In 1898, a struggling author wrote this novel about a fabulous Atlantic liner, far larger than any that had ever been built, that sinks after it collides with an iceberg. The details of the book bear a chilling resemblance to the Titanic disaster fourteen years later.
Moran Robertson’s tale, however, doesn’t end with the passengers’ watery demise; rather, it chronicles the survival of John Roland, a disgraced former Royal Navy lieutenant, who saves the young daughter of a former lover from the sinking ship, and the detective work instigated by members of Lloyd’s of London when word comes in that the heavily insured ship has sunk to the bottom of the ocean.
Robertson draws upon his own experience as a seaman on the Atlantic to weave a narrative interspersed with colloquial dialogue, bringing to life the conflicts between rich merchants and the men who sail the ships upon which they rely.
Also included here is Morgan Robertson the Man, Robertson’s autobiography and several essays about his life and work written by his friends, colleagues, and admirers.
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"Not what I expected, but a great story. Full review coming soon.."Futility, or The Wreck of the Titan" by Morgan Robertson was not at all what I expected it to be. I had seen references to the story many times in other books about the RMS Titanic. It is speculated that "Futility" acts as a sort of prophecy that predicted the sinking of the Titanic. It was written a few years prior, and the fictional ship the Titan and the real Titanic have many similarities. One being that both ships were branded 'unsinkable'. Both ships were also not carrying enough lifeboats to accommodate all passengers on-board. Both ships hit an iceberg as well, which caused their fatal sinking. I expected "Futility" to be all about the events of the sinking of the Titan. What the tale is mainly about is the personal endeavors of John Rowland, a crew member aboard the Titan. When disaster strikes and the ship hits the iceberg, it sinks within minutes and Rowland is one of the only lucky few to survive. He rescues a child in the process, and they stay on top of the iceberg until help arrives. During his stay on the iceberg, Rowland loses his arm. The rest of the story is about the legal issues of the sinking, and Rowland's connection to the child he rescued... who turns out to be the daughter of his past lover. An interesting read, but don't really think of it as prophecy... consider it as it's own tale."
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Sam (4 out of 5 stars)