The Tower of Destiny

( French - Histoire de ce qui n'est pas arrivé - this is a new collection, so no previous publication as such )

anthology by Joseph Mery

translated & adapted by Brian Stableford

Published: Black Coat Press - trade paperback - 2012
ISBN: 1612271014 / 9781612271019

Black Coat Press ( Barnes & Noble ) - Nook - 2012 ( French Science Fiction no.78 )
BN ID: 2940015631456

Black Coat Press ( Amazon ) - Kindle - 2012
ASIN: B009G22NSU


contents
Introduction and Notes by Brian Stableford
The Truth About Creation ( aka La Verité sur la Creation 1836 )
What We Shall See ( aka Ce qu'on verra )
The Ruins of Paris ( Les Ruines de Paris )
The Lunarians ( Les Lunariens 1836 )
The Explorations of Victor Hummer ( Les Explorations de Victor Hummer 1836 ))
The Tower of Destiny ( aka Histoire de ce qui n'est pas arrivé 1854 )
An Aerial Voyage ( aka Un Voyage aérien 1844 )
Bertram's Brother ( aka Le Frère de Bertram )

synopsis
The title piece is a significant exercise in alternate history, in which Méry imagined that Napoleon's life took a different turn in Egypt in 1799. The Truth About Creation argues in a mock-serious manner that there is nothing supernatural about God's creation of the world.The Lunarians, inspired by the New York Sun's famous "moon hoax" of 1835, offers a colorful picture of a Selenite civilization. The Explorations of Victor Hummer describes the rediscovery of a mythical city in Egypt. What We Shall See outlines the Utopian prospects of future human progress and includes some striking imagery of a future Paris, also featured in the classic The Ruins of Paris.

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