The Cosmic Express

"The Cosmic Express" by Jack Williamson is a science fiction story that imagines a future where people can travel instantly by turning into energy. Set in a highly artificial New York of the far future, around 2432 A.D., Eric Stokes-Harding, a writer, and his wife Nada long for a raw, more natural existence, dreaming to escape the synthetic world around them. They discover the Cosmic Express, a secret technology that transports them to another location by converting their bodies into energy signals. The couple convinces a friend to illegally operate the device, hoping to arrive on Venus and live a more primal, rewarding life. However, once they arrive, Venus is not the paradise they imagined, and they are faced with unexpected dangers that test their ideals against a harsh alien reality. After a difficult experience, they are rescued, returning to Earth with a tale of survival, proving how reality often clashes with romantic ideals. Eric, in turn, transforms their experiences into a best-selling novel, illustrating humanity's ongoing search for authenticity in an era of artificiality.