The Day The Oceans Overflowed

by Charles L. Fontenay, Mark Freier (Cover Artist)

A WORLD DESTROYED

It was November, 1997, and the governments of the world had pooled their scientific resources to solve the population explosion. Their plan was to open up an entire new continent by slowly melting the polar regions with atomic heat.

The project had been in operation only a month when a sudden buildup occurred in the reaction. Before it could be checked the most massive hydrogen explosion the world had ever seen was set off.

Tidal waves 150 to 200 feet high swept over the Earth. Torrential rains and earthquakes claimed millions; property damage was incalculable; refugees swarmed over the country like locusts, looting and killing in their quest for survival.

It was a world where only the most ruthless men could hold out against the terrible flood that threatened extinction for the whole human race.

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1964

About the author

Charles Louis Fontenay was an American journalist and science fiction writer.

He wrote science fiction novels and short stories. His non-fiction includes the biography of prominent New Deal era politician Estes Kefauver.

Mr. Fontenay served as editor of the Nashville Tennessean, among other newspapers, worked with the Associated Press and Gannett News Service. He retired to St. Petersburg, Florida where he continued to write science fiction until shortly before his death.

Reviews

[Brent Bakken · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. I enjoy reading books that are 50+ years old as they give a good flavor for the times, the environment of a society and style of writing at that time. It is interested to read about times before digital navigation, cell phones, internet, modern weapons, and other newer technologies.

Aside from that, I typically try not to read a book's synopsis or summary if I know I am going to read the book. It helps keep the suspense in place to not know the direction of the story before I read each part. Because of that, this book took a very unexpected turn that I wasn't anticipated. It was an interested take on what does/could happen to society during a massive catastrophic event.

I liked the book, it was a very quick read. Recommend to those interested in old science fiction books.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent look at doomsday thoughts very early in the 20th century. Not as good as When Worlds Collide and After Worlds Collide, but still a good little read.

[Joseph Hurtgen]

Fontenay had a black belt in tae-kwon-do, explains Ashley's martial arts.

[Frank · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had this one on my TBR for years, and came across it.
A book that still holds up today in some ways, and a subject which is talked about regularly.

[Neil Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable but not exceptional doomsday story. In its favour, the tidal wave scenes are probably more realistic than most but, because of that, they are not as spectacular and exciting as they could have been. The story also falls into some of the classic cliches of this type of book but, to be fair, I can't say whether they were cliches back in 1964 when it was written. But the above points are concentrating on the critical. It's a quick, enjoyable read with a great premise - the kind of story SyFy could make a cheap but decent disaster movie from.

[Ellen Runge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basically a short story - I read it in one day. Obviously it held my interest. Not exactly 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, but not too bad. I think I got it for a quarter.