A Choice of Catastrophes

The unbelievably prolific Isaac Asimov has once again succeeded in transforming complex scientific theories and principles into fascinating, informative entertainment. In A Choice of Catastrophes Asimov turns his encyclopedic mind and his distinctive pen to all the potential disasters that threaten the existence of our civilisation. Mr. Asimov defines five classes of Catastrophes: (1) The entire universe might so change its properties as to become uninhabitable; (2) Something might happen to the sun that would spell our doom; (3) The Earth itself might undergo the kind of convulsion that would make life impossible on it; (4) Something (perhaps man-made) might destroy human life upon the Earth; and (5) Civilization as we know it might be destroyed, interrupting the advance of technology and condemning humanity to a primitive life. As only he can, Mr. Asimov makes remarkably clear such complicated concepts as black holes, quasars and supernovas; explains the properties of the sun; discusses the bombardment of the Earth by meteorites and other extra-terrestrial objects; deals with the more familiar threats from volcanoes, earthquakes, continental drift and climatic change; and focuses on the awesome impact of a nuclear war. The author ends on the reassuring — yet stern — note that those calamities that are most imminent are those we can control. In fact, says Mr. Asimov, 'it may well be that there is not a catastrophe of the imminent sort that is not avoidable. And certainly the chances of avoiding one increase if we stare the catastrophe boldly in the face and estimate its dangers'. A Choice of Catastrophes is a prime example of the kind of original, thorough and exciting work we have come to expect from Isaac Asimov, the champion of popular-science writers.