The Brick Moon, Edward Everett Hale. First Edition in Atlantic Monthly, 1869-70
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The Brick Moon, Edward Everett Hale
[in] The Atlantic Monthly (October 1869-February 1870)
First appearance of Hale's speculative novella that was one of the earliest American science fiction stories of space travel by
mechanical (as opposed to mystical or supernatural) means. It also contains the first known depiction of an artificial satellite and was hailed by Wernher von Braun and Frederick Ordway as “the first fictional proposal for a manned space station.” Narrated by a fictional scientist and presented as a journal, the novella describes the construction and launch into orbit of a sphere, 200 feet in diameter and built of bricks. Originally intended as a navigation aid, the sphere is accidentally launched with people aboard. The Brick Moon originally appeared in the Atlantic Monthly in three parts (October, November and December) with the sequel, "Life on the Brick Moon", appearing two months later. The Brick Moon is here presented in its original issues, with "Life on the Brick Moon" bound in with the January-June, 1870 issues.
Boston: Fields, Osgood, & Co., 1869-1870. Three octavo issues in original wraps, one three quarter leather bound (Volume XXV, January-June 1870); pp. [ii], 389-516, [12]; [ii], [iv], [645]-768, [24]; [iv], 764. Wraps show general wear with some tears and loss to extremities, address label to front of the November issue with the rear wrap nearly detached but holding, internally some scattered foxing. The bound volume shows light rubbing and shelfwear to boards, scattered foxing internally, two pages detached (not affecting "Life on the Brick Moon." Very scarce, predating the book appearance by thirty years.
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