Customer Reviews

After Worlds Collide

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I came across the first of these two books about ten years ago, after seeing the film, and I enjoyed it very much. I didn't realize there was a sequel, however, until recently, and I was lucky enough to find a copy. It was worth the effort. The character development is good, the question of what happened to the new planet's previous inhabitants underlies everything, and the element of conflict is pretty good too, especially for the times. The authors raise several interesting questions. What would you do about the repopulation problem and the unequal man/woman ratio? How would you rebuild a civil government? And so on. "After Worlds Collide" is definitely a worthwhile and entertaining read.

This is a must read if you have read When Worlds Collide. Not much in the way of science fiction. More along the lines of the fear of Communism that gripped the US post-WW II. In the book other countries had the same idea as the US about the impending disaster and were also able to launch rockets to the new world before the Earth is destroyed. The people from those rockets are not too "benevolent" and try to harness what they find left over from the earlier civilizations of the new planet to become masters of the planet.

We find that even though the prior races have long since perished, most of the machinery left behind still works. If you bear in mind the period that the book was written you should find it a very entertaining read.

I would have given this one 4 1/2 stars, but I didn't have that option. This book and its predecessor are two of the greatest sci-fi books I have ever read and read and read. I have re-read them at least 5 times since I first read them as a teenager. In fact I still have the books I bought as a teenager!

This story is a slight let-off from the first book, but extremely enjoyable. Even when re-reading it I still find myself hoping to find a resident alien around the corner.

It's a monumental epic struggle to save the human race and the trials and tribulations of the last remaining humans after the world is destroyed. It's a little predictable, but you have to put the book in to perspective to the time it was written. Yes it's a little political, but that was what was going on at the time.

I would recommend this book and the first book, When World Collide, to anyone, you won't be disappointed.

I read "When Worlds Collide" and "After Worlds Collide" as a teen in the sixties. In a time of war and the Cuban missle crisis, these books gave me hope, and the fantasies tantalized the far reaches of my imagination. I dreamed of being on a far-off world and finding a domed city to explore. A fairy tale, perhaps....hey, it COULD happen! I couldn't find these in the local library, so I'm buying them to read with my sons, now in their early teens! Sweet dreams!

I have read this story many times and often wished that it was made into a movie (as the prequel was). Watching the 1951 movie 'When World's Collide' on TV caused me to buy this sequel book around 1974.

In today's world (international politics/cultures), both books are badly outdated. But the main concepts are very interesting and well laid out. Some of the science is impressive and the scale & detail of the planet/cities makes the book a great read several times (I get sucked in by the descriptions of the unique environment and events). The "good & bad" nature of man doesn't change, and the authors cover that aspect well too.

Around the end of the story an important moral point is made, about the value of people. We might have the tendency to select intellectual people as 'better' for critical tasks, but sometimes intangible traits/abilities (even honor or street smarts) in a person can be just as worthy.

I couldn't stop thinking about the scope of 'After Worlds Collide' when I was 14 (like so many others have noted here). This story spurred me on to read more Sci-Fi like Heinlein's "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress". I plan to enjoy reading this book with my daughter when she is 14.

Definately five stars all the way!

I picked up this book and it's prequel "When Worlds Collide" because of the 1950's motion picture of the same title. The story far surpassed the movie with both it's well-drawn characters and stunning descriptions of our world coming to a slow but violent end. "After Worlds Collide" proved to be the better of the two and a pleasant surprise. Not only did I get to revisit the characters from the previous book, but, I got to see them grow further. The big surprise was that this new planet featured the remains mysterious ancient civilization, something I never dreamed existed there when I saw the original movie as a kid. The exploration of the cities and the piecing together of the alien's society and history reminded me of Arthur C. Clarke's brilliant "Rama" series. I wonder, did Clarke read this book in his younger days and strive to capture the same spirit of awe and mystery the Bronson Beta city presented? Although a reflection of our society nearly 70 years ago, and the science may be a little out of date, the thrill of desperate survival when pitted against both nature itself and the nature of man remain universal. I highly recommend both books.

Yes, I saw the movie and that inspired me to buy this beat up paperback called "After World's Collide". That was when I was 15 years old and 20 years later this book still haunts me. You had the "Cole Henderon" survivors that made it to Bronson Beta and how they were managing to survive, when the plot thickens with the battle of the different surviving camps for power. And then there is the mystery of uncovering the life of Bronson Beta's former inhabitants - What happened to them - where are they? And of course the Love story continues. - - - This book is tightly written and I really recommend it - if you can get a hold of a copy

Well, I had heard people talking that After Worlds Collide was a rare as hens teeth. I told them it couldn't be. I went to Amazon and immediately bought a near "as new" paperback of the book for the right price. Don't always believe what you hear. Check AMAZON! I reading mine right now. The others are probably still looking.

This book is available on another web page on amazon:

See When Worlds Collide (Bison Frontiers of Imagination) for 43 reviews and "Look inside this book"

could have been better written when I firstread the book as a 13 year old in 1972 I thought it was mysterious and fantastic. Reading it again recently as an adult I realize that the basic story line is still fantastic but the writer could have gone into a little more detail in certain area's, perticularly the ending with the overthrow of the "midinites" by there English serf's.