Cyrano de Bergerac
Voyages to the Moon and the Sun
"Voyages to the Moon and the Sun" by Cyrano de Bergerac is a satirical novel published posthumously in 1657. The narrator, also named Cyrano, attempts multiple flights to reach the Moon and discover its civilization. After crashing in New France and surviving a rocket-powered launch, he encounters four-legged inhabitants who communicate in musical notes, value large noses, and include the ghost of Socrates. Through philosophical dialogues, the travelers challenge fundamental beliefs about God, immortality, and the human soul. Considered one of the earliest science fiction stories, it features the first description of rocket-powered spaceflight.