Laura Brownlow, London
Ἀληθῆ διηγήματα (A True Story) By Lucian of Samosata
‘A True Story’, written by Lucian of Samosata, is a novella published in the second century AD. In it, he describes a voyage to the Moon, an intergalactic space battle between the armies of the Moon and Sun, and a journey beneath the sea in the belly of a whale. Whilst it lacks the notoriety of Homer’s ‘The Odyssey’, or other famous writers, it remains a story that all those who enjoy literature today should read.
This novella has been called one of the earliest precursors to science-fiction, and although it is argued whether it can actually be called a work of science-fiction (it contains no real science!), this work does contain a myriad of tropes which have become central to any famous works of science-fiction you might know today. There are tales of a trip into space wherein a battle occurs, strange creatures which bear resemblance to animals here on earth (i.e. aliens), and beings which have autonomy yet originated from human craftmanship (i.e. robots). Now, you must admit that does sound exactly like any modern-day science-fiction *cough* Star Wars *cough*
Aside from this book being perhaps one of the earliest forms of science fiction you’ve never heard of, it is also a masterclass in satire. Lucian prefaces this story with a brief dig at self-proclaimed historians, such as Herodotus, who wrote highbrow stories and claimed they were true, when they had either never visited the place in question, or verified their sources, opting for tales that were exciting rather than hard facts. In his introduction Lucian proclaims himself to be of a higher moral standard in this story, for, though it is compromised in its entirety of sensational lies, Lucian prides himself on admitting these lies, and warns his readers not to believe a single word. The story ends with a promise from Lucian that he will write of more adventures, a promise described by one scholar as Lucian’s cruellest lie of all.
'Be it understood, then, that I am writing about things which I have neither seen, nor had to do with, nor learned from others – which, in fact, do not exist at all and, in the nature of things, cannot exist. Therefore, my readers should, on no account, believe in them.'
Now, I hope some of you reading this will have found your interest piqued by this brief summary of what is currently my favourite Greek literature (I’m a sucker for satire!), and while I realise I have barely fulfilled the brief of travel and voyage, and likely left you with more questions than answers (I was given a strict word count), perhaps that is a good thing. Lucian’s writings have fallen out of circulation, despite them being very popular with his contemporary audience, and ought to be read by a wider audience, (trust me, they are somewhat of a gateway drug into Greek satire).
So, the next time you watch a science-fiction movie feel free to tell your parents you are attempting to research an obscure ancient Greek satirist and watch them flounder! I promise to be back soon with more ancient Greek reading recommendations (or do I?).
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