Summary
In the year 1900, a luminous celestial object enters our solar system and disrupts the orbit of the planet Neptune. This change was first noticed by an astronomer named Ogilvy a month earlier but was paid no attention by the public. The star then engulfs itself with the planet, Neptune. The star then proceeds to continue on a path towards the sun and the media starts to alert the public of what is to come.
As the star passes through the solar system is affects Jupiter and it's moons. A character called the master mathematician states that the star will either hit Earth or pass by it very closely. He says that the close proximity of the star will lead to apocalyptic conditions on Earth. Lots of people believe he is wrong and thinks there will be no problems caused by the Earth. When the star starts to pass in front of the Earth the planet gets hotter and hotter. Volcanoes start to erupt spewing lava and ash, earthquakes are frequent and because the heat is melting the planet's ice, floods are taking over the lands. All of these catastrophes have begun to affect and worry people all over the world.
The star eventually passes the Earth and does collide with the sun, essentially getting absorbed into its mass. Which leads to more heat output and Earth remains hotter than what it was. Months and months go by and people have begun to move to ice melted Greenland that is now covered in grass. After surviving the apocalypse people continue to survive and rebuild.
Analysis
In the story, it mentions that some people see the fire in the skies and thinks of the war and pestilence that is yet to come. This is a reference to the biblical four horsemen of the apocalypse, two of which are War and Pestilence. This could be a subtle foreshadowing to the apocalypse that ends the story.
There is also a reference to the apocalypse that people were worried about in the year 1000, which turned out to be a passing comet. The comparison is that people worried a long time ago and nothing came of it and now people are worrying all over again.
The story takes place all over the world which gives it a real feel that the stakes are high and that the whole planet Earth is in danger. The ending is not as to be predicted but rather ends on a positive note.
There is a repeated phrase that appears early in the story, "it is nearer". While the phrase might sound harmless at first glance, the repetition signifies a more tragic meaning. The tragedy comes when it is realized that "nearer" means that the star is coming closer and closer to the Earth.
The character Ogilvy and master mathematician are both intelligent men that foresaw something that people ignored. This shows that the mass public doesn't always believe in what they hear and try to have a more optimistic look at the events to come.
Thoughts
While not a very long story, The Star is very dense in details. It can be easy to get lost in the description of the cataclysmic events. While the story is told linearly, I did found it hard to keep track of how much time had passed from the beginning of the story to the end. What I like about this story is that it reminds me of disaster movies, of which are a guilty pleasure of mine. It has a mixture of the movies Deep Impact and 2012, specifically in regards to people figuring out what is going on, trying to keep things a secret but ultimately preparing the public.
The interesting part about the story is the amount of astronomy that H.G. Wells describes given the fact that we have so much more information about space and stars and our solar system. Wells was always ahead of his time, and this story shows that. Overall it's a good short read for those that like these kinds of science fiction stories.
Glossary-These definitions are according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
Perturbed: To cause to be worried, upset or being thrown into confusion.
Impalpable: Intangible. Cannot be felt by touch; Or not easily recognized by the mind.
Agape: A state of wonder; wide open.
Spectroscope: An instrument used to measure the properties of light.
Pallid: Pale or lack of color; dull or uninteresting.
Zenith: Highest point reached in the sky by the sun, moon and celestial objects.
Phial: Vial.
Obdurate: Stubborn; Resistant to changing your opinion.
Tumult: A state of noisy confusion; Or a state of mental and emotional confusion.
Nowhither: To or toward no place.
Thither: To that place.
Minaret: A small, thin tower of a mosque with a balcony from which people are called to prayer.
Sorry for the long delay but thanks for reading! The next review will be on the Ray Bradbury short story "All Summer in a Day". You can read the story here "All Summer in a Day" as well as watch the short video on YouTube.
Again thanks for reading my blog, feel free to leave your comments below. Follow and comment on social media. Twitter @BelleArboreous and Instagram @fantastic_literature
If you like to read stories on WattPad, then you're in luck! Because I have recently posted some short stories on WattPad! Get ready for Halloween by reading my spooky/thriller inspired stories!
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