Fred T. Jane, “To Venus in Five Seconds”, 1897.

Fred T. Jane, “To Venus in Five Seconds: An Account of the Strange Disappearance of Thomas Plummer, Pill-maker”, 1897 was a science fiction novel of “teleporting”.  The “transporter” in Star Trek (The Next Generation, shown above) is a teleportation device. The science fiction film “Forbidden Planet”, 1956 also had a “transporter” similar to Star Trek (above, black & white photo).

“The Time Machine”, 1895 by H. G. Wells two years before Fred T. Jane, “To Venus in Five Seconds”, 1895 uses similar Physics ideas.  The story of “To Venus in Five Seconds” is of our protagonist Thomas Plummer , the son of a wealthy pharmaceutical maker. Thomas Plummer is thus sent to study Medicine while in college. At college Thomas Plummer is having tea with a female friend on Earth.  The story “five seconds” later continues with Thomas Plummer now on the planet Venus (hence the title). “Teleports” are common to Sci Fi stories today; for Star Trek fans its simply;“Beam me up, Mister Scott”.