Far enough to touch

"Far Enough to Touch" by Stephen Bartholomew is a science fiction story published in the early 1960s. The narrative revolves around a young Belgian astronaut named Rene Duport, who is part of a diverse crew aboard a moonship, the "Prospero". The book explores themes of isolation, the human mind under pressure, and the desire for exploration, as it delves into Duport's unorthodox reaction to space travel. The story begins with the crew returning from a lunar mission, where Duport, despite being the youngest and a child prodigy, chooses to jump into space rather than return to Earth. This shocking decision leads to a dramatic rescue operation as the crew grapples with the consequences of his leap into the void. Bartholomew intricately portrays Duport’s internal struggle and desires, raising philosophical questions about the human experience and what it means to truly connect with the universe. In a climactic rescue, however, Duport returns physically unharmed but is left in a state of catatonia, suggesting that while he reached for the stars, the experience altered him profoundly, leaving readers to ponder the depths of isolation and the nature of human exploration.