Representing the best
Finnish authors abroad
Finnish authors abroad
A graphic novel about the animals in space
The First to Fly recounts the astonishing stages of the conquest of space, in which Laika the dog, Ham the chimpanzee, and many other animals played a vital role.
The narrator of the comic is an elderly German lady whose father was recruited after the war to help develop the Soviet space program. A young student hears from her a breathtaking story of how the superpowers of the Cold War competed to test the endurance of different animals in space – ethical concerns notwithstanding.
Alongside the comic, The First to Fly includes an in-depth factual supplement on the subject. The book is a companion volume to Johanna Aulén’s acclaimed graphic novel The Dogs of Chernobyl.
English translation in layout
Finnish edition
“Johanna Aulén’s The First to Fly examines space travel through the senses of an animal-loving human and from the perspective of our own time. The contrast with the chilling utilitarianism of the Cold War is stark. The narration is meticulously informative, complete with source references.” — Matti Komulainen, Suomen Kuvalehti magazine
“The First to Fly makes one reflect on where the boundary of human cruelty lies, and whether the sacrifice of animals for science and curiosity was ever truly necessary. What if we were to abandon the pursuit of space and instead focus our energies on caring for the planet we already have?” — Anni-Sofia Hoppi, Maaseudun Tulevaisuus newspaper
