Book Description
Futility, or the Wreck of the Titan is a novel which was originally writtena nd published in 1898 by Morgan Robertson. This novel is the story of an ocean liner, called the Titan, which sinks in the North Atlantic ocean after hitting an iceberg. There are many similarities between this novel and the facts in the sinking of the Titanic fourteen years later. Morgan Robertson revisited his work in 1912 after the sinking of the Titanic and made the ship larger as well as changing the ending of the story.
Download Description
A book that came out 15 years too early as "Futility," was then released around 1912 or other with a new name. For some reason. About a boat hitting an ice cube or something.
Customer Reviews:
Wreck of The Titan.......2007-04-11
This book violates the dictum, "Write what you know about." Living on an iceberg following loss of the ship? Polar bears in mid-ocean? With thoughts running together sans punctuation, this work reads like an outline of what the writer intended to expand into a book at some later time.
A good teaching tool.......2007-01-04
I bought this for my classroom, while I was teaching a unit on the Titanic. Lots of kids have borrowed it and are amazed that it was written before the Titanic. language is a little outdated, of course, and hard for some middle schoolers, but when they realize when it was written that makes sense. Worth having for the classroom
Futility: The Wreck of the Titan.......2006-03-22
This book was a surprise. After reading other reviews I didn't think it would be that great. I was pleased that the plot was thicker than I was expecting and the similarlites to the Titanic were really amazing. I wanted to read it because of my interest in the Titanic and to read this book that was written more than 10 years before the Titanic sank made it even better. The plot and characters were interesting and all in all it was a good read.
Get it for its historical novelty-value.......2005-01-28
I first learned of this book when reading Walter Lord's famous "A Night to Remember," which was of course later released as a fine film of the same name, and which Lord updated in the early 1980s with the wonderful follow-up novel, "The Night Lives On." At the beginning of "A Night to Remember," Lord alludes generously to Robertson's novel "Futility," about the fictional ship 'Titan' and its uncanny resemblence to the 'Titanic' both in physical dimensions and tragic sinking. From Lord's brief synopsis of Robertson's novel, I got the impression that "Futility" would be a comprehensive novel that went to great lengths to describe the ship (Titan), passengers, crew, disaster, and aftermath. I was very surprised when I opened the shipping box and instead received a very skimpy novelette, weighing in at a whole forty pages or so.
Although "Futility" does have eerie similarities with the actual Titanic disaster, which makes it immediately of high historical novelty value, as a stand-alone novel in its own right it is simply not a very well-written piece of fiction. It has some nice ideas that should have been further developed. The cataclysmic sinking of the Titan is contained in about 1/3 a page, and amounts to "struck an iceberg, fell flat on her side, the end."
Amazingly, the extreme cold of the North Atlantic never seems to be an issue, as it is never mentioned. The story centers around a disgraced former US navy officer who, after his fall, became an ordinary seaman on the Titan. The plot revolves around his love affair (or lack of one) with a former girlfriend. The story is filled with cheesy dialog (even for 1890s Victorian standards) and interminable soliloquies that will have the reader rolling his or her eyes and going "whatever."
The plot of this story can be summed up thus:
- Titan is a huge ship and represents Victorian decadence
- Rowlands (the disgraced officer) loves some girl who's married to someone else
- Girl mistakenly thinks Rowlands is trying to murder her toddler
- Ship hits iceberg
- Ship founders two paragraphs later
- Rowlands rescues his ex girlfriend's toddler
- Rowlands somehow defeats a 2,000 lb polar bear in hand to hand combat
- no one gets hypothermia
- the end.
This story is interesting insofar as its similarity to the Titanic disaster, but beyond that, it is doggerel.
Don't have,. Haven't read........2004-09-15
All I can say is that I would like to invest in an original copy of this book. I have heard about it for years and didn't realize it had been reprinted. The Titanic disaster has fascinated me most of my life. When the film came out I knew all of the historical characters' names, ranks, positions within the ship, etc. I have a rather large collection of books about the ship and the events surrounding its demise. This book would be a neat little lagniappe for my library, but only if it were a first edition.
Average customer rating:
- A PERIOD PIECE
- Mediocre Novel with a Strange Coincidence
- Futility: The Wreck of the Titan
- Futility: Or The Wreck of the Titan 100th Anniversary ed.
- A terrible story about a great story
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Wreck of the Titan Or, Futility and Morgan Robertson the Man
Morgan Robertson
Manufacturer: Amereon Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0848814614 |
Customer Reviews:
A PERIOD PIECE.......2006-03-29
Keeping in mind the fact that one is reading a period novel, I found this to be a fine example of the genre.
The description of the Titan and its fate parallels that of the Titanic to a certain extent, and this brings into the equation, stories of Robertson's psychic abilities, as he is alleged to have had astral help in writing his novels.
For those wanting the story to be about the Titanic legend, there will be disappointments, as the ship is not the main focus of the story, but rather a background for the portrayal of one man's struggle to live an honest and fulfilling life.
John Rowland is a man who has plumbed the depths and is trying to rebuild his life on principles of honesty and hard work, but his past has caught up with him. The tale is one of triumph against the odds, and the importance of honesty, both to oneself and to others.
Altogether a most enjoyable read!
Mediocre Novel with a Strange Coincidence.......2006-01-15
Nearly everyone today is familiar with the fateful, April/1912, maiden voyage of the Titanic - the largest oceanliner ever built. But few are aware that 14 years earlier, Morgan Robertson had already written about the fateful, April/?, maiden voyage of the largest oceanliner ever built in his novel titled "Futility"; only it was named the "Titan". No doubt few are aware of this because "Futility" was not well written and did not sell many copies a hundred years ago.
The novel follows the trials of an ex-Naval officer, John Rowland, who battled alcoholism after being rejected by a woman he had grown infatuated with. Struggling to pick himself up, he lands a job as a common sailor on the maiden voyage of the largest oceanliner ever built - the Titan. On board, he runs into his old flame who is now married and a mother. However, she falsely believes that Rowland is out to kill her child. He is able to redeem himself in her eyes when the Titan strikes an iceberg, sinks a half a page later, and he rescues her child from sea.
Robertson's account of the sinking of the Titan was extremely short and had little bearing on the author's plot, which lacked any spark or fire to it. The only thing worthy in this prose is the author's imagination that dreamt up the Titan - he was able to imagine what the world's largest oceanliner would eventually look like with such accuracy that he nearly guessed it's name to the letter! Both the Titan and the Titanic were 70,000-ton vessels that could do 25 knots and hold 3,000 passengers. Both hit an iceberg in April (because that's the month of icebergs), both were considered "unsinkable", and both sunk with a great loss of life because both did not have enough life boats.
While this novel fails to entertain, the coincidence between the Titan and the Titanic is the reason that this mediocre novel is still being read today. And if anyone has ever attempted to write a new movie script and then checked it with online library sites of movie scripts only to find out that their idea was already thought of, then they'll know that this passing mention of the Titan was not that big a coincidence. In another words, if a classroom of students were given instructions to write a one-page description on the futuristic invention of the world's largest ship, train, plane, or building and to name it, the similarities that result from their common cultural programming would be there in those description just as Robertson's Titan was there 14 years before the Titanic.
Futility: The Wreck of the Titan.......2002-06-12
It seems to me that Morgan Robertson writes this novel from a deep inner conviction. Futility: The Wreck of the Titan is mentioned in the book Akashic Records; in a chapter titled Discovering Insights Into Your Future. - a book about Edgar Cayce's readings. Many of us have read Futility because of its precognitive rumblings and remains a curosity even today over 100 years later. How can we tune into the future is our burning question? I believe this can be explained using the psychology of Carl Jung who said that the work of a true artist reflects the artist as well as the collective at large (Two World Wars followed this work and that was a collective madness). In this case I suspected that Morgan Robertson wrote this book because his psyche erupted with the material he put in his book. He was compelled because the unconscious was warning him of a pending psychotic break or a bout with insanity. Symbolically a ship is the carrier of the ego and for a ship to sink into the depth of the ocean is a sure indication that such an individual is in danger of going down into the unconscious - as the sea is a symbol of the unconscious. I feel this interpertation is supported by the fact that in the other part of the book Morgan writes about My Skirmish With Madness. It is a fact that often times an inner event will line up with an outer event (1400+ souls went into the unconscious) and the psyche, which is not limited by time or space can "see" into the future and tied Morgan's struggle with sanity to that future event of the Titanic. I am sure many of us have had precognative dreams. Jung's idea was that most books and works of art come out of our eruptions from the psyche in the form of fantasy and dreams and mirror our inner psychological state of affairs. The psyche struggles to keep each individual in balance and warning about a pending imbalance is a part of the psyche's functioning.
Futility: Or The Wreck of the Titan 100th Anniversary ed........2000-03-29
Futility is valuable by the story preceeding the event. Futility demonstrates the futile idea that time flows from the PAST to the PRESENT and then on to the FUTURE. Futility is evidence of an old concept that the PAST, PRESENT, and FUTURE influence each other.
It would be valuable to have more information on how the author became aware of the story he recorded as FUTILITY.
Futility is for the literate mind, but it is not for the literary mind.
A terrible story about a great story.......2000-01-05
Having had a relative on the real RMS Titanic and having had the unique opportunity of meeting the first person off the Titanic, I feel very close to the entire saga of the ill-fated White Star liner. The fact that "The Wreck of the Titan or Futility" parallel the true events of the RMS Titanic is the only reason why people now want to read this book. The fact of the matter is that "Futility" is more of a short story or novella than a real novel.
The writing doesn't begin to compare with that of Ring Lardner. Joseph Conrad, or Jack London. The dialog is stilted and none of the characters are very well fleshed out.
At best "Futility" is nothing mare than a quaint curiosity.
Average customer rating:
- Another Heyer Comedy of Errors
- A....R E G E N C Y....B O O K....F O R....F E M I N I S T S !
- My favorite Heyer book!
- Typical Georgette Heyer
- One of Heyer's Best
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Faro's Daughter
Georgette Heyer
Manufacturer: ARROW (RAND)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0099465590 |
Book Description
When Max Ravenscar, renowned gamester, and by his own definition, untroubled by a romantic disposition, meets Deborah Grantham, beautiful mistress of her aunt’s gaming house, all his experience of risk and gambles finds him unprepared.
Customer Reviews:
Another Heyer Comedy of Errors.......2007-09-30
Shakespeare is always in her work and this is no exception. Was extremely disapointed when it ended as would like to have kept reading. Instead suffer from Heyer withdrawal. Thank goodness she has a big back log. Read this book when you need a cheerup.
A....R E G E N C Y....B O O K....F O R....F E M I N I S T S !.......2006-03-23
ALL OF MS. HEYER'S wonderfully enthralling heroines, are -- though living in the midst of the male-dominated English Regency period -- closet feminists! Or, at least, are those with whom I am acquainted. I have yet, it seems, to read all of her numerous and wonderous books. But I have, however, read FARO'S DAUGHTER, and know, from it and the other of ther novels that I have read, that I have many new treats in store for me, from reading the rest of her work! : ) This closet feminism of her heroines is all the more amazing, since Ms. Heyer wrote her novels in the only-slightly less male-dominated eras of the 1930's through the 1980's. Yet, her heroines do manage, (in spades!), to retain a definite femininity, and, usually, a great deal of charm. The difference between these very feminine, "closet-feminists", and, say, the "sweet little dears" portayed within the novels of Horatio Alger, (heroines who, it appears, did little more than cheer on Mr. Alger's brave male protagonists), is that Ms. Heyer's heroines had minds of their own, (as well as hearts and tender feelings), and, in her novels, it is not only battles with circumstance, and between the genders which is seen....one also sees a battle going on betwixt the heroine's head and her heart. Often, the head prevails...but the heroine's actions -- usually intelligent, well-planned ones, but often leading to hilarious and sometimes unforeseen results -- are always planned, and done, (whether she knows it or not), at the behest of the heroine's heart.
This is amply shown in the delightful "FARO'S DAUGHTER". The heroine, Deborah Gratham, lives with her aunt, a proprietress of
a gaming house. This makes the heroine to be -- despite her wealth, beauty, lineage, (and, yes, brains) -- looked down upon by polite London society of the day. A (very) young aristocratic gentleman, Lord Maplethorpe, frequents the gaming house...and soon decides that he is in love with her...moreover, he is certain that Deborah is in love with him. Enter, (at the behest of Lord Mapelethorp's anguished mother), the young gentleman's uncle, Max Ravenscar...who intends to break up this horrendous affair before it seriously begins. What he doesn't realize is that the affair never began at all: Deborah is NOT in love with the very young Lord Maplethorpe, and is, indeed, at that very moment in the depths of considering how to let the youngster know she is not in love with him, without hurting his youthful, kind feelings. But....Max Ravenscar's bold and arrogant manner, which considers her, conclusively but without evidence, nothing more than a "gaming-house title-hunter", infuriates the proud and independent-minded Ms. Gratham...who vows revenge on the haughty, jumping-to-erroneous-conclusions Ravenscar.
Including a race, a kidnapping, a hilarious dress-up, (and character) deception, and much else besides, this is indeed a most delightful reading romp! Indeed, this novel could well be sub-titled "Pride and Prejudice", (were not that title already the name of a novel written in similar, elegant fashion)...for truth, true love -- and lost stereotypes -- finally do win out, over Deborah's understandable, but at times over-weening pride, and Max Ravenscar's infuriating prejudices. This is the story of two very head-strong, yet very human people, who find themselves at first at odds, then in battle, but finally in love...as they realize their simularities far outweigh, and finally dissapate, any differences they may have.
This is an enjoyable, enthralling book from its beginning to its end. Beneath the petticoats and starched collars, real people emerge...as in all of Heyer's romances. Who says elegance must be dull, or that "X"-rating is needed for excitement? Not I...and I hazard to guess, not other readers either, once they have read this and other Heyer books. You might, indeed, find yourself writing elegantly, after the 18th centry manner, as I have here-in tried to do, after reading it, and other Heyer novels! Of course, realizing (sadly?), that I am,for better or worse, still a person living amidst the hurly-burly of the 21st century, I do find myself so deeply wishing that at least one of Georgette Heyer's elegant and yet truly realistic novels would, someday very soon, be made into a motion picture! And, although I love all of her books, my vote would go for the hilarious, deeply-moving, fast-paced, insightful FARO'S DAUGHTER to be filmed, first!
P.S.: Georgette Heyer's books are NOT for women only! Intelligent, thoughtful gentlemen, who wish to obtain some inkling as to what goes on with-in the feminine mind and mind-set -- today as well as in the past -- would do well to read Ms. Heyer's intelligent, involving, character-as-well-as-plot-driven novels, too!
My favorite Heyer book!.......2006-03-11
I won't talk about the plot because other reviewers already did, I want to point out that I just love the interactions between the protagonists, if you like your heroine very smart and at the same time very endearing, none of that dumb stubbornness sometimes we found in other authors but a pretty female character, independent (like all other Heyer females!) and very interesting overall. You will have a marvelous time reading this story, it is very good, go ahead and read it!
Typical Georgette Heyer.......2005-10-04
Saying typical Georgette Heyer is an accolade that most authors will never receive. Ms. Heyer writes her Regency romances with grace, wit and humor. While this is not my favorite one of her books, it contains all the elements to make it an outstanding romance novel by any other standards. Her heroes are always attractive, strong and compelling and her heroines are spirited and lively. Always a "fun" read.
One of Heyer's Best.......2004-08-19
The dialoge is witty, the characters are beautifully drawn, and the plot keeps you revited to the book. Faro's Daughter is a contest of wits (and wills) between the lovely Deborah Grantham and the wealthy Max Ravenscar. The two turn out to be an excellent match. My only complaint is that the story ended so quickly. It is one of those books you want to go on and on.
Average customer rating:
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Faro's Daughter
Georgette Heyer
Manufacturer: Pan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Historical | Romance | Subjects | Books | England | General | Regency | United States
ASIN: 0330103199 |
Product Description
from back cover:Lady Mablethorpe was aghast. Her young son Adrian was marrying Miss Deborah Grantham--a gambling-club wench! Thus she sent her trusted nephew, the vastly wealthy, clever, and imperturbable Max Ravenscar, speeding to the faro tables to buy the hussy off.To Ragenscar's surprise, Deborah turned out to be remarkably handsome, witty, and--he could scarcely believe it--well-bred. Nevertheless, he expected she'd be grateful for the price he offered to give up the young lord.
Average customer rating:
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El Faro: Historia De un Recuerdo
Robert N. Munsch , and
Teresa Mlawer
Manufacturer: Lectorum Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Fiction | Multigenerational | Family Life | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Fiction | Death & Dying | Social Issues | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
No ficción | Infantil y juvenil | Libros en español | Formats | Books
4 a 8 años | Infantil y juvenil | Libros en español | Formats | Books | General | Libros con Dibujos
General | Literatura | Infantil y juvenil | Libros en español | Formats | Books
Multigeneracional | Vida Familiar | Gente y Lugares | Infantil y juvenil | Libros en español | Formats | Books
La Muerte y El Agonizar | Temas Sociales | Gente y Lugares | Infantil y juvenil | Libros en español | Formats | Books
ASIN: 8424180739 |
Average customer rating:
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Faro's Daughter
Manufacturer: New York: A Bantam Book
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000I3ERH6 |
Book Description
It's chocks away and tally-ho once again as Dan Dare, Pilot of the Future, returns! First published in the classic British comic Eagle, these are the original adventures of one of the best known and loved of British comics characters, presented in a new series of gorgeous library editions.
In the thrilling second instalment of this epic tale, the battle for Saturn is raging as Dan and his crew attempt to escape the clutches of the nefarious Dr Blasco and his Saturnian cohorts, while the friendly pirates of Phoebe mount a full-scale assault!
This edition also includes two extremely rare Dan Dare annual stories, plus features on Dan Dare merchandise and more besides!
Customer Reviews:
A Vintage Classic With Only A Few Marks Of Age.......2007-07-12
I was introduced to Dan Dare through my father's collection of Eagle Annuals from the late 50s and early 60s, and this collection represents a great series from the original comic.
The art and colour is way ahead of its time - some friends at DC Comics still express admiration for the painstaking production process and sustained quality of these strips from the early 50s.
Unfortunately some of the episodes (the original strip consisted of two full-colour pages a week) seem to have been reproduced by scanning archived editions of Eagle. I say this because some episodes have the slight geometrical mismatch of colour printing and line printing that flags the classic comicbook misprint.
If you're new to Dan Dare I would pace your reading - the two-page episodes frequently have cliffhangers at the end, and the repeated climaxes makes for the loss of some of their effect.
Overall, it's a pleasure to own this slice of comics history, and in the great hardback format, it's well worth the price.
Childhood never ends.......2007-06-02
1950's and in a galaxy far, far away,Australia actually ,I eagerly await the next edition of Eagle from the UK. Will Dan escape the clutches of the evil Mekon? Of course he will, every time as he has Digby at his side. Now over 50 years later I can relive the artistry and thrill of Hampson and others at one go thanks to this marvelous publication. Age has not dampened the thrill or the fun. But a secret, I don't devour it all at once, like a good wine I sip it slowly.
For all oldies and for kids this is 5 out of 5. The detail is superb and the stories very readable even now, albeit a tad quaint at times.
And doesn't the Mekon remind you of Davros of Dr Who?
Book Description
The Little Style Guide to Great Christian Writing and Publishing provides a fresh understanding and distinctively Christian examination of style and language. It covers all the basic rules of grammar, style, and editing and will be of immediate interest to Christian writers and editors. The Little Style Guide will be cross-referenced with the Chicago Manual of Style, Fifteenth Edition and will be a welcome companion to the CMS in handling concerns that are unique to Christian writing and editing.
The burgeoning field of electronic publishing has greatly increased the number of Christian writers. In the U.S. alone, there are over 500 Christian writers conferences and guilds each year. The Little Style Guide will serve the needs of the largest publishing houses and their authors and editors along with the smallest churches who weekly publish a newsletter and communicate through a Web site.
Customer Reviews:
Keep this Solid Reference Book Nearby.......2006-05-09
If you want to be prepared for the unexpected while working on your Christian writing, then pick up this well-done reference book and keep it close at hand. It's true what they say about any type of printed work--the devil is in the details. This book provides you with the details for excellence.
Len and Carolyn Goss have spent years inside different publishing companies and write with authority about the details of publishing. Whether you are wondering how a book is produced or questioning some tricky spellings of words, this reference book is easy to use.
Recommended for every Christian writer and editor--whether you are working on your church newsletter or writing your next best-selling book or editing a regional church magazine. I believe the work in this book will stand the test of time--provided the public reads it and uses it.
Concise and thorough.......2006-03-19
As a psych undergrad I was taught the APA style of writing and citation. Law school exposed me to the Harvard BlueBook, a high standard for formats and citations that only added to the nervousness of the school experience. Recently a Christian publisher accepted a manuscript I submitted. The publisher's criteria for submission stated that the manuscript must conform to Goss' style guide. Although Goss' guide is not as extensive as either the APA format or the Harvard BlueBook, I find it a very useful tool. I highly recommend it for anyone wanting to submit articles or manuscripts to pulishers of Christian materials.
Little Style Guide to Great Christian Writing Hits the Mark.......2005-07-19
This little guide for Christian writers is quickly becoming my new best friend. Packed full of useful information, I keep it handy whenever I'm writing. As a quick resource for proper punctuation, it's the tops. And, what I find most beneficial is the section "Writing for Religious Publishers" -- great detailed information to help me succeed.
Brenda Berry-Rucker
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"Unsinkable": The Full Story of the RMS Titanic
The Titanic Disaster Hearings
Sinking of the Titanic: Eyewitness Accounts
The Story of the Titanic As Told by Its Survivors
882 1/2 Amazing Answers To Your Questions About The Titanic
