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Austin, Anthony and Crowley, Brian (with Christopher Mundy) "Draco - The Tenth Planet. The Apocalypse Hunter's Handbook". Black Rabbit Press, Sussex, UK 2003. (First published by Illuminet Press, Georgia, USA, 2000). 246pp, illus, bibliography, notes, index. Pbk 0-9540298-3-6. £9.95

This book purports to be a serious investigation into the regular appearances in near Earth proximity of a long-period planet, which they call "Draco" and the effects that this planet has had in the past 10,000 years or so on the global climate, human societies and the planet itself. 

Now I expect most people will be at least vaguely familiar with the works of Zacharia Sitchin, Alan Alford and others who have assembled what, to them at least, seems a plausible case for a long-period comet or planetoid with a periodicity of some 3,600 years. The planet that Austin and Crowley would have has believe in, however, is one with a mere 892 years. For those of a nervous disposition I should immediately make it clear that they are not expecting another return until 2115 C.E. (which happens to neatly tie-in with several other doomsters.) So there's no need to lose any sleep over this "apocalypse". 

Indeed, on the evidence that the authors cobble together for their planet "Draco" I suspect that we're unlikely to be seriously troubled by it then either. As they admit (p.144) on the last supposed passing of the planet in 1223 C.E. there was no historical record of any such visitor in the heavens anywhere on the planet, although they claim that it was responsible for a dramatic change in climate. Further back, during the fourth century they admit "it is possible that Draco was not observed in the fourth century at all." (p.137). 

Prior to that date, although there were undoubtedly dramatic events in the heavens and on earth, we cannot be certain of the dating of those events. For example to claim that the events in Exodus relate to the passing of the planet Draco are hardly credible especially when there is so much debate now about Biblical and Egyptian chronology. And they hardly strengthen their case by not only alluding to the disputed text "Thet Oera Linda Bok" (allegedly a Friesland chronicle) but then saying that its dates are in error to the tune of over 250 years!

In short one cannot help but get the impression that this book has been written as a parody of other doom saying texts. This is not say that the earth isn't affected by meteors and comets, we obviously have been in the past and it will continue to happen in the future. What does seem totally implausible is that we could have been regularly near-missed by a planet the size they claim "Draco" is, with such dramatic effects and yet nobody at the time seems to have seen it!

Another grumble would be the inclusion of the extremely poor quality of the photographic reproductions. They are so bad one wonders why they were included. There is also a completely irrelevant rant against capitalism (not that I disagree with any of it - it just doesn't belong here).

That said the book has a fair quantity of accounts of unusual astronomical and meteorological phenomena which may be of interest to Forteans. As a serious study I'd say it was pretty poor but if you read it as a parody then it becomes quite an amusing text. Which the authors intended I shall leave to other readers to decide for themselves. 

Summary : A little night-time reading more likely to raise a smile than produce nightmares.

5/10

Richard Alexander