Noah and
the Flood. Wells was 74 when it was published, and it is the last of his
utopia
A utopia ( ) typically describes an imaginary community or society that possesses highly desirable or nearly perfect qualities for its members. It was coined by Sir Thomas More for his 1516 book '' Utopia'', describing a fictional island societ ...
n writings.
Plot summary
God Almighty pays a visit to Noah Lammock, a well-known author whom the outbreak of war has convinced that "madness had taken complete possession of the earth." At first God is thought to be a mental patient from a nearby asylum, but his dignified air earns him a reception in the writer's study. God explains that he has been "surprised" and "disappointed" by humanity, and tells Noah Lammock: "What I propose is that you should construct, with my help and under my instruction, an Ark."
Lammock is intrigued, but first, since God tells him that the
Bible
The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity, Judaism, Samaritanism, and many other religions. The Bible is an anthologya compilation of texts ...
is "wonderfully trustworthy" and possesses "substantial truth," demands an accounting for his decision to destroy the
Tower of Babel
The Tower of Babel ( he, , ''Mīgdal Bāḇel'') narrative in Genesis 11:1–9 is an origin myth meant to explain why the world's peoples speak different languages.
According to the story, a united human race speaking a single language and mi ...
. God has already explained that the creation of light entailed as well the creation of "a shadow," and "since I had come into our Universe as a Person, it is evident that my shadow also had to be a Person." Now God explains that he and Satan panicked at the prospect of "Man keeping together on the plain of Shinar in one world state, working together, building up and up," and "together . . . acted in such haste that frankly the covenant with Noah and all that was completely overlooked." God is repentant, however, and tells Lammock that still wants to "bring Adam into free, expanding fellowship with myself -- that old original idea." Lammock takes pity, in part because he notices the deity is "quivering on the very verge of non-existence."
God returns to Noah Lammock a week later, and, after some literary chit-chat that reveals that God is under the misapprehension that Noah Lammock is the author of ''
The Time Machine
''The Time Machine'' is a science fiction novella by H. G. Wells, published in 1895. The work is generally credited with the popularization of the concept of time travel by using a vehicle or device to travel purposely and selectively for ...
'', ''
The Work, Wealth and Happiness of Mankind
''The Work, Wealth and Happiness of Mankind'' by H. G. Wells is the final work of a trilogy of which the first volumes were ''The Outline of History'' (1919–1920) and '' The Science of Life'' (1929). Wells conceived of the three parts of his ...
,'' and ''
World Brain
''World Brain'' is a collection of essays and addresses by the English science fiction pioneer, social reformer, evolutionary biologist and historian H. G. Wells, dating from the period of 1936–1938.Wells, H.G. (1938). ''World Brain''. Lond ...
'', the two discuss the plan for the Ark. God is enthused about the potential of
, having met
Kenneth Mees
Charles Edward Kenneth Mees FRS (26 May 1882 – 15 August 1960) was a British scientist and photographic researcher.
Early life and education
Mees was born in Wellingborough, England, the son of a Wesleyan minister.
He attended the Univ ...
, but Lammock demands to know: are they to "reinstate or do we start afresh?" Lammock believes it is necessary "to begin over again," because the "primary danger" to the new world is "that the élite will become a self-conscious, self-protective organisation within the State." "
is a new religion and a new manner of life I am obliged to stand for." "The core of the new world must be (listen to the words!) Atheist, Creative, Psycho-synthetic," he declares, but God can come along as "an inspiring delusion."
Choosing a crew for the Ark is an enormous problem because no one Lammock knows seems to be equal to the task, but before he has resolved it he awakens to discover that he is already in the cabin of the Ark, which is "thirty days out." An excerpt from the ship's log explains that a leak has delayed its landing, and that
Jonah
Jonah or Jonas, ''Yōnā'', "dove"; gr, Ἰωνᾶς ''Iōnâs''; ar, يونس ' or '; Latin: ''Ionas'' Ben (Hebrew), son of Amittai, is a prophet in the Hebrew Bible and the Quran, from Gath-hepher of the northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria ...
, a stowaway, has caused no end of problems. The novella ends inconclusively ("The final pages of this story do not appear to be forthcoming") with a further conversation between God and Noah Lammock. They agree that they "will make Ararat," and God says, "On the whole, I am not sorry I created you." As for Noah, he declares: "No man is beaten until he knows and admits he is beaten, and that I will never know nor admit."
Reception
Wells made a lecture tour in the United States in October and November 1940, and tried to arrange for the publication of ''All Aboard for Ararat'' to coincide with his tour.
''All Aboard for Ararat'' was praised by
Graham Greene
Henry Graham Greene (2 October 1904 – 3 April 1991) was an English writer and journalist regarded by many as one of the leading English novelists of the 20th century. Combining literary acclaim with widespread popularity, Greene acquir ...
.
[Michael Sherborne, ''H.G. Wells: Another Kind of Life'' (Peter Owen, 2010), p. 331.]
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:All Aboard for Ararat
Novels by H. G. Wells
1940 British novels
Novels about Noah's Ark
Secker & Warburg books