The Evolution of Science Fiction discussion

The book blurb reads:

A runaway planet hurtles toward the earth. As it draws near, massive tidal waves, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions wrack our planet, devastating continents, drowning cities, and wiping out millions. In central North America, a team of scientists race to build a spacecraft powerful enough to escape the doomed earth. Their greatest threat, they soon discover, comes not from the skies but from other humans. A crackling plot and sizzling, cataclysmic vision have made When Worlds Collide one of the most popular and influential end-of-the-world novels of all time.

I saw the movie version years ago and look forward to reading the book.

I've read this many, many years ago, but recall little about it. I wasn't very impressed, and recycled my copy at the local pb exchange many years ago.
Boy, that's another thing I miss: browsing good, big used bookstores! If there are any Arizonans (or former Zonies) here, you will likely remember Bookman's in Tucson, which later opened stores in PHX and Flag as well. Always kept my Bookmans trade credit slip in my wallet....

My happy place is searching bookshelves. We have Half Price Books, a chain with stores all around Texas. Here in San Antonio, there are 4-5 stores within easy reach. My daughter went to college near their flagship store in NE Dallas. It’s something to behold - think of a Target-sized store full of books. Up until the pandemic, HPB would have a 3-day clearance sale, where hardbacks were $2, paperbacks 50 cents. They’d truck in clearance books from all over the city to a central location, an abandoned Target-like building. Nothing fancy, they lay out the books on tables and have boxes underneath. As books clear out, they bring out more random boxes, so it doesn’t get picked over. You can go all three days and find good stuff. My wife & I will buy $200 worth of books to hold us for the coming year.

I plan to join the reading in 4-6 days, finishing two other books fiest

This sounds like a great read, am looking forward to it.

I read the book about 6 years ago and gave it 3 stars. In my review i said: "I found the book to have become pretty dated over the last 80 years but it must have been a terrific read in 1933 with it's new and exciting SF idea for an earth ending disaster. I wish I had read it when I was a teenager in the late 50's when it would have only been 25 years old. I did find the heroes a little too heroic and all-American, the scientists a little too brilliant and magnanimous and the woman a little too attractive (but much smarter than usual for 30's SF).

I lived in Flagstaff from 1996-1998 but I don't remember Bookman's. Looks like a good store Peter.
Used book stores can be a great place to find books, especially when they are in good condition still and nicely priced. Allan, I bet you found some good reads.

Natalie wrote: "I lived in Flagstaff from 1996-1998 but I don't remember Bookman's. Looks like a good store Peter.
Used book stores can be a great place to find books, especially when they are in good condition st..."

So it's still there? We lived in Arizona part-time up to 2007, and got to the Flag Bookman's pretty regularly. Flag Public Library was another good source of used books. We last lived down the hill in Rimrock, 30 min from Sedona.

Peter wrote: "Natalie wrote: "I lived in Flagstaff from 1996-1998 but I don't remember Bookman's. Looks like a good store Peter.
Used book stores can be a great place to find books, especially when they are in g..."
Online it says there's still a location in Flagstaff

Natalie wrote: "Peter wrote: "Natalie wrote: "I lived in Flagstaff from 1996-1998 but I don't remember Bookman's. Looks like a good store Peter.
Used book stores can be a great place to find books, especially when..."

Oh, good. We hope to get back to northern NM soon, and Flag makes a good overnite stop. I wonder if I still have any trade credit left @ Bookmans?

I started it and am pleasantly susprised as it reads very smoothly. I like the premise a lot: there's some disaster coming up fast and now what we're going to do? At least humanity is more active in this book then we're now in the climate change process. Did not see the movie so I have to guess about the outcome.

Leo wrote: "At least humanity is more active in this book then we're now in the climate change process."

I guess its a problem of our biology - we react fast on immediate and defined dangers, but with the climate change there is a problem that a day or a week or a month delay won't matter, so we as the mankind procrastinate, finding more clearcut problems first

I'm 80% thru the book and I like how well some items were thought out even if there is some sexism and racism (up to the Japanese servant called brown). The solution during the attack (I'm vague not to spoil) remained me a similar solution in Larry Niven story

My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Does anyone plan to continue with the second volume?

I’m joining in this month - I’ve downloaded the audio version for when I’m driving.

I'm about 25% of the way through and it reminds me of a play. Most of the story is told in dialogue and there is only minimal description, almost like stage directions.
I didn't realize there are 3 volumes till you mentioned the second one Oleksandr. (If I had looked carefully, I would have noticed it says #1.
I hope the audio version is interesting Becky. Sometimes that can make or break a book.

Natalie wrote: " and there is only minimal description, almost like stage directions...."
I'm at the point where is explained what is happening to earth when the planets are close by. The faith of whole continents, like Africa, is summarized in a few words; 'split open'. Very minimal indeed.

Oleksandr wrote: "Does anyone plan to continue with the second volume?"
I think I might, as it is written directly after #1 so maybe to be considered as one story. Part 3 is something else I think. Another writer, written 80 years later.

Leo wrote: "I think I might, .."

what about doing it on May 20th or about?

Deal!

Leo wrote: "Deal!"

Ok, great!

Just finished the book. The overall concept of worlds hurtling through space and approaching earth was intriguing.
However it bothered me that through the second two-thirds of the book, there were so many generalizations. All the people felt the same about what was happening around them, at the same time. There were a few parts where Tony or another character had a unique observation but for the most part everyone was just part of the group.
And where did they get all those sandwiches?

Natalie wrote: "And where did they get all those sandwiches?"

And not only sandwiches but all daily routines - we know that these 1000 are the brightest (also able-bodied) scientific minds, but who washes, feeds etc ... :) I was more concerned with what kind of steel mill were they operating, the 2nd ship was quite big and e.g. now steel sheets need firstly the blocs from melting and then pressure rollers to flatten them

I've just finished the book and enjoyed it. The descriptions of the devastations caused to the earth on first passing are some of the most vivid writing in the book.
There were a few scenes that reminded me of Lucifer's Hammer.
The characters were pretty one-dimensional but the plot was fast paced.
When I think of them bringing live animals on board, I wonder who's going to clean up all the manure-the mind boggles!

As to the sandwiches, I remember reading that they were prepared in advance and stored with the drinking water.

almost finished and ready to plonge directly into After Worlds Collide. I agree that a lot of the activities seem to be done too easily. One dimensional characters: check. But it still reads very good for a book that old. And I had to laugh when they insulated the space ship with books - so they also had something to read on their new home planet. They were lucky that nuclear power was invented years before the e-reader.

Leo wrote: "almost finished and ready to plonge directly into After Worlds Collide. .."

I plan to start it today

After Worlds Collide simply continues where When Worlds Collide stopped. It's one story.

Leo wrote: "After Worlds Collide simply continues where When Worlds Collide stopped. It's one story."

Yes, I'm over 50% already. The author has a strange idea that everyone wants to get "our women" :) in both books

My review of the 2nd book https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Many of the lurid pulp covers featured aliens going after scantily clad, pretty girls.

Jim wrote: "Many of the lurid pulp covers featured aliens going after scantily clad, pretty girls."

True! Moreover sometimes drawers were lazy and on one cover there was a scantily clad, pretty girl and Wild West train robber, on another, the same girl and an alien