Although first published in magazine form, this was Arthur C. Clarke's first novel, and traces its origins as far back as 1947. Clarke was, thus, among the first proponents of space exploration in the wake of WWII, and this novel is equal parts entertainment, education, and propaganda. (This last is admitted, as such, by Clarke in his introduction to this 1976 edition.) As a result, this is an odd sort of sci-fi novel from a current-day perspective.

This is a story without much of a plot, and with virtually no action. The central character, Dirk Alexson, is an historian assigned to record an official account of the events surrounding the first launch of a spacecraft to the Moon. Accordingly, much of the book is given over to Alexson's assimilation of technical knowledge presented for non-technicians. Another portion of the narrative parallels this, as Alexson's passion for the project grows in proportion to his understanding of the science and the personalities behind it.

Aside from a brief section dealing with an attempted sabotage of the launch, and the tension between the five astronauts in training (as only three will be chosen, in the end, to make the journey), there is not much by way of conflict. "Prelude to Space" may, as a result, come across as static. To a post-1969 reader (and even more so in the post-shuttle age), even the book's fascination with the technology can seem a little trite. It may be helpful to read this work within its historical context and remember that when Clarke wrote it, there still existed a healthy skepticism with regard to whether any form of space travel would ever be possible. And Sputnik was still six years away. In his attempt to educate and, thus, ignite the passions of the public at large, Clarke did a great service to a pursuit which had not yet even reached its infancy.