Jules Verne's From Earth To The Moon: "How many things have been denied one day, only to become realities the next!"

Set in post-Civil War America, this novel follows the ambitious president of a "Gun Club" and his rival as they collaborate with a Frenchman to construct a massive cannon aimed at reaching the Moon. The narrative is rich with intricate details and calculations that closely mirror scientific possibilities of the time. As the team navigates misunderstandings and conflicts, they ultimately succeed in launching a projectile with three astronauts aboard, leaving their fate uncertain. The story is complemented by a sequel, Around the Moon.