Allreaders.com
Author H.G. Wells booklist (click here)

Book Review By David Loftus
The First Men in the Moon by H.G. Wells

In 1899, a playwright named Bedford runs into an eccentric scientist named Cavor on the coast of England. Cavor has been working on a metal alloy that will block gravity waves, and builds a spherical craft with shutters made of this material that can be open and shut, with the effect of making the craft alternately impervious and responsive to gravity. The two men pilot the craft to the moon, where they explore in the very thin atmosphere and much lighter gravitational conditions, but run afoul of some insect-like creatures who live below the surface, raise and eat giant "mooncalves" measuring 80 feet around and 200 feet in length, and vary a lot in their own shapes and capabilities. Gold and other valuable minerals are also in evidence, but taken prisoner, can the two men escape and return to Earth? Wells's story is reasonably engaging, although the basic story ends about 4/5 of the way through, with a coda that reads a bit like sociocultural history and scientific reports.


Plot & Themes
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Explore/1st contact/ enviro story Yes
Explore:
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 20 %
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20 %
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30 %

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status:
Age: - 20's-30's

Main Adversary
Identity: - an entire race
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - an average amount
How sensitive is this character?
Intelligence - Average intelligence

Setting
Terrain
Which planet? - Earth's Moon
Earth setting: - 19th century
Takes place on Earth? Yes
Not Earth, in Solar System? Yes

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
scientific jargon? (SF only) - a moderate amount of scientific explanation
How much dialogue? - significantly more descript than dialog
Back To Main Menu