In the Days of the Comet

In H. G. Wells' science fiction book In the Days of the Comet (1906), when a comet forces "the nitrogen of the air, the ancient azote," to "transform out of itself," mankind is "exalted." As a result, there is peace on earth and goodwill toward all people. Our atmosphere is one of happiness and beauty. The prologue and epilogue of "The Man Who Wrote in the Tower" are written by an unidentified narrator. In Book I, William ("Willie") Leadford, who was "third in the office staff of Rawdon's pot-bank [a facility where pottery is created] in Clayton," leaves his employment at the same moment that industrial Britain is devastated by a slump brought on by American dumping. Leadford, who was converted to socialism by his friend "Parload," attributes his miserable living situation on racial injustice. The exact date of the incident is unknown. Leadford awakens at the beginning of Book II, when he is intensely aware of the beauty in the world and has a kind and giving attitude toward other people. Verrall, Leadford, and Nettie have a passionate conversation about their futures at the start of Book III. By her "uncomfortable awareness of significant moral inequalities," the author is worried.