A Voyage To Arcturus by David Lindsay (Fantasy Masterworks # 37)
01/07/2003 . Source: Geoff Willmetts 

pub: Gollancz. 280 page enlarged paperback. Price: £ 6.99 (UK). ISBN: 0-575-07483-3.

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Although this book has been re-classified here as fantasy, I read it a couple years ago because it was regarded as a very early example of SF.

Written in 1920, any science concerning life on other planets, let alone the way to get there was still very much guesswork with a healthy dose of imagination. As such, any speculation is very much in the line of Jules Verne and HG Wells.

Three men attending a seance suddenly appear on the planet Tormance, orbiting the star Arcturus.

Maskull finds himself separated from the others and journeys across the planet discovering a variety of sentient life-forms while in search of his companions as well as reconciling his own restless spirit.

I suspect fantasy lovers will get more of a kick out of its fantasy elements than SF fans. Saying that, SF fans with an historical bent concerning the perception of the universe as thought by earlier generations will also find something to discover here.

Although writer David Lindsay wasn’t fully appreciated for his writing talent when he wrote this book because it was way beyond anything else around at the time, he has garnered a few respectable fans since his death who appreciates this book.

Considering the aforementioned Verne and Wells stayed mostly earthbound, then this book has to be considered the cornerstone of extra-planetary exploration. Taste a piece of SF history and read this book.

GF Willmetts