Login to MoboReader
icon 0
icon TOP UP
rightIcon
icon Reading History
rightIcon
icon Log out
rightIcon
icon Get the APP
rightIcon
Off on a Comet

Off on a Comet

Jules Verne

5.0
Comment(s)
2
View
44
Chapters

Among so many effective and artistic tales, it is difficult to give a preference to one over all the rest. Yet, certainly, even amid Verne’s remarkable works, his “Off on a Comet” must be given high rank. Perhaps this story will be remembered when even “Round the World in Eighty Days” and “Michael Strogoff” have been obliterated by centuries of time. At least, of the many books since written upon the same theme as Verne’s, no one has yet succeeded in equaling or even approaching it.

Introduction

Among so many effective and artistic tales, it is difficult to give a preference to one over all the rest. Yet, certainly, even amid Verne's remarkable works, his "Off on a Comet" must be given high rank. Perhaps this story will be remembered when even "Round the World in Eighty Days" and "Michael Strogoff" have been obliterated by centuries of time. At least, of the many books since written upon the same theme as Verne's, no one has yet succeeded in equaling or even approaching it.

In one way "Off on a Comet" shows a marked contrast to Verne's earlier books. Not only does it invade a region more remote than even the "Trip to the Moon," but the author here abandons his usual scrupulously scientific attitude. In order that he may escort us through the depths of immeasurable space, show us what astronomy really knows of conditions there and upon the other planets, Verne asks us to accept a situation frankly impossible. The earth and a comet are brought twice into collision without mankind in general, or even our astronomers, becoming conscious of the fact. Moreover several people from widely scattered places are carried off by the comet and returned uninjured. Yet further, the comet snatches for the convenience of its travelers, both air and water. Little, useful tracts of earth are picked up and, as it were, turned over and clapped down right side up again upon the comet's surface. Even ships pass uninjured through this remarkable somersault. These events all belong frankly to the realm of fairyland.

If the situation were reproduced in actuality, if ever a comet should come into collision with the earth, we can conceive two scientifically possible results. If the comet were of such attenuation, such almost infinitesimal mass as some of these celestial wanderers seem to be, we can imagine our earth self-protective and possibly unharmed. If, on the other hand, the comet had even a hundredth part of the size and solidity and weight which Verne confers upon his monster so as to give his travelers a home - in that case the collision would be unspeakably disastrous - especially to the unlucky individuals who occupied the exact point of contact.

But once granted the initial and the closing extravagance, the departure and return of his characters, the alpha and omega of his tale, how closely the author clings to facts between! How closely he follows, and imparts to his readers, the scientific probabilities of the universe beyond our earth, the actual knowledge so hard won by our astronomers! Other authors who, since Verne, have told of trips through the planetary and stellar universe have given free rein to fancy, to dreams of what might be found. Verne has endeavored to impart only what is known to exist.

In the same year with "Off on a Comet," 1877, was published also the tale variously named and translated as "The Black Indies," "The Underground City," and "The Child of the Cavern." This story, like "Round the World in Eighty Days" was first issued in "feuilleton" by the noted Paris newspaper "Le Temps." Its success did not equal that of its predecessor in this style. Some critics indeed have pointed to this work as marking the beginning of a decline in the author's power of awaking interest. Many of his best works were, however, still to follow. And, as regards imagination and the elements of mystery and awe, surely in the "Underground City" with its cavern world, its secret, undiscoverable, unrelenting foe, the "Harfang," bird of evil omen, and the "fire maidens" of the ruined castle, surely with all these "imagination" is anything but lacking.

From the realistic side, the work is painstaking and exact as all the author's works. The sketches of mines and miners, their courage and their dangers, their lives and their hopes, are carefully studied. So also is the emotional aspect of the deeps under ground, the blackness, the endless wandering passages, the silence, and the awe.

Continue Reading

Other books by Jules Verne

More

You'll also like

He Only Married Me To Show Her That He Already Moved On

He Only Married Me To Show Her That He Already Moved On

Short stories

4.8

He has all the traits that you wished for your dream man to have. Power, money, perfection, handsomeness and a body like a Greek God. But he's inlove. He's inlove with her. For him, she was the completion of his dream, a perfect wife and a mother to be with his children. He would give her everything including his own life. He would sacrifice his world for her. But she left him. She betrayed him. She broke his heart into pieces. And he turned into a cold, heartless, rude and an arrogant billionaire, who would do everything to show her that she's no longer important into his life. Even though the truth is the opposite of what he is doing. His heart still aching for her. And that's when he met me. I applied as his Personal Assistant to fulfill my bucket list of dreams. To explore my life and experience everything. He offered me a deal. He asked me to marry him just to show his ex that he already moved on. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "She's pregnant." He blurted out and i almost stumbled on where i am standing. I just gripped the backrest of the couch to support my weight. The pain creeping in my heart is unbearable but i managed to stay calm. "Wow! Congratulations!" I said faking my excitement as i remembered him saying... -cheating would not be the reason to break our marriage- of course i couldn't accuse him of this as 'cheating' because she was the real reason why we are pretending as a couple. He still love her. He's still inlove with her. And that's when i made the biggest decision in my life. Taking all my strength and a piece of my heart that still hanging on a thin rope... I left him. Taking also my biggest secret in me... that i've already fallen inlove with him. And somehow i learned a lesson; 'Loving someone who doesn't love you back isn't as hard as loving someone who still inlove with his ex and who only uses you to get her back again into his life..'

Chapters
Read Now
Download Book
Off on a Comet
1

Introduction

18/11/2017

2

Book I Chapter 1 A Challenge

18/11/2017

3

Chapter 2 Captain Servadac and His Orderly

18/11/2017

4

Chapter 3 Interrupted Effusions

18/11/2017

5

Chapter 4 A Convulsion of Nature

18/11/2017

6

Chapter 5 A Mysterious Sea

18/11/2017

7

Chapter 6 The Captain Makes an Exploration

18/11/2017

8

Chapter 7 Ben Zoof Watches in Vain

18/11/2017

9

Chapter 8 Venus in Perilous Proximity

18/11/2017

10

Chapter 9 Inquiries Unsatisfied

18/11/2017

11

Chapter 10 A Search for Algeria

18/11/2017

12

Chapter 11 An Island Tomb

18/11/2017

13

Chapter 12 At the Mercy of the Winds

18/11/2017

14

Chapter 13 A Royal Salute

18/11/2017

15

Chapter 14 Sensitive Nationality

18/11/2017

16

Chapter 15 An Enigma from the Sea

18/11/2017

17

Chapter 16 The Residuum of a Continent

18/11/2017

18

Chapter 17 A Second Enigma

18/11/2017

19

Chapter 18 An Unexpected Population

18/11/2017

20

Chapter 19 Gallia's Governor General

18/11/2017

21

Chapter 20 A Light on the Horizon

18/11/2017

22

Chapter 21 Winter Quarters

18/11/2017

23

Chapter 22 A Frozen Ocean

18/11/2017

24

Chapter 23 A Carrier-Pigeon

18/11/2017

25

Chapter 24 A Sledge-Ride

18/11/2017

26

Book II Chapter 25 The Astronomer

18/11/2017

27

Chapter 26 A Revelation

18/11/2017

28

Chapter 27 The Professor's Experiences

18/11/2017

29

Chapter 28 A Revised Calendar

18/11/2017

30

Chapter 29 Wanted A Steelyard

18/11/2017

31

Chapter 30 Money at a Premium

18/11/2017

32

Chapter 31 Gallia Weighed

18/11/2017

33

Chapter 32 Jupiter Somewhat Close

18/11/2017

34

Chapter 33 Market Prices in Gallia

18/11/2017

35

Chapter 34 Far into Space

18/11/2017

36

Chapter 35 A Fete Day

18/11/2017

37

Chapter 36 The Bowels of the Comet

18/11/2017

38

Chapter 37 Dreary Months

18/11/2017

39

Chapter 38 The Professor Perplexed

18/11/2017

40

Chapter 39 A Journey and a Disappointment

18/11/2017