Episode 192: The First Men In the Moon by H. G. Wells, An Introduction to Sci-Fi
Welcome back to The Literary Life Podcast and a brand new episode for this fall season! This week Angelina, Cindy, and Thomas begin this series of episodes on science fiction stories, beginning with some background on H. G. Wells and his book The First Men in the Moon. This sets the scene for us as we then continue on next week with the opening of a discussion of C. S. Lewis\u2019 Out of the Silent Planet.
Thomas gives some biographical background information about Wells, and Angelina shares some distinctives of the science fiction genre and its sub-categories. Cindy highlights how much Out of the Silent Planet truly is a derivative of The First Men In the Moon with Lewis putting forward a very different premise.
House of Humane Letters is thrilled to announce an all new webinar from Dr. Jason Baxter coming October 31st! Register today for Can Dante\u2019s Inferno Save the World?
Commonplace Quotes:One of the very best things about the world is that so little of it is me.
Andrew Grieg
He could bear anything except to be silenced. Like most violent controversialists, he believed himself to be the pattern of meekness and good temper.
Ronald Knox, from Enthusiasm: A Chapter in the History of Religion
Astrophil and Stella 31:\xa0With how sad steps, O Moon, thou climb\u2019st the skiesMr. Wells is a born storyteller who has sold his birthright for a pot of message.
G. K. Chesterton
by Sir Philip Sydney
With how sad steps, O Moon, thou climb'st the skies! How silently, and with how wan a face! What, may it be that even in heav'nly place That busy archer his sharp arrows tries! Sure, if that long-with love-acquainted eyes Can judge of love, thou feel'st a lover's case, I read it in thy looks; thy languish'd grace To me, that feel the like, thy state descries. Then, ev'n of fellowship, O Moon, tell me, Is constant love deem'd there but want of wit? Are beauties there as proud as here they be? Do they above love to be lov'd, and yet Those lovers scorn whom that love doth possess? Do they call virtue there ungratefulness?Books Mentioned:
World Enough & Time: On Creativity and Slowing Down by Christian McEwan
From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne
The Time Machine by H. G. Wells
Gulliver\u2019s Travels by Jonathan Swift
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