Alfred Coppel
Touch the sky
"Touch the Sky" by Alfred Coppel is a science fiction short story first published in the summer of 1955. The narrative explores themes of ambition, dreams, and existential dread as it follows the character Pete Moore, who is preparing for a moonshot mission. The story captures a moment of reflection during his last night before the journey, contrasting his hopeful aspirations with the surreal and often disappointing nature of reality. In the story, Pete Moore grapples with the tension between his ambitions and the nagging fear stemming from a carnival ride that is meant to symbolize the excitement and wonder of space exploration. As he prepares for his moonshot, Pete navigates his complex feelings about leaving the familiar world behind for the allure of the cosmos. His reality shifts dramatically during the flight, where he experiences a hallucination that reveals a startling perspective: the universe may not be as it seems, potentially a mere illusion, leading to a profound realization about man's aspirations and the limits of his journey. In the end, the story culminates in a poignant moment where he acknowledges the frailty of his dreams but embraces the profound experience of touching the sky.