The First Men in the Moon

The First Men in the Moon by H.G. Wells (1901)

An eccentric scientist invents "Cavorite," a substance that blocks gravity, and travels to the Moon with a bankrupt businessman. They discover an underground civilization of insect-like Selenites organized into a rigid caste system.

Historical Significance:
Published in 1901 — 68 years before the actual Moon landing — Wells created a lunar journey that is both thrilling adventure and social satire. The Selenite society, where every individual is physically shaped from birth for their specific role, is a dark critique of specialization and social engineering. Wells' anti-gravity substance was scientifically implausible but narratively brilliant. Ray Harryhausen's 1964 film adaptation featured his celebrated stop-motion effects. When Apollo 11 astronauts walked on the Moon in 1969, they acknowledged Wells' imaginative precedent.

This public domain classic was originally published in 1901. Free to read and share.