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Cover of Touch the sky

Touch the sky

Written by Alfred Coppel

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Science FictionShort storiesSpousesSpace travelersAmusement rides

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About this book

"Touch the Sky" by Alfred Coppel is a science fiction short story first published in the summer of 1955. The narrative explores themes of ambition, dreams, and existential dread as it follows the character Pete Moore, who is preparing for a moonshot mission. The story captures a moment of reflection during his last night before the journey, contrasting his hopeful aspirations with the surreal and often disappointing nature of reality. In the story, Pete Moore grapples with the tension between his ambitions and the nagging fear stemming from a carnival ride that is meant to symbolize the excitement and wonder of space exploration. As he prepares for his moonshot, Pete navigates his complex feelings about leaving the familiar world behind for the allure of the cosmos. His reality shifts dramatically during the flight, where he experiences a hallucination that reveals a startling perspective: the universe may not be as it seems, potentially a mere illusion, leading to a profound realization about man's aspirations and the limits of his journey. In the end, the story culminates in a poignant moment where he acknowledges the frailty of his dreams but embraces the profound experience of touching the sky.

Reading guide

Themes, characters and key ideas in Touch the sky, written by Chaptra AI.

  • about 8 hours
  • intermediate
  • introspective
  • existential
  • dreamlike

Alfred Coppel's "Touch the Sky" is a poignant 1955 science fiction short story that delves into the complex inner world of Pete Moore, an astronaut on the eve of a historic moonshot. The narrative masterfully contrasts his fervent ambitions and the allure of cosmic exploration with a deep-seated existential dread, symbolized by a childhood carnival ride. As Pete embarks on his journey, a profound hallucination during flight shatters his perception of reality, suggesting the universe itself might be an illusion. This experience leads him to a sobering yet ultimately accepting realization about the fragile nature of human dreams and the true, often elusive, meaning of 'touching the sky'.

“The sky beckoned, a vast, indifferent canvas for human dreams.”

Key themes

Ambition vs. Reality
The story profoundly explores the tension between humanity's grand aspirations, epitomized by the moonshot, and the often-disappointing or illusory nature of reality. Pete's lifelong dream confronts the harsh psychological truth that the fulfillment of a dream might not match its idealized vision, or worse, reveal a deeper, unsettling truth about existence itself.
Existential Dread and the Illusion of Reality
Coppel delves into deep existential questions, particularly the unsettling idea that the universe, and our perception of it, might be an elaborate illusion. Pete's experience of the cosmos as a 'mere illusion' triggers a profound sense of dread, forcing him to question the fundamental nature of existence and his place within it.
Dreams and Disillusionment
This theme examines the psychological impact of chasing a dream and the potential for profound disillusionment when the reality of that dream is confronted. Pete's journey is a meditation on the gap between aspiration and experience, and how the collapse of one's idealized vision can lead to a deeper, albeit more somber, form of understanding.

Worth discussing

How does the carnival ride serve as a central metaphor in the story? What aspects of space exploration does it symbolize?

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