Columbus of Space

Imagine a brave young guy who gets a super-secret box from his uncle with plans for a magic flying machine that beats gravity and zooms to other planets. He builds it and flies to Venus, which is like a hidden paradise inside with its own sun, huge dinosaurs, and people who ride them like horses. There, bad kings are mean to everyone, so he helps a pretty princess fight them with his cool Earth gadgets, falls in love, wins the big battle, and becomes a hero like Columbus discovering a new world!

Garrett P. Serviss's 'Columbus of Space,' published in 1909, follows a young American protagonist who inherits a mysterious metallic casket from his deceased uncle, containing blueprints for a revolutionary gravity-nullifying spacecraft powered by 'disintegrator rays.' Driven by curiosity and adventure, he constructs the vessel and embarks on a solo journey through space, propelled at incredible speeds toward Venus. Upon arrival, he discovers a lush, habitable Venus illuminated by an internal central sun, teeming with gigantic prehistoric creatures, advanced humanoid civilizations divided into noble and tyrannical castes, and a society blending ancient wonders with brutal hierarchies. Crash-landing amid political turmoil, the Earthling becomes entangled in a rebellion against the despotic rulers of the dominant Venusian nation. He allies with the beautiful Princess Altra and her faction, leveraging his superior Earth technology—including ray weapons and the ship's capabilities—to turn the tide of war. Amid battles with dinosaur-riding warriors and treacherous courtiers, romance blooms between the protagonist and Altra, culminating in victory, personal transformation, and a bittersweet return to Earth, pondering future voyages. Serviss weaves scientific speculation with pulp adventure, evoking the era's fascination with interplanetary conquest.