LOOK TO THE STARS FOR A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME EXPERIENCE

“[ASIMOV IS] THE GREAT EXPLAINER OF THE AGE.”

—Carl Sagan

Is it a spectacular snowball form space or an omen of disaster? Isaac Asimov tells all about this rare visitor from the stars called Halley’s Comet. Speeding toward earth for the first time since 1910, it brings with it a fascinating history of strange facts and intriguing mystery.

You’ll find out:

• Why a comet’s tail always points away from the sun
• What causes comets to appear, disappear, or even die
• Who first spotted Halley’s Comet
• Which century went comet-crazy and why

From superstition to scientific fact, the story of Halley’s Comet is great reading and great fun.

“ASIMOV HAS A GENIUS FOR BRINGING THE OBSCURE INTO THE LIGHT.”

—The New York Times Book Review

“ASIMOV’S GENIUS BEGINS WITH HIS ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND AND RETAIN ALMOST EVERYTHING HE HAS EVER READ, TO RECALL THE MOST DEMANDING MATERIAL READILY AND IN EXACT DETAIL…AND THEN TO PUT IT INTO STRAIGHTFORWARD CRYSTALLINE PROSE.”

—The Boston Globe

This book should have been a disaster. The year, after all, was 1985. Comet Halley was due to arrive, and everybody was cashing in on books on how to see the comet. It was disappointing that Asimov should appear to be one of them.

He, however, wrote his book differently. His is a book about comets in general, and of all his books on the subject and books which treat of the subject, this is by far the best. It is thoroughly illustrated, and it covers, in particular, the spectacular series of comets visible in the 1800’s. (All of which makes one rather disappointed at having lived in the 20th century, when there were so few spectacular comets to be seen.)

Of course, Asimov deals with the history of comet science, as well, and why this particular comet is named for Halley. He is also brutally honest about how disappointing the 1986 appearance would be (and he was right). All in all, the result is a surprisingly excellent book about comets and Comet Halley from someone from whom it should not be surprising to get an excellent book.