Book description
The story is organized into seven brief chapters. The first describes Micromégas (small/large), an inhabitant of one of the planets that orbits Sirius. His home world is 21.6 million times greater in circumference than the Earth. Micromégas stands 120,000 feet (about 23 miles) tall. When he is almost 450 years…
Why read it?
1 author picked Micromegas as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
This is (possibly) the first ever First Contact story and was written by French philosopher Voltaire in 1752.
The imagery is beautiful. Micromegas glides on a sunbeam between planets, something that, today, we’d call the use of a solar sail. Humanity is reduced to ants scurrying in the dirt before this giant alien. Voltaire uses his fictional story to challenge the prevailing philosophies of his day, including the insistence of humans declaring the universe was made for them (to which Micromegas laughs).
Although this book is long out of print, it can be read for free online as part of…
From Peter's list on The best classic science fiction books on first contact.
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