Comet [Hardcover]

Carl Sagan (Author), Ann Druyan (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0394549082 | ISBN-13: 978-0394549088 | Publication Date: November 12, 1985 | Edition: 1st

WHAT ARE THESE GRACEFUL VISITORS TO OUR SKIES? WE NOW KNOW THAT THEY BRING BOTH LIFE AND DEATH AND TEACH US ABOUT OUR ORIGINS.



Comet begins with a breathtaking journey through space astride a comet. Pulitzer Prize-winning astronomer Carl Sagan, author of Cosmos and Contact, and writer Ann Druyan explore the origin, nature, and future of comets, and the exotic myths and portents attached to them. The authors show how comets have spurred some of the great discoveries in the history of science and raise intriguing questions about these brilliant visitors from the interstellar dark.



Were the fates of the dinosaurs and the origins of humans tied to the wanderings of a comet? Are comets the building blocks from which worlds are formed?



Lavishly illustrated with photographs and specially commissioned full-color paintings, Comet is an enthralling adventure, indispensable for anyone who has ever gazed up at the heavens and wondered why.



"SIMPLY THE BEST."

*The Times of London



"FASCINATING, EVOCATIVE, INSPIRING."

*The Washington Post



"COMET HUMANIZES SCIENCE. A BEAUTIFUL, INTERESTING BOOK."

*United Press International



"MASTERFUL . . . SCIENCE, POETRY, AND IMAGINATION."

*The Atlanta Journal & Constitution

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

WHAT ARE THESE GRACEFUL VISITORS TO OUR SKIES? WE NOW KNOW THAT THEY BRING BOTH LIFE AND DEATH AND TEACH US ABOUT OUR ORIGINS.



Comet begins with a breathtaking journey through space astride a comet. Pulitzer Prize-winning astronomer Carl Sagan, author of Cosmos and Contact, and writer Ann Druyan explore the origin, nature, and future of comets, and the exotic myths and portents attached to them. The authors show how comets have spurred some of the great discoveries in the history of science and raise intriguing questions about these brilliant visitors from the interstellar dark.



Were the fates of the dinosaurs and the origins of humans tied to the wanderings of a comet? Are comets the building blocks from which worlds are formed?



Lavishly illustrated with photographs and specially commissioned full-color paintings, Comet is an enthralling adventure, indispensable for anyone who has ever gazed up at the heavens and wondered why.



"SIMPLY THE BEST."

*The Times of London



"FASCINATING, EVOCATIVE, INSPIRING."

*The Washington Post



"COMET HUMANIZES SCIENCE. A BEAUTIFUL, INTERESTING BOOK."

*United Press International



"MASTERFUL . . . SCIENCE, POETRY, AND IMAGINATION."

*The Atlanta Journal & Constitution --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 398 pages
• Publisher: Random House; 1st edition (November 12, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0394549082
• ISBN-13: 978-0394549088
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,021,801 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ameteur and Armchair Astronomers will love this book, July 9, 2004

By 

Randy "Techno File" (Sacramento, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Comet, Revised (Paperback)

I would classify myself as the Armchair type - I don't own a telescope, and shamefully I do not know my constellations, but I have enjoyed many popular books on the subject. Having just finished reading this book I am sorely tempted to get a telescope or at least go out and find a local star party (where ameteur astronomers set up their equipment and gladly share viewing opportunities with strangers). This book was truely one of my favorite reads on the subject in recent years. To be sure, the primary focus of the book is about comets and I thought that there could not be enough here to justify an entire book - wrong!!! Sagan takes the reader on a very interesting and inspiring tour of the solar system while also teaching some interesting astronomy history. The chapter on Haley alone teaches about the early history of astronomy and tells a fascinating story of a brilliant scientist about whom most of us have heard little beyond the discovery of the comet which carries his name. Also discussed in this book is the likely connection between comets and the end of the Dinosaurs 65,000,000 years ago (before which the largest mammals were mouse size, according to the book) and the current interest astronmers have in comets and asteroids as a potential threat in our current age. Another great feature of this book is that the many chapters may be easily read in any desired order; Sagan kindly refers us to other chapters with supporting material - so when he talks about the "sand bank" theory of comets - he tells you which chapter covered that idea. I couldn't put the book down (for long).

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars How everything that has ever existed relates to comets, January 2, 2005

By 

Grant - See all my reviews

This review is from: Comet, Revised (Paperback)

For an author to write an entire novel dedicated to comets and be able to keep the reader from slipping into a coma must be a very difficult task. However, Carl Sagan managed to hold my eyes to the 350+ pages without too much of a struggle. He provided vivid descriptions of the cool blue islands peacefully drifting through the endless reaches of space and how they suddenly awaken as they near a star. Sagan also presented interesting information about the lives of many prominent astronomers and how comets played important roles in almost every major civilization throughout history. Admittedly, there were times where it seemed as though my history book met up with my science book and gave birth to a hideous creation comprised of the worst of each. This book provided knowledge about a broad range of topics and how they all connected to comets. I would not recommend this book to anyone who is easily distracted or quickly discouraged. Some of chapters of this novel take a little effort to get through, but in the end it provides the reader with many interesting facts.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book, June 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Comet, Revised (Paperback)

Dr. Sagan, as usual, has written a book that truly captured my attention. The photos and drawings were superb and the writing as usual was direct and not written in techno babble.

Dr. Sagan takes the time to explain theories and takes us on a roving path through the solar system. I couldn't figure out how some of the topics related to comets, but to be honest with you, I did not really care. I love his writings and I am sorry that he is no longer with us.