In the Days of the Comet by H.G.Wells

[tendrini]

This story has been on my mind for a long time and I’m recommending it here as today was H.G. Wells birthday.

It begins as a memoir by an old man describing a terrible episode during his youth when he has lost his girfriend to a rival and planned to murder the two in revenge. He was completely absorbed in his anger and bitterness. In the meantime, a comet, composed entirely of greenish mist, was approaching the earth on a collision course.

As the comet gets closer and closer, the narrator describes stealing money, buying a gun and pursuing the lovers. As he surprises them on a beach at night, the comet suddenly collides with earth and everyone falls unconscious.

When he awakes, it is morning and he doesn’t know where he is. Everything is so beautiful that he is sure he has died. His old life looks quite ridiculous and pathetic to him now. He no longer has any anger but only compassion for both himself and for everyone else.

The green comet has caused what he calls "The Change". Basically everyone becomes “as one” – all selfishness is gone and there is only cooperation and caring. All the problems that had seemed so impossible could now be solved easily because now people everywhere just naturally cooperate.

I have pondered this event ever since I read the book – what exactly was it that happened? Is this a description an STO world? The book has been accused of being socialist propaganda, but the narrator makes it clear that socialist ideology was just a useless as all other ideologies. The Change is not the result of a political program. It is the result of changing human beings.

Also, if light was used to transform mankind long ago, is this a description of what could happen if the process was reversed? (The agent of the change was a luminous green mist). And, is there a similarity to the Wave?

Anyway, I’d recommend this one, as a good story and lots to think about.

 

[Rodmen]

Hi Tendrini,

This sure picked my interest. The story-line is very compelling and original and H.G. Wells is without any doubt one of the most imaginative authors of the XIX century. I looked for a site to download it and sure enough found one at [moderator removed malware book downloading site link and wonders why it was even posted to begin with] but, watch out, don't click on this link since my computer flashed a warning of possible malware here. I guess I'll have to go about it as in the days of my forefathers: getting a printed copy and pay for it!

But even without having read it I could have a go at answering the most interesting question you posed: could the author be describing a shift into an STO reality? My first impression would be that no, because that would imply that the main character was an STO candidate, and how could he be such if he was harboring murderous intentions? But then, how can we be sure that this is a valid line of reasoning? Doing so would imply the notion that only STO candidates gain access to STO realities, and the rebuttal to this would be that perhaps what determines if one reality is STO or STS is the final balance of forces, meaning that there's always going to be elements of both polarities in every reality.

So your question is superlatively seminal and could open avenues to many other discussions, like, what is an STO reality? Could it be one where the STO mode of thinking prevails but where STS forces could still have a foothold, only as lurkers or "schemers", not as "movers and shakers", due to the increased awareness of the STO majority? Or, how does one experience an STO, STS or any reality for that matter, with heightened awareness? As a self-contained environment with boundaries and such, or as something more fluid? Is one stuck in an STO reality or will one be able to move at ease between different realities? Was the book's main character stuck in the post-cometary world or was he only temporarily there, and was he an observer or could he fully participate and influence the course of things? But, of course, that doesn't actually say anything about his true nature because he could be an OP or a struggling souled individual (Laura also talks about STS actions by STO candidates). So, endless speculations could stem from a simple though highly incisive question like yours, when asked passionately. Thanks for the post.

Rod