The Conquest of Space (1931)
Encyclopedia
The Conquest of Space is a nonfiction book written by David Lasser
in 1930 and first published in 1931. It was the first book written in English
that presented rocketry
and spaceflight
in a serious manner. The book profiles a fictional journey to the moon to explain the science of rocketry as it stood in 1931. It uses contemporary knowledge on rockets to create a reasonable description of the hardware necessary to make spaceflight possible. The book was out of print until 2002, when it was republished by Apogee Books
. , the book remains in print.
stated on January 10, 1932 that "despite its literary and artistic faults the book cannot but capture the imagination of a reader interested in science." Arthur C. Clarke
, who wrote the introduction to the 2002 edition, said that the book "was one of the turning points in [his] life."
Despite being published in 1931, it "still stands up to scrutiny" for many of its predictions in rocketry. However, other predictions appear to Larry McGlynn as "quaint" and "naive", among them the use of rockets solely for peaceful purposes.
David Lasser
David Lasser was one of the most influential figures of early science fiction writing, working closely with Hugo Gernsback. He was also heavily involved in the workers’ rights struggles of the Great Depression.-Early years:...
in 1930 and first published in 1931. It was the first book written in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
that presented rocketry
Rocketry
Rocketry may refer to:* The design, construction, launching and operation of rockets** The hobbyist or professional use of model rockets* High-power rocketry, a hobby similar to model rocketry...
and spaceflight
Spaceflight
Spaceflight is the act of travelling into or through outer space. Spaceflight can occur with spacecraft which may, or may not, have humans on board. Examples of human spaceflight include the Russian Soyuz program, the U.S. Space shuttle program, as well as the ongoing International Space Station...
in a serious manner. The book profiles a fictional journey to the moon to explain the science of rocketry as it stood in 1931. It uses contemporary knowledge on rockets to create a reasonable description of the hardware necessary to make spaceflight possible. The book was out of print until 2002, when it was republished by Apogee Books
Apogee Books
Apogee Books is an imprint of Canadian publishing house Collector's Guide Publishing. The Apogee imprint began with "Apollo 8 The NASA Mission Reports" in November 1998 at the request of astronaut Buzz Aldrin, second man on the moon. The first publication by Apogee was printed to celebrate the 30th...
. , the book remains in print.
Reception
The book was generally well-received. The New York TimesThe New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
stated on January 10, 1932 that "despite its literary and artistic faults the book cannot but capture the imagination of a reader interested in science." Arthur C. Clarke
Arthur C. Clarke
Sir Arthur Charles Clarke, CBE, FRAS was a British science fiction author, inventor, and futurist, famous for his short stories and novels, among them 2001: A Space Odyssey, and as a host and commentator in the British television series Mysterious World. For many years, Robert A. Heinlein,...
, who wrote the introduction to the 2002 edition, said that the book "was one of the turning points in [his] life."
Despite being published in 1931, it "still stands up to scrutiny" for many of its predictions in rocketry. However, other predictions appear to Larry McGlynn as "quaint" and "naive", among them the use of rockets solely for peaceful purposes.