02604cam a22003733u 4500 67316 UtSlPG 20260610134544.0 m cr n 260607r20221955utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d UtSlPG en iso639-1 PS Ludwig, Edward W., 1920-1990 The First The 1st Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg, 2022 1 online resource : multiple file formats text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier Produced from Infinity Science Fiction, November 1955 Release date is 2022-02-04 Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net "The First" by Edward W. Ludwig is a science fiction novella written in the mid-20th century, specifically during the 1950s. The story explores themes of ambition, recognition, and the human spirit within the context of a manned mission to the moon, focusing on the joys and sacrifices of early space exploration. It presents a poignant narrative of ambition and the human desire for recognition against the backdrop of a historic moment in humanity. The plot unfolds around Jeffrey Simon, who reflects on his past experiences as an astronaut involved in a top-secret project called Project Pandora, which undertook the first manned mission to the moon long before the public was aware. As a modern celebration honors Captain George Everson, celebrated as "the first" to successfully pilot a rocket to the moon, Jeffrey grapples with the painful reality that he and his fellow astronauts were the true pioneers, whose contributions have been forgotten. Armed with proof of their historic journey—a rare moonstone and a photograph—he seeks to reveal the truth but ultimately chooses to protect the heroism and excitement of this pivotal moment rather than tarnish it by sharing his story. As the rocket launches into the sky, he reconciles his pain with the knowledge that the spirit of discovery is more important than personal glory. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Originally published: United States: Royal Publications, Inc, 1955 Science fiction Short stories Space flight to the moon -- Fiction Engle, Robert, 1928- Produced from Infinity Science Fiction, November 1955 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/67316 108138 108138