Worlds in Collision [Paperback]

First published in 1950, Immanuel Velikovsky wrote the most controversial, eye-opening, and well-written work entitled "Worlds in Collision," which brought forth a notion of a large comet having passed near Earth, causing a number of catastrophes that were depicted in the Earth mythologies, and this large comet is now known to be Venus. Then, the author discussed further about the planet Mars, which also made a near pass to Earth in the later period, causing more catastrophes. These events were occurred before the planetary system was orderly established as we now know it.

Besides the prologue and epilogue, this book consisted of two parts ("Venus" and "Mars"). The first part focuses on mythologies and legends surrounding the comet Venus and it near passes to Earth, causing such disasters and catastrophes as experienced by the ancient human beings. He used numerous accounts from any sacred writings, such as Egyptian, Hebrews, and many others. He also pointed out the "planet" Venus was documented to be absent from the early planetary system, which is interesting in itself. The second part of this book discussed the possible collision between Venus and Mars as depicted in mythologies to which the orbit of Mars was changed, and quite possibly made a near passes to Earth, causing further catastrophes and shifted Earth's orbit from 360 days a year to 365 days a year, after Venus made her first appearance in the solar system.

As the basic of this book, the author stated that the cataclysms of Earth in the historical times were caused by the close passes between Earth and Venus and between Earth and Mars. While his theory is considered controversial and outrageous, it is well worth a read since he based his researches on mythologies as well on geological records.

As for his research into the mythologies, he implied that the legends and stories do have some degree of accuracy and these legends tend to be overlooked by the modern scientists. He stated that:
"The answer to the problem of the similarity in the motifs in the folklore of various peoples is, in my view, as follows: A great many ideas reflect real historic content. There is a legend, found all over the world, that a deluge swept over the earth and covered hills and even mountains. We have a poor opinion of the mental abilities of our ancestors if we think that merely an extraordinary overflow of the Euphrates so impressed the nomads of the desert that they thought the entire world was flooded, and that the legend so born wandered from people to people. At the same time, geological problems of the origin and distribution of till, or diluvial deposit, are awaiting explanation.
(...)
Traditions about upheavals and catastrophes, found among all people, are generally discredited because of the shortsighted belief that no forces could have shaped the world in the past that are not at work also at the present time, a belief that is the very foundation of modern geology and of the theory of evolution...Scientific principles do warrant maintaining that a force which does not act now, could not have acted previously."
(p. 304 - 5)

The last line from above quote shows that there is an increase of ignorance in the scientific community because this book receives a little attention and a great deal of mockery, and this also applies to the current situation about comets. Scientists nowadays are focusing so much on the asteroids due to their apparent seen appearances and these comes at the time that are less frequent, and they are ignoring the seriousness of the comets due to their unstable orbit and unseen appearances.

In this book, Velikovsky did a good work on showing how the cosmic impacts or collisions can have such disastrous consequences for Earth and they were experienced by the prehistoric people as portrayed in many legends, myths, and stories across the globe. This was further discussed and verified with more scientific evidence in other works, such as Victor Clube's "Cosmic Winter," which I would strongly recommend.

Velikovsky's "World in Collision" revealed to be quite interesting and an eye opening read. It showed a great attention to the historical events as well a view of the bigger picture to which Earth takes part of. There is a lot of detail in this book gives one a food for thought. I found it to be one of the most important works in existence. While it contains some truth and a few theological/scientific errors, this book is surly a must read.

It is not just the historic events that may or may not interest the readers, but this book, along with other works on the similar subject, would give one a working knowledge about the cosmic events because something wicked this way may come...

"And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved,
and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll:
and all their host shall fall down...
For my sword shall be bathed in heaven...
And the streams...shall be turned into pitch,
and the dust into brimstone,
and the land shall become burning pitch.
It shall not be quenched night nor day;
the smoke shall go up for ever."
(as quoted in "World In Collision," p. 220)

Whether you agree with the ideas put forward in this fascinating book or not, any open minded person will acknowledge it as a wonderful read. The great thing about it is that it makes you think; it moves outside accepted theories and, to a large extent, histories and provokes that most useful of human activities - although one frequently ignored today both in society and, sad to say, in many universities - thought! It is only by open minded thought that we progress. Do read this book!

I sometimes wonder why it is so hard to get books, such as this one and why it is not being reprinted again. This is certainly not a crackpot theory, but a theory that has since found much validation.

Velikovsky back in 1950, when this book was published, proposes that the earth is subject to cometary impact from within the solar system and that these impacts has happened within recorded history. He does an excellent job at showing how impacts that devastated the earth and caused much upheaval has been recorded in many cultures across the planet, from Egypt, South America, Iceland, Mexico, America and many more. It is well documented and one has to admire the work gone into producing this book and getting all the source material to back up the theory, considering that it was written in a time when there was neither internet nor computers. There is much in this book that should be considered seriously, but which has received very little attention from the academic community.

However some have dared to go there and some of what Velikovsky wrote has since been verified. An Astrophysicist Victor Clube wrote in the 1990'ies that the earth goes through cyclical cometary showers and that some major event happens 1 in 4 lifetimes. Likewise other people have built on Velikovsky's work and come out with an interesting cosmological account of the universe, namely the Electric Universe. Still it is on the outskirts of mainstream cosmology and one wonders why as it can potentially add much new understanding.

Another recommended book that deals with the cyclical nature of things and much more is called "The Secret history of the World" by L.Knight-Jadczyk