Lyapunov, B. V. Towards the Dream (Mechte navstrechu), 1958. In Russian.

Б. Ляпунов.
Мечте навстречу.
Научно-фантастические очерки / Серия: Фантастика. Приключения. (ФП / Паутинка); художник Е. И. Селезнев.
Москва: Всесоюзное учебно-педагогическое издат. Трудрезервиздат, 1958.
168 с. : ил. ; 17 см. Твердый издательский переплет. Уменьшенный формат.
***
B. Lyapunov.
Towards the Dream.
Science Fiction Essays / Series: Fantasy. Adventures. (FP / Pautinka); ill. by E. I. Seleznev.
Moscow: Vsesoyuznoye uchebno-pedagogicheskoye izdat. Trudrezervizdat, 1958.
168 pp. : ill. ; 17 cm. Hardcover. Small format.

This quintessential work of Soviet "scientific foresight" by Boris Lyapunov captures the boundless optimism of the early Space Age, published just a year after the launch of Sputnik. The text provides a deep dive into the internal logic of mid-century cosmic dreams, including the arrangement of speculative essays on interplanetary travel, lunar colonization, and the future of jet propulsion. Lyapunov, a leading popularizer of astronautics and science fiction, blends rigorous technical possibility with a visionary narrative, urging the younger generation of the 1950s to look toward the stars. Part of the iconic "Fantasy. Adventures" series (popularly known among collectors as "Pautinka" or "The Web" due to its distinctive cover design), this volume served as a vital primary source for the scientific imagination of Soviet students during the "Khrushchev Thaw."
The physical identity of this 1958 edition—an additional printing of the first edition—is defined by its durable hardcover and the evocative illustrations of E. I. Seleznev, whose graphic work perfectly mirrors the era's aesthetic of sleek rockets and celestial landscapes. The small, portable format was designed for the "labor reserves" (Trudrezervizdat), targeting vocational students and young workers. This book documents the exact cultural moment when science fiction and real-world space achievement were indistinguishable in the public consciousness. For bibliophiles and collectors of early Soviet "Cosmica" and science fiction, this "Pautinka" imprint is a prized artifact, representing the pioneering spirit of a generation that believed the dream of space was within immediate reach.