The Wreck of the Titan or Futility [Library Binding]

Morgan Robertson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1991

First published in 1898, a novel about the sinking of a supposedly unsinkable ocean liner. This fiction contains a series of parallels to the real-life sinking of the Titanic in 1912, but is ostensibly an account of how a disgraced naval officer is thwarted in his plans to expose his greedy employers, by fate and by foul means.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Even stranger is another story included in this ebook: Beyond the Spectrum

This story describes a futuristic war fought with aircraft that carried what he called "sun bombs". These bombs were so powerful that with one brilliant flash of blinding light, one single bomb could destroy an entire city (much like a nuclear bomb ).

N. B.: When this story was written, airplanes were still tiny, dangerous machines that could barely carry one man and was decades before the Germans started their "heavy water" experiments, trying to construct a nuclear device.

In addition, this future war begins in the month of December when the Japanese stage a sneak attack on Hawaii.

It appears that the author was visionary of sorts.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Library Binding: 243 pages
• Publisher: Buccaneer Books (December 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0899668216
• ISBN-13: 978-0899668215
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,329,525 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Futility almost seems to foretell the titanic disaster., August 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Futility: Or The Wreck of the Titan 100th Anniversary edition (Mass Market Paperback)

Futility is a story about a huge ocean liner called the "Titan" which was the largest and most luxurious ship in the world. The Titan hits an iceberg on its starboard side and sinks in the icy North Atlantic during the month of April. I wanted to read this story because it was believed by some that this story would foretell the sinking of the Titanic 14 years later. I found parts of the book to be interesting; but I had a hard time trying to follow all of the events without rereading some of the pages. At one point, I put the book down because it became a little boring at times. Overall, Futility is a good book to read, and no doubt was a good sea adventure in 1898! I cannot really say there is any similarities to the way the "Titan" sank compared to the Titanic disaster. I gave this book 4 stars, because Morgan Robertson spoke of important nautical terms (like the Titan's 19 watertight compartments, triple screw expansion,etc). These were on ocean liners of the late 1800's and early 1900's. Futility is not the best book I have ever read, but I think it was a pretty good one. It is hard not to try to compare the events unfolding in Futility and compare it to the events leading up to the sinking of Titanic; since the two events are similiar. It is a story that any Titanic enthusiast or historian must read!

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A good story, but a fascinating coincidence, June 18, 2001

By 

Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Wreck of the Titan or Futility (Library Binding)

John Rowland is a man in much reduced straights. Once an officer on a U.S. Naval warship, he fell in love with a woman who ultimately rejected him, and then descended into alcoholism at the cost of everything. Things might be looking up, when he finds himself a berth as a common sailor aboard the brand new passenger liner Titan, the largest, fastest, most technologically advanced ship afloat. However, when Rowland witnesses the Titan ramming and sinking a smaller ship during the night, he realizes he must stand for what is right. Things become much worse, when the Titan sinks after ramming an iceberg, and Rowland finds himself one of the few survivors, along with the captain. This is Rowland's time of to realize the futility of his former life, and to stand tall.

This book was written in 1898, and is of historical interest for the number of similarities between the ship in the story and the Titanic, which sank some fourteen years later. Both the Titan and the Titanic were on their maiden voyages, both had watertight compartments (which made collision a smaller worry), both carried as few lifeboats as the law allowed, both sailed in April heading for New York, both struck icebergs around midnight, and both sank with heavy loss of life.

The story in the book is good, not great, but good. If it hadn't been for the Titanic similarities, it probably wouldn't be remember today. Overall I found the story unconvincing, but nonetheless a good read. Also, I found the similarities between the Titan and Titanic somewhat superficial. If you are looking for a pre-telling of the Titanic story, then you will be quite disappointed.

Therefore, I would give this book a rather qualified recommendation.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Every "Titanic" buff should have a copy, but..., September 14, 1998

By 

Will Dunklin <[e-mail]> (Knoxville, Tennessee) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Wreck of The Titan: or, Futility; Paranormal Experiences Connected With The Sinking of The Titanic (Hardcover)

What "Titanic" buff hasn't heard of the infamous story of the "Titan?" Here, at a very reasonable price, is a chance to actually read the fiticious story which has been unavailable for so long. Unfortunately, once having read the story, most will find it a minor disappointment.

"Futility" is not the epic story of a shipwreck. Indeed, the actual wreck and sinking of the "Titan" takes place over the course of only five paragraphs.

Rather than a maritime disaster, the title "Futility" refers to the events surrounding the main character, John Rowland, before, on and after the "Titan." Morgan Robertson (the author) uses the ship and wreck only to establish a circumstance in which Rowland's true character can be contrasted with the hypocracy of Victorian society.

"Futility" is a novella, easily readable in about two hours. Robertson's writing is flowery by modern standards but always intelligible. After reading it, most are likely to understand why the book has been out of print for so long: it is not great literature. It is, however, part of the "Titanic" legend and therefor deserves to be on every "Titanic" buff's shelf.

My strongest complaint with the 100th Anniversary Edition is the complete absence of editing. Mis-spellings abound and words are obviously omitted. Spell-check doesn't catch syntax errors or word substitutions such as "to" for "two." We've all come to accept and expect this sloppiness in e-mail and on web-sites, but the printed word deserves closer scrutiny and better acuracy.

Do buy the book. Be aware of what it isn't.