THE AUTHOR.

December, 1904.




INTRODUCTION.


It may seem like great exaggeration to say that this is one of the most
interesting and profitable books that has been placed upon the American
book market for many years. _It follows no old rut; it has found a new
path_, and the reader is permitted to walk in regions which he never saw
and of which he never read before. It is indeed a triumph of literary
genius to give a picture of intelligent life in other worlds upon a
scientific and philosophical basis. Other writers have attempted to give
a description of conditions on the Moon, Mars, or some other single
planet, but no one has succeeded in picturing the mysteries of life in a
number of star worlds with such a fascination as is here found.

Some one may say that the book is only a work of imagination, but we
challenge any one to produce a book that gives more timely thrusts at
the evils of our present day life. By showing how the people of other
worlds have fallen into their sad conditions the author sounds a note of
warning to the people of this world, and by giving a glimpse of the
manner in which other worlds have reached their great triumphs, he gives
to the people of our world a spur to loftier ideals, to greater
inventions, and to a purer life.