The Alembic, The Pen… and The Spacecraft. De la Follie’s Le philosophe sans prétention (1775): An Early Sci-Fi Novel in Lieu of a Successful Scientific Lecture?

Abstract

Louis-Guillaume de la Follie’s novel Le philosophe sans prétention, ou l’homme rare (The philosopher without pretension, or the rare man, 1775) is remembered for including the first interplanetary travel on a spaceship powered by electricity. The story, a philosophical tale typical of the Age of Enlightenment, is used by the author to convey his scientific views and popularise scientific issues. Hence, de la Follie’s work sheds light on the dissemination of scientific knowledge within French society in the second half of the eighteenth century. The article aims to show how Le philosophe serves as a bridge between the Enlightenment philosophical fiction and science fiction to determine to which extent could literature be a vehicle for disseminating scientific ideas. The study aims to be a useful contribution to a deeper knowledge of eighteenth-century provincial French scientific milieu and its links with literature. The article encompasses the introduction of the author, his work, and its reception, its examination as a conte philosophique, an early science-fiction novel, and the discussion.