Journey to the origins of speculative fiction with this groundbreaking audiobook collection, gathering visionary tales that predate—and inspired—modern science fiction. From ancient lunar voyages to dystopian futures, these pioneering works blend philosophy, satire, and sheer imagination, laying the foundation for giants like Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, and George Orwell. The Stories That Shaped a Genre Lucian’s A True Story (2nd century CE, Greece) – The oldest surviving tale of space travel, alien civilizations, and interplanetary war—a satirical romp through the stars. Francis Godwin’s The Man in the Moone (1638, England) – A swashbuckling astronomer’s lunar voyage via wild geese, influencing Kepler and Swift. Johannes Kepler’s Somnium (The Dream) (1634, Germany) – A scientific fantasy of moon-dwellers and cosmic journeys, written by the astronomer who revolutionized planetary motion. Edgar Allan Poe’s The Unparalleled Adventure of One Hans Pfaall (1835, USA) – A darkly comedic balloon expedition to the moon, blending hard science with Poe’s signature madness. Ludvig Holberg’s Niels Klim’s Underground Travels (1741, Denmark-Norway) – A satirical descent into a hollow Earth, teeming with inverted societies and talking trees. The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter (Taketori Monogatari) (10th century, Japan) – A celestial princess’s return to the moon in the world’s oldest surviving sci-fantasy folktale. Yevgeny Zamyatin’s We (1924, Russia) – The explosive dystopian blueprint for 1984 and Brave New World, banned in its homeland for its critique of totalitarianism. Why Listen? These aren’t just curiosities—they’re the DNA of sci-fi. Hear the first moon-landing story (The Man in the Moone), the first hollow-Earth adventure (Niels Klim), the first alien encounter (A True Story), and the dystopian novel that started it all (We). Perfect for fans of classic literature, speculative fiction history, and mind-bending "what if?" tales.