Rating: 
Summary: Finely-crafted, sobering story
Review: Although this is not the usual Allan Eckert story based on early American history, it is nonetheless an excellent, captivating tale that grabs the reader instantly. I read the book two years ago (in 1997, a library copy), and cannot dismiss the "theory" from my mind. Mr. Eckert expertly tells how the earth has gone through various Ice Ages, and how we could have another Ice Age-soon. Once you start reading it, you can't put it down, and you can't forget it. I would love to have my own copy to read again. It's time to publish it again.
Rating:
Summary: One of the 3 most unforgettable books I've ever read
Review: One of the earlier reviewers made the statement that "Nobody who has read this book seems to be able to forget it." (or words to that effect). How true. I've been an avid reader for over 45 years and of the literally thousands of books I've read in my lifetime, this is one of the few that I have never shelved memory-wise. I remember it today as if it hasn't been over 20 years since I read it! One must read it and give little thought to the love interest plots within -- the main purpose of the book was to espouse theories regarding the earth and explains the unexplainable. Those who wonder about the many inconsistencies that modern man has discovered about our earth will know what I mean. Eckert produces enough pure thought provoking, tantalizing facts about earth's history (and possible future?) -- (facts that throughout time man seems desperate to sweep under the carpet) -- within this book that anyone with any sort of curiousity can't possibly forget what he/she reads. If you can get a copy, DO SO! Months ago, on my personal page at my website, I listed this book as one of my ALL TIME favorites (we're talking for the last 45 years here). It is gratifying to know that I'm not the only one who still remembers this work as being unforgettable due to its plethora of fascinating earth-linked mysteries, explanations and theories.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Novel I Have Ever Read
Review: I first read The HAB Theory in 1977 at the age of 12. After about nine years of searching in vain, I finally found an out-of-print copy for sale on the Internet late in 2000 (this was prior to the novel's reprinting). My mission was to decide whether my favorite book could captivate me as an adult in the same way it did as a child. I was definitely not disappointed! Not only are the characters depicted in fascinatingly vivid detail, the scientific theories presented still seem plausible to me a full 23 years after my first reading. Eckert slowly weaves the reader into a web of intriguing premises that are all eventually tied into a neat little apocalyptic bow. As key characters begin to accept the possibility of a cataclysmic earth event, so too does the reader. Most of the questions the skeptic in me privately asked throughout the novel were answered in great detail later on. Some of the material is dated - cell phones or the Internet had not yet been invented at the time of the HAB Theory's writing - but what science fiction novel that takes place in the near future (15-20 years) can foresee every innovation? More to the point, the author's primary concern is with the past, not futuristic devices not central to the storyline. While it is likely a scientist could refute most of Herbert Allen Boardman's postulates, one cannot help but wonder if there is perhaps a grain of truth to his overall theory. How would our current president handle a similar situation? I, for one, do not wish to find out.
Rating:
Summary: Did human civilization really develop in just 5000 years?
Review: An educated man develops an interesting theory, and collects evidence that would support it. However the theory is totally outside of his discipline. And so he, and his theory, are ignored. His theory: Humans have built several advanced civilizations on earth over the last 50,000 years, but they seem to dissapear... every 5000-7000 years; and another near-extinction is overdue. Think you've read that one before? OK..... "The HAB Theory" presents a ton of real facts nobody can explain, and poses a theory of why they tie together to suggest that 97% of humans on earth will die soon.... again. Sample: A map of __Antartica__ dated to around 400 BC shows the mountains, canyons and coastline of the ice continent in detail and with extreme accuracy. Today we could produce such a map easily, but only by using ground (ice) penetrating radar attached to a sattelite in low earth orbit. How was that done over 2300 years ago?
Why do the pyramids in Central and South America prominently feature statues of animals from Africa, that are never seen in the Americas?
I first read a borrowed copy of this book in 1979. Nobody who has read this book can seem to forget it. As I write this, all reviewers so far give it a 10. I'll bet that continues.
Rating: 
Summary: It's not new to me
Review: I must admit that, while I enjoyed Eckert's book, what really pee'd me off was the fact that he gave absolutely no credit to the book "Cataclysms of the Earth," by Hugh Auchinloss Brown ("HAB"). Eckert lifted every bit of scientific data in the story from that long out-of-print book, which I'd read more than a decade before Eckert wrote his.
Rating: 
Summary: An engaging read, despite its flaws.
Review: Maybe 3.5 stars, actually... I won't bother to review the plot itself, as I'm sure you can get the gist from previous reviews. I wasn't sure I was actually going to read "The HAB Theory." I had it laying around for a while then decided to give the first chapter a shot. It quickly grabbed my attention and before I knew it I was 80 pages in. Eckert's style in this book is a bit long-winded, but I think that adds to the realism. Great care is taken to describe every detail of each scene, such as the characters sipping coffee between dialogue, or the details of operator assisted phone calls the characters must make. It takes about 150 pages before the HAB Theory itself is even discussed. Also, some of the speech is rather stilted, like everyone is a proper British gentleman. John Grant's son even used the word, "Jiminy!" at one point. The book drags a bit in the last half, with lots of long conversations and speeches, full of much science and history talk. Despite all this, Eckert pulled me right along. I think it was the antici......pation of what may come. The book, published in 1976, is quite dated in certain aspects, but I think this is somewhat charming. Though the time is never stated, from clues I'm guessing the story takes place around the year 2000. The characters definitely could have benefitted from cell phones and CD-ROMs (instead of phone booths and microfilm, as in the story). All the characters are reasonably interesting. Even the subplot involving the emotional stuggles of John Grant's wife and, ahem, his girlfriend is compelling. Those two women have issues, I'll tell you what. Poor old Herbert Allen Boardman (after whom the theory is named) is a sympathetic character despite shooting the president. The U.S. President himself is a likable guy and so is the president of Kenya and his family, who play an increasingly important role throughout the story. The novel has a fairly large cast, but not unmanagably large. As for the science of the HAB Theory, it smacks of the misdirections and vagaries of creationism or UFO conspiracies to me (no, neither of those are directly involved), but I was willing to suspend my disbelief for purposes of reading the novel. But Maybe one day I'll eat my words... A bit long-winded and unbelievable...some readers might be bored, but I recommend giving it a shot.
Rating:
Summary: The HAB Theory: The Novel of Verisimilitude
Review: Most people who have read The HAB Theory remember it even years later. The reason most often given is its subject matter: that the earth is subject to a capsizing of the polar ice caps every six or seven thousand years. Such readers are entranced by the many loose historical, geological, and biblical ends that its author, Alan Eckert, has so convincingly tied up. Even I, when I first read it back in the 70's became a convert. I checked upon the historical references in the book, and found out that most of them were either literally true or close enough so that what I was reading seemed to be incontestably true. Eckert's description of the ancient maps which showed Antartica as ice-free, his mention of the Peruvian and Chinese oval discs which suggest the existence of a pair of antediluvian civilizations, his analysis of numerous Biblical events all lend credence to the core belief that this planet has been long overdue for a capsizing. Yet,I quibble. There is nothing concrete that I can bring forth to refute him, nor perhaps do I wish to. I might add though that the recent glacial warming that is currently reducing the sizes of the two polar ice caps (the caps must grow for the tipping to occur), seem to suggest that our planet must have had numerous warming periods lasting many millenia, thus negating the tipping factor.
I reread the book recently, and found it as gripping as ever. The love scenes between the hero John Grant and his wife and mistress were clumsy and irritating. Eckert is at his best when he sticks to the hard scientific give and go dialogue which really carries the book. If the earth ever really does tip over, I hope that when it does, I will be lucky enough to be at one of the two pivotal points. Probably not,though.
Rating:
Summary: This Is The Best Book I Own!
Review: ...This book is without doubt the best book I own. The story leaves you thinking it could really be true! Who knows, it just may be true. Honestly, the hype is warranted BUY THIS BOOK!
Read the book then do your own research, it could become something of an obsesion...
Rating:
Summary: Better Than the First Time
Review: I read this book for the first time in 1978 and lost it during one of our house moves. I just recently purchased the reprinted version and read it in two days. It's as good a read, if not better, than I remember. Although some of the science is dated, it still fits quite nicely with all the alternative theories related to past civilisations. Way ahead of its time.
Rating:
Summary: Intriguing theory, fantastic book
Review: I read this book the first time many many years ago and was bowled over by both the theory and Allen Eckert's plot. Since that time I haven't found anything else that quite combined the plausibility of the scientific theory with a decent plot. I think Lucifer's Hammer, while a favorite, comes a distant second. Amazingly I found a copy of the paperback just a week ago in a local used bookstore after searching for it on and off for at least 20 years. I was never quite sure I had the title right so didn't bother to check online. Silly me! At the time I first read it I was not that interested in hard SF but despite its scientific basis it reads like a suspense novel right off of today's bestseller lists. I recommend it to anyone who loves Ludlum or Asimov, Grisham or Cherryh.
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