The Shock of the worlds

the Shock of the Worlds ( When Worlds Collide ) is a novel of science fiction Co-writing by Philip Gordon Wylie and Edwin Balmer, and published in 1933.

Intrigue

After the discovery by Sven Bronson, a Astronome of South Africa, from two Planet S wandering - Bronson Alpha and Bronson Beta - calculations conclude that those will cross our Solar system. Largest, Alpha, comparable with Jupiter, will pass very close to the Ground later by causing Cataclysme S. Eight month, after a full rotation around the Sun, Alpha will enter in collision with our planet and will destroy it while Bêta become autonomous will come to be placed in orbit around the Sun.

Researchers carried out by Cole Hendron decide to build a Spaceship in order to transport men, animals and goods towards Bronson Bêta in an ultimate attempt to save the human race. The government shows skeptic but the researchers entêtent and develop a atomic Moteur to propel the vessels built in several countries. Later, certain countries evacuate their coastal regions while the planets approach and produce on Earth the announced catastrophes: gigantic waves are formed, the volcanos awake, and the bad weather makes damage everywhere in the world several days during.

The Hendron Base builds two vessels which take off simultaneously with the survivors of the camping (after an external attack). Only one seems to have made a success of its tour and without any radio operator contact, its occupants conclude soon that of all the launched vessels of the Earth they are the only ones to have survived. They discover on Bêta of the evidence of a civilization passed, destroyed million years earlier when the planet left the attraction of its sun.

After the shock of the worlds

A continuation was written, After the shock of the worlds , describing how at least three vessels made a success of their crossing and how an unknown group tries to destroy that of Hendron or to seize the power. Fantastic abandoned cities of any life are also discovered.

Adaptations

1951 : the Shock of the worlds ( When Worlds Collide ), of Rudolph Subdued
2008: the Shock of the worlds ( When Worlds Collide ), of Stephen Sommers

Influence

the book and the film inspired a song with the British group of Hard rock Iron Maiden.

Can reality exceed the fiction?

There is no probable shock between a known planet and the Earth. On the other hand, a shock is possible with a Astéroïde geocroisor. In addition, the galaxy of Andromède approaches the Milky Way and will pass very close to it in 2 billion years; the Effet of tide will deform the galaxies and it will end up amalgamating in 4 billion years.

See too

the film the Shock of the worlds of Rudolph Subdued.

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