The Unparalleled Adventure of One Han..., Edgar Allan Poe
The Unparalleled Adventure of One Han..., Edgar Allan Poe
List: $3.99 | Sale: $2.80
Club: $1.99

The Unparalleled Adventure of One Hans Pfaall
Poe's only sci-fi work

Author: Edgar Allan Poe

Series: Proto Sci-Fi

Narrator: Charles Featherstone

Unabridged: 1 hr 54 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 10/10/2024


Synopsis

Written in 1835, this is a unique example of sci-fi wrtten by a man much better known for dark and fantastical horror. Intended by Poe to be a hoax, this tale describes a journey in a balloon that includes the view of the Earth from space and a volcanic, seething satellite.
From the wiki:
"The Unparalleled Adventure of One Hans Pfaall" (1835) is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe published in the June 1835 issue of the monthly magazine Southern Literary Messenger as "Hans Phaall -- A Tale", intended by Poe to be a hoax.
The story is regarded as one of the early examples of the modern science fiction genre. The story traces the journey of a voyage to the moon.
Poe planned to continue the hoax in further installments, but was pre-empted by the Great Moon Hoax which started in the August 25, 1835 issue of the New York Sun daily newspaper. Poe later wrote that the satirical tone of the story made it easy for readers to see through the supposed hoax.
Poe's story had an influence on, and is referenced in, Jules Verne's From the Earth to the Moon, which can be seen as a retelling of the story.[5] Verne acknowledged Poe as the creator of the "scientific novel" when he referred to him as 'le créateur du roman merveilleux scientifique'.
Poe later published a similar hoax, "The Balloon-Hoax", in the New York Sun in 1844.

About Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) was an American poet, short story writer, editor, and literary critic who is credited with inventing the detective fiction genre and with contributing to the emerging science fiction genre. He began his literary career with the anonymous publication of a collection of his poems entitled Tamerlane and Other Poems. He then turned to writing prose and spent the next several years working for literary journals and periodicals, becoming well known for his particular style of literary criticism. He served for a time on the staff of the New York Mirror, in which his poem "The Raven" was published. Poe's other well-known works include his stories "The Purloined Letter," "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," and "The Mystery of Marie Roget."


Reviews

Goodreads review by Christy on February 29, 2024

The Unparalleled Adventures of One Hans Pfaal is a short story about a man from Rotterdam who finds a way to go to the moon in a special hot air balloon of his own design. He also finds a way to create breathable air in a vacuum. Through trials and tests, Pfaal is able to rise above the earth and ev......more

Goodreads review by Francesc on June 04, 2022

Es una historia bien escrita y rebosante de imaginación, pero muy extraña. Es una mezcla entre "De la Tierra a la Luna" y "Cinco semanas en globo" de Jules Verne. Hans Pfaall, tras arruinarse económicamente, emprende un viaje en globo que le llevará hasta la Luna. Poe demuestra unos conocimientos cie......more

Goodreads review by Louie the Mustache on February 04, 2023

The long titled, novella-length story, The Unparalleled Adventure of One Hans Phall written by Edgar Allan Poe was published in the Southern Literary Messenger in June 1835 as a hoax, but fell flat pre-empted because the following month The Great Moon Hoax was published by the New York Sun. Annoyed,......more

Goodreads review by Sahel's on November 09, 2016

The rating is based on personal opinion of how I loved the story. It does not show that there was something wrong with Poe's writing style or his mastery of this craft. Basically, it began very well, the framework was strong and firm as it always is. The ending was highly expected regarding Poe's PO......more