Alfred Coppel

Name: The First Man on the Moon
Author: Alfred Coppel

Summary

“The First Man on the Moon”, is a work by Alfred Coppel. It explores elements such as Thurmon, the Sea of Serenity and pumice.

Quotes from The First Man on the Moon (Alfred Coppel)

Alfred Coppel, The First Man on the Moon

“ Thurmon stumbled to his feet and fought the wave of nausea that surged over him as his equilibrium teetered from the low gravity. Then in an instant his discomfort was forgotten. Standing on the brink of the cosmos, his ego drank of grandeur. All the splendor of Creation lay before him like a jeweled carpet. All his! All for John Thurmon, genius ... explorer ... murderer! For John Thurmon ... first man on the Moon!
With an effort he dragged his eyes from the sky. Slowly, his reason was returning. There was work to do. Wayne must be hidden. The next to come must never know. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Alfred Coppel, The First Man on the Moon

“ The ship lay at a crazy angle on the stark whiteness of the pumice plain. The rocket nozzles were a fused lump of slag; the fire-darkened hull crumpled and warped by the impact of landing. And there was silence ... complete and utter silence.
There could be no return. Thurmon realized this. At first the thought had brought panic, but, as the scope of his achievement dawned on him, the fear retreated. Bruised, giddy, half-crazed ... the certainty of death held no terrors. Not yet. And it was worth it! Fame ... immortality! ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Alfred Coppel, The First Man on the Moon

“ Not even Wayne. Wayne, who designed the rocket and guided it. Wayne, who had stolen every chance Thurmon had ever had for recognition! Well, Wayne was dead now. He had never put a living foot on the soil of the Moon. Only Thurmon had done that. And it was his passport to eternal glory! No one, no one could take that away from him! Weighed in the loaded balance of his mind, it more than compensated for dying alone and on an alien world. In fact, even the dying would add to the legends, and Thurmon would live forever. The first man on the Moon! ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Alfred Coppel, The First Man on the Moon

“ Across the abyss, the whole world waited for word. The transmitter in the rocket had survived the crash. The word would come, thought Thurmon ... when he was ready to send it. And sending it, he would place the official seal of immortality on his brow. The book would close. But wonderfully, satisfyingly. There would be no other to steal his rightful glory. Only Wayne could have done that ... and Wayne was dead. He laughed weirdly within his helmet. So simply done!
The Sea of Serenity stretched out before him in weird magnificence. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Alfred Coppel, The First Man on the Moon

“ Terribly, hideously afraid and alone. It was the only flaw in his plan for immortality. Yet, his life had been a barren thing, devoid of love or any real success. It was little enough to trade. And this was his only chance for lasting fame. He could not let it go.
The plan was working ... almost of its own inertia. He was alone. He was on the Moon, where no man had ever been before him. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Alfred Coppel, The First Man on the Moon

“ He laughed hilariously at the thought. "I'll say you didn't make it alive. You didn't, did you? But I made it, Wayne. Me! Alone ... all alone! With no help from you, do you hear?"
Thurmon chattered on, the sound of his crazed voice dying within the confines of his helmet, while all around him the eternal silence of the Sea of Serenity continued unbroken. The stars shown steadily in the airless sky, and the sun flamed in impotent splendor, furiously silent.
At last the pit was done, and Thurmon lowered the nude corpse into the shadows. "Goodbye, Wayne. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Alfred Coppel, The First Man on the Moon

“ Thurmon took a steadier grip on his dancing mind and replied:
"Listen carefully. Carefully, you understand? This is John Thurmon. I am on the westernmost edge of the Sea of Serenity on the Moon. Wayne is dead ... he didn't make it. Died during acceleration and I had to dispose of his body in space. Did you get that? I am alone here. The ship crashed on landing. I can't get back ... but it's worth it! I haven't much time left ... but I want everyone to know that I made it. It will be easier now for others ... ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Alfred Coppel, The First Man on the Moon

“ Finally, the radarman spoke respectfully. "Yes, Thurmon, we got that. Your transmission is being shunted onto the commercial bands. Can you tell us what you see up there? And ... and Thurmon, we all want you to know that our prayers are with you." Tears were flowing on Earth now, Thurmon knew. Tears for a martyr to science doomed to death alone on an alien world. ”

Alfred Coppel

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Quotes from The First Man on the Moon (Alfred Coppel)

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