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A review by toastx2
Futility or the Wreck of the Titan by Morgan Robertson
4.0
The Wreck of the Titan (Futility): Stays afloat even after 120 years
I read the 1912 ‘Autograph Edition’ of Morgan Robertson’s short stories/novellas collection. It was quite good considering its age. I enjoyed the entire 4 story collection (some more than others), but will focus on the longest and namesake novella here (from 1898)-
In The Wreck of the Titan: Lieutenant John Rowland is on a several year bender after being rejected by a maiden, wanting nothing of him. After learning he is an Athiest, she feared his ‘evil blood’ and sent him packing. Rowland crews several boats and drinks his pay from port to port.
Rowland drunkenly stands aboard the ‘unsinkable’ Titan, watching for any object ahead which could decrease structural integrity of the ship if plowed through at full velocity.
After the Titan carves through a small craft murdering all aboard, Rowland begins to mentally sober up. When provoked and bribed, he stands his ground, sees fit to put the Titan’s Captain in a paupers prison. The Captain has a different plan, drugging Rowland on the job to discredit him and ruin him.
I was brought to this public domain book by an internet meme. I was presented with a picture of a boat and a ‘creepy fact’ that this fiction book ‘predicted’ the sinking of the Titanic, 14 years before its fatal accident. Speculation of coincidences lead to a bunch of nonsense. The only real coincidence is the name ‘Titan’.
People should read this for what it is. A time capsule from a time when distance and time kept drunken sailors searching for an improved mousetrap and financial glory. Unsinkable boats and the risk/reward they brought were likely a hot topic for seafaring entrepanuers as a form of near-future scifi. Robertson, being son of a captain and a 33 year merchant marine had as much time as any to dream up an infallible monolith, only one of many which were dreamed up and forgotten in a drunken fog.
The unsinkable ship was a pipe dream. The iceberg was a boogeyman in a pre-radar world. Lieutenant John Rowland is a mess of anti-god man logic who deserves his own movie.
I read the 1912 ‘Autograph Edition’ of Morgan Robertson’s short stories/novellas collection. It was quite good considering its age. I enjoyed the entire 4 story collection (some more than others), but will focus on the longest and namesake novella here (from 1898)-
In The Wreck of the Titan: Lieutenant John Rowland is on a several year bender after being rejected by a maiden, wanting nothing of him. After learning he is an Athiest, she feared his ‘evil blood’ and sent him packing. Rowland crews several boats and drinks his pay from port to port.
Rowland drunkenly stands aboard the ‘unsinkable’ Titan, watching for any object ahead which could decrease structural integrity of the ship if plowed through at full velocity.
After the Titan carves through a small craft murdering all aboard, Rowland begins to mentally sober up. When provoked and bribed, he stands his ground, sees fit to put the Titan’s Captain in a paupers prison. The Captain has a different plan, drugging Rowland on the job to discredit him and ruin him.
I was brought to this public domain book by an internet meme. I was presented with a picture of a boat and a ‘creepy fact’ that this fiction book ‘predicted’ the sinking of the Titanic, 14 years before its fatal accident. Speculation of coincidences lead to a bunch of nonsense. The only real coincidence is the name ‘Titan’.
People should read this for what it is. A time capsule from a time when distance and time kept drunken sailors searching for an improved mousetrap and financial glory. Unsinkable boats and the risk/reward they brought were likely a hot topic for seafaring entrepanuers as a form of near-future scifi. Robertson, being son of a captain and a 33 year merchant marine had as much time as any to dream up an infallible monolith, only one of many which were dreamed up and forgotten in a drunken fog.
The unsinkable ship was a pipe dream. The iceberg was a boogeyman in a pre-radar world. Lieutenant John Rowland is a mess of anti-god man logic who deserves his own movie.