 (EDT), kludge@panix.com (Scott
    Dorsey) wrote:

    Ted Nolan <tednolan> <tednolan> wrote:
    Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> wrote:
    On Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:03:15 -0400 (EDT), kludge@panix.com (Scott
    Dorsey) wrote:
    Tintin's moon trip was excellent, but I still think the best was in >>>>Wicksteed's _The Mouse on the Moon_ in which Grand Fenwick visits the >>>>moon in a ship powered by nuclear wine and arrives before the
    Americans
    and Russians.

    A film I found both sillier and more entertaining than the original.

    That would be Wibberley, who also wrote a few SF juveniles that I
    recall
    fondly: _Encounter Near Venus_ & _Journey to Untor_.

    Indeed. Next on the shelf to Wicksteed from the Daily News. But not
    the
    same Brit.

    I had no idea there was a film made of the book. I watched the trailer
    on youtube and I have to admit it does not look appealing.

    I can understand that.

    But it really was quite funny.
    --
    "Here lies the Tuscan poet Aretino,
    Who evil spoke of everyone but God,
    Giving as his excuse, 'I never knew him.'"

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From The True Melissa@3:633/10 to All on Thu Apr 16 15:12:09 2026
    Verily, in article <10rqhdh$1kvu1$2@dont-email.me>, did tnusenet17
    @gmail.com deliver unto us this message:
    The Mouse That Roared remains one of my favorite novels, and I found The Mouse on the Moon to be very good as well.


    I also like both of those, and I never met anyone else who'd read them
    before.

    The Mouse on the Moon is probably my favorite of the two, but they're
    both good.

    --
    The True Melissa - Canal Winchester - Ohio
    United States of America - North America - Earth
    Solar System - Milky Way - Local Group
    Virgo Cluster - Laniakea Supercluster - Cosmos

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Tony Nance@3:633/10 to All on Thu Apr 16 19:35:30 2026
    On 4/16/26 3:12 PM, The True Melissa wrote:
    Verily, in article <10rqhdh$1kvu1$2@dont-email.me>, did tnusenet17
    @gmail.com deliver unto us this message:
    The Mouse That Roared remains one of my favorite novels, and I found The
    Mouse on the Moon to be very good as well.


    I also like both of those, and I never met anyone else who'd read them before.

    The Mouse on the Moon is probably my favorite of the two, but they're
    both good.


    Have you read any of the other "Mouse" novels, by chance? I have not,
    and while I wouldn't expect them to be as good as the two we've
    mentioned, I'm still curious.

    Tony

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Robert Woodward@3:633/10 to All on Thu Apr 16 21:46:56 2026
    In article <10rrro2$229kv$1@dont-email.me>,
    Tony Nance <tnusenet17@gmail.com> wrote:

    On 4/16/26 3:12 PM, The True Melissa wrote:
    Verily, in article <10rqhdh$1kvu1$2@dont-email.me>, did tnusenet17 @gmail.com deliver unto us this message:
    The Mouse That Roared remains one of my favorite novels, and I found The >> Mouse on the Moon to be very good as well.


    I also like both of those, and I never met anyone else who'd read them before.

    The Mouse on the Moon is probably my favorite of the two, but they're
    both good.


    Have you read any of the other "Mouse" novels, by chance? I have not,
    and while I wouldn't expect them to be as good as the two we've
    mentioned, I'm still curious.

    I have read _The Mouse on Wall Street_ ... checks bibliography ... I had
    never heard of _The Mouse that Saved the West_. As for the prequel, an acquaintance decades ago mentioned a story of the early Duchy of Grand
    Fenwick - that might be _Beware of the Mouse_.

    --
    "We have advanced to new and surprising levels of bafflement."
    Imperial Auditor Miles Vorkosigan describes progress in _Komarr_. ?-----------------------------------------------------
    Robert Woodward robertaw@drizzle.com

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From James Nicoll@3:633/10 to All on Fri Apr 17 13:40:44 2026
    In article <10rrro2$229kv$1@dont-email.me>,
    Tony Nance <tnusenet17@gmail.com> wrote:
    On 4/16/26 3:12 PM, The True Melissa wrote:
    Verily, in article <10rqhdh$1kvu1$2@dont-email.me>, did tnusenet17
    @gmail.com deliver unto us this message:
    The Mouse That Roared remains one of my favorite novels, and I found The >>> Mouse on the Moon to be very good as well.


    I also like both of those, and I never met anyone else who'd read them
    before.

    The Mouse on the Moon is probably my favorite of the two, but they're
    both good.


    Have you read any of the other "Mouse" novels, by chance? I have not,
    and while I wouldn't expect them to be as good as the two we've
    mentioned, I'm still curious.

    I have read Roared, Moon, and Wall Street and as I recall each newer
    one was less good than the one before.
    --
    My reviews can be found at http://jamesdavisnicoll.com/
    My tor pieces at https://www.tor.com/author/james-davis-nicoll/
    My Dreamwidth at https://james-davis-nicoll.dreamwidth.org/
    My patreon is at https://www.patreon.com/jamesdnicoll

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From The True Melissa@3:633/10 to All on Fri Apr 17 16:17:29 2026
    Verily, in article <10rrro2$229kv$1@dont-email.me>, did tnusenet17
    @gmail.com deliver unto us this message:
    Have you read any of the other "Mouse" novels, by chance? I have not,
    and while I wouldn't expect them to be as good as the two we've
    mentioned, I'm still curious.

    I've read only the original and Moon.

    --
    The True Melissa - Canal Winchester - Ohio
    United States of America - North America - Earth
    Solar System - Milky Way - Local Group
    Virgo Cluster - Laniakea Supercluster - Cosmos

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Tony Nance@3:633/10 to All on Fri Apr 17 19:31:47 2026
    On 4/17/26 12:46 AM, Robert Woodward wrote:
    In article <10rrro2$229kv$1@dont-email.me>,
    Tony Nance <tnusenet17@gmail.com> wrote:

    On 4/16/26 3:12 PM, The True Melissa wrote:
    Verily, in article <10rqhdh$1kvu1$2@dont-email.me>, did tnusenet17
    @gmail.com deliver unto us this message:
    The Mouse That Roared remains one of my favorite novels, and I found The >>>> Mouse on the Moon to be very good as well.


    I also like both of those, and I never met anyone else who'd read them
    before.

    The Mouse on the Moon is probably my favorite of the two, but they're
    both good.


    Have you read any of the other "Mouse" novels, by chance? I have not,
    and while I wouldn't expect them to be as good as the two we've
    mentioned, I'm still curious.

    I have read _The Mouse on Wall Street_ ... checks bibliography ... I had never heard of _The Mouse that Saved the West_. As for the prequel, an acquaintance decades ago mentioned a story of the early Duchy of Grand Fenwick - that might be _Beware of the Mouse_.


    All interesting - thanks. How was The Mouse on Wall Street for you?
    - Tony

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Tony Nance@3:633/10 to All on Fri Apr 17 19:32:15 2026
    On 4/17/26 9:40 AM, James Nicoll wrote:
    In article <10rrro2$229kv$1@dont-email.me>,
    Tony Nance <tnusenet17@gmail.com> wrote:
    On 4/16/26 3:12 PM, The True Melissa wrote:
    Verily, in article <10rqhdh$1kvu1$2@dont-email.me>, did tnusenet17
    @gmail.com deliver unto us this message:
    The Mouse That Roared remains one of my favorite novels, and I found The >>>> Mouse on the Moon to be very good as well.


    I also like both of those, and I never met anyone else who'd read them
    before.

    The Mouse on the Moon is probably my favorite of the two, but they're
    both good.


    Have you read any of the other "Mouse" novels, by chance? I have not,
    and while I wouldn't expect them to be as good as the two we've
    mentioned, I'm still curious.

    I have read Roared, Moon, and Wall Street and as I recall each newer
    one was less good than the one before.

    Good to know - thank you.
    - Tony

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Tony Nance@3:633/10 to All on Fri Apr 17 19:34:30 2026
    On 4/17/26 4:17 PM, The True Melissa wrote:
    Verily, in article <10rrro2$229kv$1@dont-email.me>, did tnusenet17
    @gmail.com deliver unto us this message:
    Have you read any of the other "Mouse" novels, by chance? I have not,
    and while I wouldn't expect them to be as good as the two we've
    mentioned, I'm still curious.

    I've read only the original and Moon.


    I may scare up one of the others from the library.

    And -- oh, woe is me -- I should re-read Roared & Moon in order to make
    a reasonable comparison.

    If I do accomplish these things, I'll report back here in some fashion.
    - Tony

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Robert Woodward@3:633/10 to All on Fri Apr 17 21:54:08 2026
    In article <10ruft3$2rp59$1@dont-email.me>,
    Tony Nance <tnusenet17@gmail.com> wrote:

    On 4/17/26 12:46 AM, Robert Woodward wrote:
    In article <10rrro2$229kv$1@dont-email.me>,
    Tony Nance <tnusenet17@gmail.com> wrote:

    On 4/16/26 3:12 PM, The True Melissa wrote:
    Verily, in article <10rqhdh$1kvu1$2@dont-email.me>, did tnusenet17
    @gmail.com deliver unto us this message:
    The Mouse That Roared remains one of my favorite novels, and I found The >>>> Mouse on the Moon to be very good as well.


    I also like both of those, and I never met anyone else who'd read them >>> before.

    The Mouse on the Moon is probably my favorite of the two, but they're
    both good.


    Have you read any of the other "Mouse" novels, by chance? I have not,
    and while I wouldn't expect them to be as good as the two we've
    mentioned, I'm still curious.

    I have read _The Mouse on Wall Street_ ... checks bibliography ... I had never heard of _The Mouse that Saved the West_. As for the prequel, an acquaintance decades ago mentioned a story of the early Duchy of Grand Fenwick - that might be _Beware of the Mouse_.


    All interesting - thanks. How was The Mouse on Wall Street for you?
    - Tony

    It has been a long time since I have read it (probably around when it
    was published in 1969 and definitely a library copy). IIRC, the Duchess acquired a reputation (accidentally) of being a great stock picker.
    Again, IIRC (which I might not), she was picking the stocks randomly
    (throwing darts at the paper??).

    --
    "We have advanced to new and surprising levels of bafflement."
    Imperial Auditor Miles Vorkosigan describes progress in _Komarr_. ?-----------------------------------------------------
    Robert Woodward robertaw@drizzle.com

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)