Rhys Llwyd y Lleuad - E. Tegla Davies - The First Welsh Science Fiction Book 🌝
Rhys Llwyd y Lleuad (translation: Rhys Llwyd the Moon) was published in 1925, aimed primarily at children. It tells the imaginative tale of two young boys — Dic and Moses —from rural Wales who are whisked to “the moon” by Rhys Llwyd, a diminutive lunar being. Along the way they learn basic scientific principles like gravity, day/night cycles, and why there is no sound on the moon. Illustrations by W. Mitford Davies compliment the text beautifully.
The earliest Welsh sci‑fi?
Though later works such as Islwyn Ffowc Elis’s Wythnos yng Nghymru Fydd (1957) are often viewed as foundational in modern Welsh-language science fiction, Rhys Llwyd y Lleuad arguably predates them by decades and occupies a pioneering position in Welsh speculative fiction. One blogger even termed it the first “space‑book” in Welsh, noting how Davies introduced scientific ideas through folklore-like narrative and childlike wonder.
Themes and style
- Blending folklore and science: Rather than hard sci‑fi, the book rests on mythic and fairy‑tale sensibilities—Rhys Llwyd feels more like a faery king drawn from Welsh lore than a Martian explorer. Yet he brings the boys to the moon and helps them witness natural science firsthand.
- Educational intent: Presented in a straightforward manner, the story is meant for young readers—teaching basic astronomy and physics in an accessible, narrative form.
- Roots in Welsh identity: Written in the Welsh language and set in Wales, it's part of the broader cultural revival using imaginative literature to keep the language alive—and cast it in new, modern genres bostonglobe.comcy.wikipedia.org.
About the author: E. Tegla Davies (1880–1967)
E. Tegla Davies was a Wesleyan minister and prolific Welsh-language writer known for children’s books, novels, essays, and satire. He published over 40 books and was an influential figure in 20th‑century Welsh letters. While best known for works like Gŵr Pen y Bryn (1923), Rhys Llwyd y Lleuad stands as his only known sci‑fi title.
Why read it now?
- A historical curiosity: As potentially the first Welsh-language foray into speculative fiction, it's a landmark for cultural and literary historians.
- Simple charm: Its folk-inflected style and gentle educational narrative offer nostalgic delight and give insight into early 20th‑century children's literature.
- Language preservation: The story embodies the intertwining of language, folklore, and imagination at a time when Welsh identity was asserting itself through new literary forms.
We have a preloved copy of this book available here.
