When the World Screamed

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

—

Title

When the World Screamed

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

In this thrilling sequel to The Lost World, Professor Challenger proposes a controversial experiment to prove that the Earth is a living organism. When the protagonist agrees to drill into the planet's crust, the resulting reaction unleashes a global catastrophe, challenging humanity's understanding of its own world.

Summary up to 500 words

In Arthur Conan Doyle's *When the World Screamed*, a weary journalist named Peerless Jones is persuaded by his friend Edward Malone to meet the notorious Professor Challenger. Despite Challenger's reputation as a violent, arrogant genius, Jones agrees to an interview regarding a secret project. Challenger reveals his radical theory that the Earth is a living organism with a nervous system, capable of sensation and pain. He seeks an expert in Artesian borings to drill a shaft eight miles deep into the planet's crust to stimulate this 'sensory cortex.' Jones and Malone travel to the secluded, heavily guarded site of Hengist Down in Sussex. There, they witness immense machinery and descend into the dark shaft. Upon reaching the bottom, they remove a protective tarpaulin covering the planet's surface. The reaction is immediate and terrifying: the earth begins to boil, pulse, and emit a foul odor. Realizing the danger as the shaft walls begin to convulse, the two men barely escape in the lift cages just before the structure collapses. The experiment culminates in a catastrophic global event. The earth emits a deafening scream that echoes across the globe, causing volcanoes like Hecla, Vesuvius, and Etna to erupt violently. Massive lift cages are launched into the sky, and a geyser of foul, tar-like substance shoots thousands of feet into the air, coating the surrounding area and even an inquisitive aeroplane. The Royal Family and the press witness the spectacle from a reserved enclosure, though the event leaves the world changed forever. The narrative concludes with the earth rapidly sealing the wound, collapsing the shaft and burying the machinery under a pyramid of debris. The story explores themes of scientific hubris and the consequences of disturbing the natural order. While the experiment is a disaster, Challenger stands triumphant, hailed by the crowd as the first man to make the planet scream, proving his theory that the Earth is indeed a sentient entity capable of outrage.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Short Stories
• Classics
• Fiction
• Science-Fiction