Off on a Comet! a Journey through Planetary Space

Professor of English, College of the City of New York; Author of “The Technique of the Novel,” etc. F. Tyler Daniels Company, Inc. New York :::: London Copyright, 1911 By Vincent Parke And Company CONTENTS INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME NINE OFF ON A COMET OR HECTOR SERVADAC CHAPTER II. CAPTAIN SERVADAC AND HIS ORDERLY CHAPTER VI. THE CAPTAIN MAKES AN EXPLORATION CHAPTER VIII. VENUS IN PERILOUS PROXIMITY CHAPTER XVI. THE RESIDUUM OF A CONTINENT CHAPTER III. THE PROFESSOR’S EXPERIENCES CHAPTER XV. A JOURNEY AND A DISAPPOINTMENT INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME NINE 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