"Jules Verne - Underground City, The" - читать интересную книгу автора (Verne Jules)

The Underground City

Verne, Jules, 1828-1905

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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
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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