Micromégas
A 1752 novella by Voltaire, an early science fiction work.
Micromégas, a novella by the French philosopher and satirist Voltaire, was published in 1752. Along with Voltaire's "Plato's Dream," it stands as an early work of science fiction and holds a recognized place in literary history. The exact date of its first publication is uncertain; possible editions exist from 1751 or even as early as 1739, but 1752 is the widely accepted year.
The story follows a being from a planet orbiting the star Sirius who visits Earth, accompanied by a companion from Saturn. This device—using an outsider to examine Western culture—was common at the time, employed by Voltaire in *Zadig*, Montesquieu in *Persian Letters*, José Cadalso in *Cartas marruecas*, and Tomás Antônio Gonzaga in *Cartas Chilenas*.
The tale is divided into seven short chapters. The first introduces Micromégas (meaning "small-large"), a Sirian who is 120,000 royal feet (38.9 km) tall with a waist circumference of 50,000 royal feet (16.24 km). His home planet is calculated to be 21.6 million times larger in circumference than Earth, a mathematical ratio meant to put humanity's home in cosmic perspective. At nearly 450 years old—still considered childhood on his world—and having solved over fifty of Euclid's problems (eighteen more than Blaise Pascal) by age 250 while at a Jesuit college, Micromégas writes a scientific book about his planet's insects, which are 100 royal feet (32.5 m) long and invisible to ordinary Sirian microscopes. The book is deemed heretical by his country's mufti; after a 200-year trial, he is banished from court for 800 years. He uses this exile to travel between planets, seeking to develop his heart and mind.
Micromégas travels using gravity and "the forces of repulsion and attraction," a nod to Isaac Newton's work. After extensive celestial travel, he reaches Saturn, where he befriends the secretary of the Academy of Saturn—a "dwarf" only 6,000 royal feet (1.95 km) tall, clever but lacking true genius. In chapter two, they compare their worlds: the Saturnian has 72 senses, the Sirian nearly 1,000; the Saturnian lives 15,000 Saturnian years, while the Sirian lives 700 times longer. Micromégas mentions visiting worlds where beings live far longer yet still consider their lives too short. This further relativizes Earth's scale, but Micromégas finds the Saturnian philosophically disappointing. They decide to travel together; in a comedic pass
- author
- Voltaire
- year_published
- 1752 (widely accepted; possible earlier editions in 1751 or as early as 1739)
- genre
- Science fiction, satire
- nationality
- French
- known_for
- Early science fiction; use of an extraterrestrial visitor to comment on human society
Lore & Background
The tale recounts the visit to Earth of a being from a planet circling the star Sirius, and of his companion from the planet Saturn. The Sirian, named Micromégas (literally meaning 'small-large'), stands 120,000 royal feet tall and his circumference at the waist is 50,000 royal feet. The story is organized into seven brief chapters. The first describes Micromégas, who at almost 450 years old has solved over fifty of Euclid's problems and writes a scientific book examining insects on his planet, which is considered heresy, leading to his banishment for 800 years. He travels by gravity and forces of repulsion and attraction, arriving on Saturn where he befriends the secretary of the Academy of Saturn, a man less than a twentieth of his size.
Reader's Guide
The novella uses the technique of an outsider to comment on aspects of Western culture, a popular method in the period also used by Voltaire in Zadig, and by Montesquieu in Persian Letters. The story relativizes human scale and conflicts through the immense size and lifespan of the extraterrestrials. In the final chapter, human philosophers test the philosophies of Aristotle, Descartes, Malebranche, Leibniz and Locke against the travelers' wisdom. Micromégas finds fault in each theory save that of the disciple of Locke. When the travelers hear the theory of Aquinas that the universe was made uniquely for mankind, they fall into laughter. Micromégas writes a book to explain everything philosophically, but when presented to the French Academy of Sciences, the secretary opens it to find blank pages. The work is an early example of science fiction and has its place in the development of the history of literature.
Did You Know?
- Some uncertainty surrounds the first publication of Micromégas, with possible editions dating to 1751 or as early as 1739, but with the widely accepted publication being 1752.
- Micromégas stands 120,000 royal feet (38.9 km) tall and his circumference at the waist is 50,000 royal feet (16.24 km).
- The Saturnian has 72 senses while the Sirian has almost 1,000.
- When Micromégas writes a book examining insects on his planet, it is considered heresy by his country's mufti, and after a 200-year trial, he is banished for 800 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Micromégas?
Micromégas is the title character of Voltaire's 1752 novella — a colossal being hailing from a world that orbits the star Sirius. He travels to Earth to observe and judge human civilization from a position of overwhelming physical and intellectual superiority.
What happens in the story of Micromégas?
The giant visitor from Sirius, accompanied by a fellow traveler from Saturn, lands on Earth and surveys human society. The narrative uses this outsider's perspective to satirize Western culture, philosophy, and social norms of Voltaire's era.
Who wrote Micromégas and when was it published?
The French philosopher and satirist Voltaire authored the novella, with 1752 being the widely accepted year of publication. Some scholars note that earlier editions may have circulated as far back as 1739 or 1751, making the exact first appearance uncertain.
Why is Micromégas significant in the history of science fiction?
It is recognized as one of the earliest works of science fiction, predating many better-known examples by well over a century. Together with Voltaire's 'Plato's Dream,' it established the template of using an extraterrestrial visitor as a lens to critique human society — a device that remains central to the genre.
Who is Micromégas's traveling companion?
He is a fellow giant from Saturn who accompanies the Sirius visitor on their Earth journey. The two travelers function as a pair of alien observers whose reactions and commentary frame the novella's satirical critique of humanity.
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