First Science Fiction Ever! (Maybe!)

Did You Know? The earliest (known) story that is frequently classified as science fiction (involving outer space travel, as opposed to merely battling supernatural monsters, which would be fantasy) is “True History” by Lucian of Samosata. It was written between A.D. 100 and 200, and it was a satire of popular literature of the day. It includes outer space battles. (Yay! Outer space battles!) It also includes a trip to the Moon, where the travellers “find themselves embroiled in a full-scale war between the king of the Moon and the king of the Sun over colonisation of the Morning Star, involving armies which boast such exotica as stalk-and-mushroom men, acorn-dogs (“dog-faced men fighting on winged acorns”), and cloud-centaurs.” (Of course, in reality, the first story that we would classify as science fiction is undoubtedly lost to history, but I hope you enjoy this first surviving one.) Check it out! LEARN MORE.