Icarus Montgolfier Wright by Ray Bradbury

This is a story about the first man to fly a rocket ship. He figuratively gives up his real name (Jedediah Prentiss) for the name Icarus Montgolfier Wright. Icarus is a character in Greek mythology known for his attempt to escape Crete by flight. The Montgolfier brothers were the inventors of the montgolfière style hot air balloon. And we all know the Wright Brothers contribution to flight. The story concerns his dreaming of, and preparation for the first rocket flight in history.

Tough read if you don’t know the history, but made me go and fetch it. Thanks Ray.

Adapted into a short animated film in 1962. Nominated for an Oscar. Recently restored.