When Worlds Collide
Book 1 of When Worlds Collide
Language: English
Action & Adventure Adventure Apocalyptic & Post-Apocalyptic Classics Fantasy Fiction Science Fiction
Publisher: Bison Books
Published: Sep 1, 1932
Book 1 of When Worlds Collide
Language: English
Action & Adventure Adventure Apocalyptic & Post-Apocalyptic Classics Fantasy Fiction Science Fiction
Publisher: Bison Books
Published: Sep 1, 1932
Description:
Published first as a six-part serial in 1932, When Worlds Collide is a story of golden-age cataclysmic vision, bursting into the hearts and minds of science fiction readers ever since. The thrilling plot follows an astronomer, Sven Bronson, as he tries to save humankind from two approaching rogue planets that are sure to destroy the Earth as they readjust their orbit. Banding together with a team of scientists, the race to escape to the skies begins—but the more immediate threat seems to already be on the ground. When Worlds Collide was made into a film in 1951, and inspired various comic strips and pulp conventions in Science Fiction, and is now available as an ebook for the first time.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
When Worlds Collide is a '33 sf novel cowritten by Philip Wylie & Edwin Balmer along with its '34 sequel After Worlds Collide. It was 1st published as a six-part monthly serial (9/32-2/33) in Blue Book magazine, illustrated by Joseph Franké.
When Worlds Collide had far-reaching influences on the sf genre. The themes of an approaching planet threatening the Earth, & an athletic hero & his girlfriend traveling to the new planet by rocket, were used by writer Alex Raymond in his '34 comic strip Flash Gordon. Jack Williamson's '34 short story "Born of the Sun" also used the concept of a scientist & his fiancee escaping the destruction of the Earth in a hurriedly-constructed "ark of space". The '38-41 strip Speed Spaulding was more directly based on the novel. The themes of escape from a doomed planet to a habitable one also can be seen in Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster's '38 comic Superman. The novel was also adapted as the '51 film When Worlds Collide, produced by George Pal & directed by Rudolph Mate. The film inspired Deep Impact. Another film adaptation is 2012 by DreamWorks, directed by Stephen Sommers.