02518cam a22003853u 4500 59034 UtSlPG 20260610134347.0 m cr n 260607r2019||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d UtSlPG en iso639-1 PS Fritch, Charles E., 1927-2012 The Big Leap Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg, 2019 1 online resource : multiple file formats text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier Produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, February 1955 Release date is 2019-03-08 Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net "The Big Leap" by Charles E. Fritch is a science fiction novella written in the mid-20th century. The book explores the psychological and existential themes surrounding space exploration, focusing on the character of Cantrell, who is preparing for a pivotal journey to the moon. The narrative dives into the complexities of human psychology when faced with the vast uncertainties of space, particularly the fear of the unknown. In the story, Cantrell is an astronaut grappling with his aversion to animals, shaped by a childhood trauma from a dog attack. As he embarks on a groundbreaking mission to the moon, he confronts not only the physical challenges of space travel but also the psychological demons that accompany him. During his flight, he experiences a bizarre transformation when he perceives Earth as a living creature, and he ultimately rejects the reality of being a parasite on this "space-animal." His mental unraveling raises questions about perception, sanity, and the nature of existence, as those left behind must confront the implications of his revelations. The narrative culminates in a powerful exploration of the limits of human understanding in the grand scale of the universe. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Original publication data not identified Science fiction Short stories Psychological fiction Space flight to the moon -- Fiction Astronauts -- Fiction Summers, Leo, 1925-1985 Produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, February 1955 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/59034 99860 99860