The chase of the golden meteor
By: by Jules Verne ; introduction to the Bison Books edition by Gregory A. Benford.
Publisher: University of Nebraska
Published: 1998
Place of publication: Lincoln
Language: eng
Number of pages: 292
Description: The discovery of a falling golden meteor and the race to find it form the core of this exciting tale from the master of science fiction, Jules Verne. An asteroid wanders into the earth's gravitational field and is spotted by two rival Virginia astronomers. The discovery becomes a worldwide sensation when it is announced that the asteroid is solid gold and is plummeting toward earth.

The approaching disaster is brought on by the machinations of the brilliant but absent-minded French scientist and inventor Zephyrin Xirdal. Xirdal has invented a ray with which he pulls the golden asteroid from orbit and hopes to guide it to crash at a spot of his choosing. Xirdal, the two Virginia astronomers and their families, and representatives from many nations race to find and claim the golden meteor.
Notes: Originally published: London : Grant Richards, 1909.