The First Men in the Moon

Published in 1901, Wells’s classic work is considered one of the earliest English-language science-fiction novels. Down-on-his-luck Mr. Bedford takes a vacation to the English countryside, hoping to write a play and restore his fortunes. There, he meets the brilliant but eccentric Dr. Cavor, a scientist on the brink of an amazing, life-changing discovery. This breakthrough allows him to achieve one of humanity’s greatest desires—a voyage to the moon. With a lust for fortune and a thirst for knowledge, Mr. Bedford and Dr. Cavor embark on their unprecedented journey, discovering a world unlike Earth, with a difficult climate and possibly sinister inhabitants. Narrated with élan by Jonathan Keeble, Wells’s tale of lunar space travel is a delight. Keeble’s performance as both the sensible Mr. Bedford and the odd Dr. Cavor distinguishes the two men easily. Keeble also does a wonderful job giving voice to an alien species that is at once naive and menacing. Adding to the fun, Nikola Tesla also makes an appearance.