Off on a Comet

Rating:
Summary: You need to first read part one, "To the Sun?"
Review: As with another reviewer, nostalgic recollection of the great Classics Illustrated Comic version of Off on a Comet prompted me to get the original from the library. Alas, Off on a Comet begins at a point near the end of the Classics Comics plot. Turns out all the good parts are in part one of Hector Servadac, called To the Sun. The library found me a volume called "The Space Novels of Jules Verne" (Dover publications, 1960) which contains both To the Sun? and Off on a Comet. Sometimes these are called Hector Servadac: Part One and Hector Servadac: Part Two, respectively.

Rating:
Summary: You need to first read part one, "To the Sun?"
Review: As with another reviewer, nostalgic recollection of the great Classics Illustrated Comic version of Off on a Comet prompted me to get the original from the library. Alas, Off on a Comet begins at a point near the end of the Classics Comics plot. Turns out all the good parts are in part one of Hector Servadac, called To the Sun. The library found me a volume called "The Space Novels of Jules Verne" (Dover publications, 1960) which contains both To the Sun? and Off on a Comet. Sometimes these are called Hector Servadac: Part One and Hector Servadac: Part Two, respectively.

Rating:
Summary: A Flawed Gem, Nearly Unknown But Worth The Read
Review: I became interested in Off On A Comet through the old Classics Comics version, and I was able to track it down once in the late 1970's; this book is exceedingly rare. It concerns the travels of a French foreign legionnaire, his sidekick, and various others carried off on a comet which sideswipes the earth in the 1800's. This "comet" is a small, planetiod-like world with atmosphere, land, and ocean. The journey is utterly unbelievable in the light of present knowledge, but Verne is as scientifically correct relative to the knowledge of his day as he could be. Before the travelers are redeposited on the earth in another grazing collision, the comet's eccentric orbit carries them near Venus and Mars, causing them to suffer through terrible extremes of climate. Verne delights in the ability of human ingenuity to overdome obstacles, conflicts, and deprivation as they explore and edure their temporary home. The flights of imagination involved are remarkable and the characterizations are good. I was, however, surprised at the vicious anti-Semitism evident in the characters and the narrative. This will be an enormous problem for many readers, and is a major flaw in an otherwise superb work

Rating:
Summary: An Unknown Masterpiece
Review: I came accross this book not in its orginal format but thru a translation in 'MARATHI' (An Indian Language) by 'Bha. RA. BHAGWAT'. This too some 20 years back. Since then I am trying to find a copy.

Its a story of a group of people who hitch a ride on a comet and go accross the planetory system , and in due course return back to earth.

Although, it may sound quite out of date now , there is some sceintefic basis to many of the trick used by these people.

Verne also dwels upon behaviours of people trapped on a journey of no return, though it should be treated with a vintage flavour. All in all, its a flight of imagination wich will take you hours of enjoyment.

Rating:
Summary: An Unknown Masterpiece
Review: I came accross this book not in its orginal format but thru a translation in 'MARATHI' (An Indian Language) by 'Bha. RA. BHAGWAT'. This too some 20 years back. Since then I am trying to find a copy.

Its a story of a group of people who hitch a ride on a comet and go accross the planetory system , and in due course return back to earth.

Although, it may sound quite out of date now , there is some sceintefic basis to many of the trick used by these people.

Verne also dwels upon behaviours of people trapped on a journey of no return, though it should be treated with a vintage flavour. All in all, its a flight of imagination wich will take you hours of enjoyment.