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Destination Moon
Contents
Introduction / David G. Hartwell
Scenes from the film version of Destination Moon (Eagle-Lion, 1950) - interior artwork
Destination Moon (1950) - novelette
Shooting "Destination Moon" (1950)
Facts About Destination Moon" (1979)
Introduction / David G. Hartwell
Scenes from the film version of Destination Moon (Eagle-Lion, 1950) - interior artwork
Destination Moon (1950) - novelette
Shooting "Destination Moon" (1950)
Facts About Destination Moon" (1979)
- GenresScience FictionFiction
90 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 1979
57 people are currently reading
140 people want to read
About the author
Robert A. Heinlein
1,060 books10.6k followersRobert Anson Heinlein was an American science fiction author, aeronautical engineer, and naval officer. Sometimes called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was among the first to emphasize scientific accuracy in his fiction, and was thus a pioneer of the subgenre of hard science fiction. His published works, both fiction and non-fiction, express admiration for competence and emphasize the value of critical thinking. His plots often posed provocative situations which challenged conventional social mores. His work continues to have an influence on the science-fiction genre, and on modern culture more generally.
Heinlein became one of the first American science-fiction writers to break into mainstream magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post in the late 1940s. He was one of the best-selling science-fiction novelists for many decades, and he, Isaac Asimov, and Arthur C. Clarke are often considered the "Big Three" of English-language science fiction authors. Notable Heinlein works include Stranger in a Strange Land, Starship Troopers (which helped mold the space marine and mecha archetypes) and The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress. His work sometimes had controversial aspects, such as plural marriage in The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, militarism in Starship Troopers and technologically competent women characters who were formidable, yet often stereotypically feminine—such as Friday.
Heinlein used his science fiction as a way to explore provocative social and political ideas and to speculate how progress in science and engineering might shape the future of politics, race, religion, and sex. Within the framework of his science-fiction stories, Heinlein repeatedly addressed certain social themes: the importance of individual liberty and self-reliance, the nature of sexual relationships, the obligation individuals owe to their societies, the influence of organized religion on culture and government, and the tendency of society to repress nonconformist thought. He also speculated on the influence of space travel on human cultural practices.
Heinlein was named the first Science Fiction Writers Grand Master in 1974. Four of his novels won Hugo Awards. In addition, fifty years after publication, seven of his works were awarded "Retro Hugos"—awards given retrospectively for works that were published before the Hugo Awards came into existence. In his fiction, Heinlein coined terms that have become part of the English language, including grok, waldo and speculative fiction, as well as popularizing existing terms like "TANSTAAFL", "pay it forward", and "space marine". He also anticipated mechanical computer-aided design with "Drafting Dan" and described a modern version of a waterbed in his novel Beyond This Horizon.
Also wrote under Pen names: Anson McDonald, Lyle Monroe, Caleb Saunders, John Riverside and Simon York.
Heinlein became one of the first American science-fiction writers to break into mainstream magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post in the late 1940s. He was one of the best-selling science-fiction novelists for many decades, and he, Isaac Asimov, and Arthur C. Clarke are often considered the "Big Three" of English-language science fiction authors. Notable Heinlein works include Stranger in a Strange Land, Starship Troopers (which helped mold the space marine and mecha archetypes) and The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress. His work sometimes had controversial aspects, such as plural marriage in The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, militarism in Starship Troopers and technologically competent women characters who were formidable, yet often stereotypically feminine—such as Friday.
Heinlein used his science fiction as a way to explore provocative social and political ideas and to speculate how progress in science and engineering might shape the future of politics, race, religion, and sex. Within the framework of his science-fiction stories, Heinlein repeatedly addressed certain social themes: the importance of individual liberty and self-reliance, the nature of sexual relationships, the obligation individuals owe to their societies, the influence of organized religion on culture and government, and the tendency of society to repress nonconformist thought. He also speculated on the influence of space travel on human cultural practices.
Heinlein was named the first Science Fiction Writers Grand Master in 1974. Four of his novels won Hugo Awards. In addition, fifty years after publication, seven of his works were awarded "Retro Hugos"—awards given retrospectively for works that were published before the Hugo Awards came into existence. In his fiction, Heinlein coined terms that have become part of the English language, including grok, waldo and speculative fiction, as well as popularizing existing terms like "TANSTAAFL", "pay it forward", and "space marine". He also anticipated mechanical computer-aided design with "Drafting Dan" and described a modern version of a waterbed in his novel Beyond This Horizon.
Also wrote under Pen names: Anson McDonald, Lyle Monroe, Caleb Saunders, John Riverside and Simon York.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 28, 2019
https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/3132122.html
Robert A. Heinlein published a novella-length adaptation of his own screenplay in 1950, now available along with some notes from Heinlein on how the film was shot. There are a couple of striking differences: the stuck antenna and spacewalk scene are not in the book; the radio operator, Emmanuel Traub, is coded as Jewish and regarded with (unjustified) suspicion as a potential foreign saboteur (in the film he is the salt-of-the-earth Joe Sweeney); the crew land in a place on the Moon where they cannot communicate properly with Earth because it is below the mountains on the horizon; and most remarkably we are left not knowing if the crew make it home safely. Similarities include the good old private sector overcoming government inertia and interference, and the subplot about the excess weight being equivalent to an astronaut (as seen also in "The Cold Equations" and the Blake's 7 story Orbit). There is a startling moment of misogyny:
His [Corley's] secretary’s voice sounded in the room. “Your wife wants to call long distance, Doctor. I’m stalling her. Are you in?”
“Put her on,” he said wearily. Mrs. Corley’s words could not be heard, but her angry tones came through. Corley answered, “No, dear . . . That’s right, dear. I’m sorry but that’s how it is . . . no, I don’t know when the lines will be free; we’re holding them for calls placed to the east coast . . . no, you can’t have the car; I’m using it. I—” He looked surprised and replaced the instrument. “She hung up on me.”
“See what I mean?” said Barnes.
“Jim, you’re a fool,” Bowles answered.
“No, I’m a bachelor. Why? Because I can’t stand the favorite sport of all women.”
“Which is?”
“Trying to geld stallions. Let’s get on with the job.”
It's typical enough Heinlein, not especially original or vivid but clearly substantial enough for a memorable film to be based on it.
Robert A. Heinlein published a novella-length adaptation of his own screenplay in 1950, now available along with some notes from Heinlein on how the film was shot. There are a couple of striking differences: the stuck antenna and spacewalk scene are not in the book; the radio operator, Emmanuel Traub, is coded as Jewish and regarded with (unjustified) suspicion as a potential foreign saboteur (in the film he is the salt-of-the-earth Joe Sweeney); the crew land in a place on the Moon where they cannot communicate properly with Earth because it is below the mountains on the horizon; and most remarkably we are left not knowing if the crew make it home safely. Similarities include the good old private sector overcoming government inertia and interference, and the subplot about the excess weight being equivalent to an astronaut (as seen also in "The Cold Equations" and the Blake's 7 story Orbit). There is a startling moment of misogyny:
His [Corley's] secretary’s voice sounded in the room. “Your wife wants to call long distance, Doctor. I’m stalling her. Are you in?”
“Put her on,” he said wearily. Mrs. Corley’s words could not be heard, but her angry tones came through. Corley answered, “No, dear . . . That’s right, dear. I’m sorry but that’s how it is . . . no, I don’t know when the lines will be free; we’re holding them for calls placed to the east coast . . . no, you can’t have the car; I’m using it. I—” He looked surprised and replaced the instrument. “She hung up on me.”
“See what I mean?” said Barnes.
“Jim, you’re a fool,” Bowles answered.
“No, I’m a bachelor. Why? Because I can’t stand the favorite sport of all women.”
“Which is?”
“Trying to geld stallions. Let’s get on with the job.”
It's typical enough Heinlein, not especially original or vivid but clearly substantial enough for a memorable film to be based on it.
January 1, 2022
In the 1950’s, the idea of going to the moon was a fantasy. This story is an interesting imagining of people sending a group to the moon. It is written as fiction. It is interesting to compare what the imagined with what is taken for knowledge now.
October 4, 2021
fun read! old school sci-fi, with that Can Do American attitude that's disappeared from sci-fi and American culture too
April 25, 2022
Not quite up to the standard of the Juveniles that made me a reader. It does have a bold ending for the time.
October 18, 2022
Good, not his best
Seemed a little obvious to me. Plot did not have any surprises. Presentation was good. Writing was good through whole thing
Seemed a little obvious to me. Plot did not have any surprises. Presentation was good. Writing was good through whole thing
Read
November 2, 2022just the kind of space horror camp that i like!
July 31, 2025
I found the authors notes about the filming interesting
March 27, 2020
'Destino la luna' es la historia de cómo tres cargos dentro de un proyecto de gobierno Americano: un director y doctor jefe, un vicealmirante y el jefe de la compañía de aviación Barnes deciden simular el largamente postergado lanzamiento de un cohete piloto a la luna, cuando en realidad lo efectuarán. No sin toda una serie de problemas de por medio, que se irán acrecentando conforme de desarrolle su soñado propósito.
Ésta obra del maestro toca, cómo ya hizo con anterioridad pero en otra vertiente, el tema de los pioneros - conquistadores, el de los locos visionarios que arriesgaron sus vidas y se lanzaron al vacío (nunca mejor expresado) en búsqueda de la primera imprenta del hombre (y de un estado) en un astro intacto aparentemente.
Sin ‘darse la mano’ con ‘Historia del futuro’, ‘Granjero de las estrellas’ y’ La luna es una cruel amante’, sí confluye casi a la perfección en el universo argumental Heinleniano espacio- temporal y nos remite (especialmente a los avanzados en Heinlein, con guiños, entre otros, acerca de la ocupación atómica en el espacio y el emplazamiento del cohete,; todo en las obras anteriormente comentadas además de en ‘Cadete del espacio’) a los albores de sus deliberaciones acerca de ésta temática imprescindible para el desarrollo de la Sci fi en su globalidad.
Y ahí, al origen es dónde nos encontramos con lo que podría ser un tratado histórico del primer proyecto llevado a cabo por parte de tres sacrificados y audaces Colón (sí, a él se le menciona, obvio) en lo que sería una cruzada necesaria pero de no retorno, y que abriría la veda para la posterior consecución de ése y otros astros (¿de verdad alguien cree que todo fue tan perfecto en el primer contacto del hombre en la luna en 1969?..si es que lo hubo, claro).
Bajo una capa de narración jovial, ágil, directa, pero fascinante en lo referente a todo el conflicto del alunizaje y los problemas de desviación de la nave en su trayectoria (con un tratado de física y matemáticas llevado con la excelencia de la pedagogía liviana en pos de la particular historia), además de la exactitud del estado mental y físico de unos cuerpos ajenos dentro de un transporte en constante cambio gravitatorio- atmosférico. Heinlein introduce muchos temas y nos los pone sobre la mesa para que reflexionemos sobre todo ello.
Éste se decidió a hacer un auténtico ‘repaso’ al ser humano y su desconocimiento, pero también a su arrojo, que lo puede catapultar a lo más grande o a la mayor de las miserias, según se vea. Así que en ésta engañosa baraja de desarrollo (por su aparente simplicidad), el decano trata acerca de la burocracia, del gusto por la dominación de los Estados Unidos de América (con otra critica hacía la bomba atómica), el sabotaje, los medios de comunicación (especialmente visionaria la escena en la cual uno de los tripulantes decide dar en exclusiva una entrevista a un rotativo a cambio de gananciales), la tercera guerra mundial y los fantasmas humanos que la rodean, sobre la paz y la posibilidad de unificación espacial por el bien global, la seguridad de una nación y el sacrificio de unos llamados para el avance del universo (siempre que sea llevado a cabo por el lado correcto):
“[...]Eso es lo importante, no nosotros. El hombre muere, la sociedad perpetúa[...]”
Grande Heinlein una vez más, qué decir que no haya dicho anteriormente, salvo que su obra lo engrandece, y especialmente, engrandece a éste maravilloso pero tantas veces, pedante género que se va por las ramas y olvida lo importante: al hombre y l todo ser vivo y las consecuencias de sus actos dentro de un aún maravilloso y misterioso universo que nos rodea y nunca muere, por mal uso que hagamos de él y sus fuentes de sabiduría.
Nota : Si le pongo un tres, es por que al haber leído y releído tanto de Heinlein, yo siempre hago media escalativa al otorgar entre todas sus obras, pero igualmente está realmente bien escrito (cómo siempre, por otra parte).
Ésta obra del maestro toca, cómo ya hizo con anterioridad pero en otra vertiente, el tema de los pioneros - conquistadores, el de los locos visionarios que arriesgaron sus vidas y se lanzaron al vacío (nunca mejor expresado) en búsqueda de la primera imprenta del hombre (y de un estado) en un astro intacto aparentemente.
Sin ‘darse la mano’ con ‘Historia del futuro’, ‘Granjero de las estrellas’ y’ La luna es una cruel amante’, sí confluye casi a la perfección en el universo argumental Heinleniano espacio- temporal y nos remite (especialmente a los avanzados en Heinlein, con guiños, entre otros, acerca de la ocupación atómica en el espacio y el emplazamiento del cohete,; todo en las obras anteriormente comentadas además de en ‘Cadete del espacio’) a los albores de sus deliberaciones acerca de ésta temática imprescindible para el desarrollo de la Sci fi en su globalidad.
Y ahí, al origen es dónde nos encontramos con lo que podría ser un tratado histórico del primer proyecto llevado a cabo por parte de tres sacrificados y audaces Colón (sí, a él se le menciona, obvio) en lo que sería una cruzada necesaria pero de no retorno, y que abriría la veda para la posterior consecución de ése y otros astros (¿de verdad alguien cree que todo fue tan perfecto en el primer contacto del hombre en la luna en 1969?..si es que lo hubo, claro).
Bajo una capa de narración jovial, ágil, directa, pero fascinante en lo referente a todo el conflicto del alunizaje y los problemas de desviación de la nave en su trayectoria (con un tratado de física y matemáticas llevado con la excelencia de la pedagogía liviana en pos de la particular historia), además de la exactitud del estado mental y físico de unos cuerpos ajenos dentro de un transporte en constante cambio gravitatorio- atmosférico. Heinlein introduce muchos temas y nos los pone sobre la mesa para que reflexionemos sobre todo ello.
Éste se decidió a hacer un auténtico ‘repaso’ al ser humano y su desconocimiento, pero también a su arrojo, que lo puede catapultar a lo más grande o a la mayor de las miserias, según se vea. Así que en ésta engañosa baraja de desarrollo (por su aparente simplicidad), el decano trata acerca de la burocracia, del gusto por la dominación de los Estados Unidos de América (con otra critica hacía la bomba atómica), el sabotaje, los medios de comunicación (especialmente visionaria la escena en la cual uno de los tripulantes decide dar en exclusiva una entrevista a un rotativo a cambio de gananciales), la tercera guerra mundial y los fantasmas humanos que la rodean, sobre la paz y la posibilidad de unificación espacial por el bien global, la seguridad de una nación y el sacrificio de unos llamados para el avance del universo (siempre que sea llevado a cabo por el lado correcto):
“[...]Eso es lo importante, no nosotros. El hombre muere, la sociedad perpetúa[...]”
Grande Heinlein una vez más, qué decir que no haya dicho anteriormente, salvo que su obra lo engrandece, y especialmente, engrandece a éste maravilloso pero tantas veces, pedante género que se va por las ramas y olvida lo importante: al hombre y l todo ser vivo y las consecuencias de sus actos dentro de un aún maravilloso y misterioso universo que nos rodea y nunca muere, por mal uso que hagamos de él y sus fuentes de sabiduría.
Nota : Si le pongo un tres, es por que al haber leído y releído tanto de Heinlein, yo siempre hago media escalativa al otorgar entre todas sus obras, pero igualmente está realmente bien escrito (cómo siempre, por otra parte).
July 14, 2015
A great adventure
I've seen the movie several times over the yrs but not until recently have I had the chance to read the actual book. It was very enjoyable. We did finally reach the moon some 19 yrs after the movie was made, and of course a lot was different in reality but that doesn't take away from the story any.
I've seen the movie several times over the yrs but not until recently have I had the chance to read the actual book. It was very enjoyable. We did finally reach the moon some 19 yrs after the movie was made, and of course a lot was different in reality but that doesn't take away from the story any.
August 12, 2018
Alternate version of the movie
Destination Moon, a movie that Heinlein helped write, was a landmark film in 1950. Special effects may have improved,but this story of the first moon landing—almost two decades before it happened—marks a science fiction classic. In this novella, Heinlein writes a slightly altered version.
Destination Moon, a movie that Heinlein helped write, was a landmark film in 1950. Special effects may have improved,but this story of the first moon landing—almost two decades before it happened—marks a science fiction classic. In this novella, Heinlein writes a slightly altered version.
October 24, 2018
Classic Heinlein
Nobody does it better. One of his best talents was writing a scientifically accurate story in a way that is still enjoyable to read. His observations on the making of the movie are excellent, bringing out the difficulties in making an accurate sci-fi movie before computers and CGI.
Nobody does it better. One of his best talents was writing a scientifically accurate story in a way that is still enjoyable to read. His observations on the making of the movie are excellent, bringing out the difficulties in making an accurate sci-fi movie before computers and CGI.
April 6, 2019
An interesting early projection from Heinlein's point of view in 1950 of what a future, actual Moon trip might look like. The essay on the making of the movie reveals all the stresses, strains and headaches experienced by an uncompromising team who want to make a movie as scientifically accurate as possible, and not just "good enough" to please the average, scientifically uninformed moviegoer.
March 7, 2019
This is a fairly weak story (The radio play... not necessarily the movie upon which it was based.) and in the audio version that survives and has recently been published, the audio quality is pretty terrible too.
April 1, 2017
A 15-page essay on how Heinlein worked with Hollywood to make one of the most realistic Sci-Fi movies of the time!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews