The Other Log of Phileas Fogg (Wold Newton) (Wold Newton Novels)
In a delicious slice of sci-fi whimsy that sits cleverly alongside Verne’s original tale, Phileas Fogg’s epic global journey is not the product of a daft wager but, in fact, a covert mission to chase down the elusive Captain Nemo – who is none other than Professor Moriarty. A secret alien war has raged on Earth for years and is about to culminate in this epic race. A novel in the Wold Newton universe, in which characters such as Sherlock Holmes, Flash Gordon, Doc Savage, James Bond and Jack the Ripper are all mysteriously connected.
Great book, awesome extras!,
Over the last three decades I must have read this novel three or four times and each time I have reverted to my Tor version from 1982.Being a big fan of the source novel I was delighted and fascinated with how my favourite author wound his own version of events in with the Verne classic. Rereading the book only added to the enjoyment as new depths of understanding and revelation became apparent to me. Philip José Farmer did a wonderful job with this novel and his love and appreciation of Around the World in 80 Days shines through the whole book.
I love collecting books, especially Farmer books, so of course this Titan reprint would be on my wish list. But what really sold it for me were the enticing new `extras’ promised and, boy, do they live up to the promise! Win Scott Eckert’s afterword `Only a Coincidence’ has the sub title “Phileas Fogg, Philip José Farmer, and the Wold Newton Family.” What follows is a gripping, fascinating, and erudite essay into the whole Wold Newton legend. These 23 pages are packed with facts, revelations, and interpretations that are as gripping as any piece of prose. Anyone wanting a full and detailed exposure to the Wold Newton Family need not look any further. I particularly love the Fogg-Farmer family tree and if your eyes don’t widen suddenly as you take it in then you have better reserve than me!
Then follows a 10 page chronology, again by Eckert. Another fascinating read that distils, with absolute clarity, the major events linked with The Other Log of Phileas Fogg.
So, if you already own this book and have no intention of rereading it (though you’ll miss revisiting an old friend!) you really should consider buying this edition for the extras. They’re worth every penny of the cover price. And if you’re new to all things Wold Newton you couldn’t wish for a better introduction. Thank you, Titan, for this wonderful reprint, and thank you Mr Eckert for the effort and thought you put into such wonderful extra material for this book.
Excellent book for a literary gamesman..Verne would approve.,