So: today it is 50 years since Man first landed on the Moon. I’m planning to spend the day watching, reading and listening to Moon-related things, which got me thinking about what I could read/watch/listen to. I thought you might be interested, and so this was written. Hopefully it might inspire you to consider things of a Luna-related nature yourself today.
Books
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A Heinlein (1966)
One of RAH’s more enduring adult novels. Once you can get around the prose style, it’s a great tale of computer intelligence and a Lunar Revolution, written before Men landed on the Moon. Perhaps Heinlein’s best book in the latter stage of his writing career – due a reread here!
Luna Series: Ian McDonald (2015-2019)
“Game of Thrones in Space!!” Families battling it out for the resources of the Moon. Complex in plot and style, the series displays great worldbuilding and a few jaw-dropping moments along the way. (SFFWorld review HERE.)
Rogue Moon by Algis Budrys (1960)
One from the New Wave. Short, angry and perhaps infuriating or depressing. Outer space meets inner space as an alien labyrinth is found on the Moon with consequences for those who dare to travel within it. (SFFWorld review HERE.)
A Fall of Moondust by Arthur C Clarke (1961)
One of my own favourites – what happens when a Moon cruiser sinks into the lunar dust (something that was a possibility for Armstrong and co at one point.) (SFFWorld review HERE.) As an alternative consider Earthlight (1955), which has a war between Earth and the Moon (SFFWorld review HERE.)
For those of a Horror persuasion. Short yet creepy, a story of moonlit horrors on an isolated island.
Darker Than You Think by Jack Williamson (1940-48)
Another enduring classic from 1940/1948, from the Unknown/Weird Tales end of the genre (it was first published in Unknown in 1940), for the Moon does bring strange characters out at night.
The First Men in the Moon by H G Wells (1901)
One of my earliest SF reads. The effects of the newly-invented Cavorite, invented in Edwardian Britain, and the discoveries on the Moon as a result. A more humorous Wells tale than The Time Machine or War of the Worlds, but one with some darker elements to it. More complex than you might think at first, this one revels in quirky characters and the joy of invention and exploration. See also the Ray Harryhausen movie (below).
Also makes me think of Jules Verne’s From the Earth to the Moon (1865)…
Moonseed by Stephen Baxter (1998)
A disaster novel of how, on an alternate Earth, the return of a piece of moon rock leads to the planet’s destruction! Sobering stuff. See also Larry Niven’s short story Inconstant Moon.
Moonbase books by Ben Bova (1996 & 1998)
Moonrise (1996) and Moonwar (1998) are part of his Grand Tour series. Like the Ian McDonald already mentioned, but more traditional in nature.
Music
Something to listen to whilst you read, perhaps.
Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks by Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois and Roger Eno (1983).
Terrific background atmospherics soundscape (ironic for the Moon, I guess!) This article was written with this CD playing in the background… This was extensively used in the movie For All Mankind (1989), but I understand that there is now available an extended version, just in time for the anniversary.
Moondance by Van Morrison(1969-70)
Mainly for the An American Werewolf in London movie (see below). But a great track nevertheless. See also Werewolves of London (1978) by Warren Zevon.
For those wanting something with a bit more beat, I’d recommend Public Service Broadcasting’s The Race For Space. (PSB are a band, by the way.) Lots of news footage soundbites edited to a modern soundtrack. (Link to the full album with visuals on Youtube HERE.)
Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy
Who says we’re not classy here at SFFWorld? One of my relaxing go-to classical tunes…. And whilst we’re in a classical frame of mind, let’s add Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata as well.
And to finish I’ll just mention David Bowie’s Space Oddity, a tune seemingly designed to tap into the interest in the Apollo missions, being released on 11th July 1969. David’s music, of course, reflected his interest in science fiction throughout his whole life until his death in 2016. He worked with Brian Eno, mentioned above, and his son Duncan was the director of the movie Moon, mentioned below.
Movies
Well, of course, there’s Melie’s A Trip to the Moon (1902). (And a nice version with a soundtrack by French pop-group Air.) And there’s the Apollo 11 movie, still in cinemas, which I’m told is wonderful. But here’s some others easier for me to grasp – some obvious, others less so, perhaps!
Reminding us of how we got to sending (American) men into space. For balance, you could also watch Hidden Figures (2016) is a feel-good film about the John Glenn flights but still worth a watch.
If I had a copy of First Man or Armstrong, I might consider watching those too. Or even Apollo 13, though that may be one for another day.
Documentary footage of the Moon landings. Not as impressive visually as the similar For All Mankind (1989), but with a wonderful soundtrack of Mike Oldfield music.
A quirky, silly Western in Space, made by Hammer Studios on the cheap to cash-in on the interest in Space in 1969. Seems appropriate. But not to be taken seriously. The poster makes it look much more exciting than it is.
How the colonisation of the Moon could/should have happened, with Robert A Heinlein, George Pal and Woody Woodpecker involved. Somewhat dated, yet still impressive.
Left-of-field choice, this one. A serious movie about comedy, with a great REM soundtrack (and the title of the movie). Jim Carrey as Andy Kaufman, a seriously conflicted comic talent.
The First Men in the Moon (1964)
The movie of H G Wells’s book. A glorious romp, with some superb looking Harryhausen stop-motion moments. Of its time, but good fun.
Another light-hearted take on the Space Race. A British comedy about a group from the Duchy of Grand Fenwick who decide to send a rocket to the moon and claim it for themselves. Lots of old British comedy stars in this, including Margaret Rutherford. For similar British-biased ideas, see also Man in the Moon (1960) starring Kenneth More, which is also quaintly old-fashioned.
An American Werewolf in London (1981)
Because of Jenny Agutter, and a great script. The effects even hold up pretty well, too.
Small budget, smaller cast (the brilliant Sam Rockwell) – big ideas. And there’s a Bowie link, as mentioned above.
Because of the Monolith. On the Moon. And the optimistic view that Mankind’s destiny lies somewhere beyond.
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Hope you’ve found something to enjoy here. I haven’t mentioned television (I’ll be too busy reading or watching movies!) but if I was going to watch some, I’d go for the Gerry Anderson classic Space:1999, of course!
