Off on a Comet! A Journey through Planetary Space by Jules Verne
Author: Jules Verne | Published: 1877
Off on a Comet! A Journey through Planetary Space Synopsis
Off on a Comet (French: Hector Servadac) is a science fiction novel by French writer Jules Verne, published in 1877. The plot opens with a comet named Gallia striking Earth in midflight and collecting a few fragments of it. On January 1, 188x, the catastrophe occurred near Gibraltar. There are still 36 persons of French, English, Spanish, and Russian nationality on the territory that the comet carries away. They initially don't understand what has happened and mistake the collision for an earthquake.
They first notice weight loss: Captain Servadac's adjutant Ben Zoof, to his amazement, jumps twelve meters high. The comet's gravity is much weaker than Earth's, so the people on board start to lose weight. They also start to experience strange phenomena, such as the sun appearing to be twice as large as it did on Earth.
Excerpt Off on a Comet! A Journey through Planetary Space Online Book
“Nothing, sir, can induce me to surrender my claim.” “I am sorry, count, but in such a matter your views cannot modify mine.”
“But allow me to point out that my seniority unquestionably gives me a prior right.” “Mere seniority, I assert, in an affair of this kind, cannot possibly entitle you to any prior claim whatever.”
“Then, captain, no alternative is left but for me to compel you to yield at the sword’s point.” “As you please, count; but neither sword nor pistol can force me to forego my pretensions. Here is my card.”
About Jules Verne
Jules Verne, born on February 8, 1828, in Nantes, France, was a renowned French author often regarded as the "Father of Science Fiction." His passion for adventure and literature influenced Verne's early life. Despite his father's disapproval, he pursued his literary interests, writing plays and short stories.
In 1863, Verne published his breakthrough novel, "Five Weeks in a Balloon," which marked the beginning of his exploration-themed novels. His works incorporated emerging technologies like submarines, space travel, and time machines. Verne's most famous novels include "Journey to the Center of the Earth" (1864), "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" (1870), and "Around the World in Eighty Days" (1873). These showcased his ability to blend scientific knowledge with captivating storytelling. Find out more about Jules Verne on sevenov.com.