5 JUNE 1897, Page 25

Across the Zodiac. By Edwin Pallander. (Digby, Long and Co.)—This

" story of adventure " is what may be called an astronomical extravaganza. Edgar Poe tried his hand at this kind of writing, and with remarkable success. It is the sort of thing that M. Jules Verne delights in Mr. Pallander does his fooling, if the phrase may be allowed, with gravity, writes the proper share of scientific explanation, and generally provides an excuse for the reader whose interest is roused by this kind of story. The name of the book shows how Mr. P. Greg's book has been forgotten.