When the comet Gallia impacts Earth, the results are catastrophic... but only for a given few. After the glancing blow, Earth continues in its stately course, but a few chunks of the planet's outer shell are taken up by the comet, along with several dozen people. Thus begins Jules Verne's vision of a voyage through planetary space.

Those caught up on the comet--representing several nationalities--at first assume they've survived nothing more spectacular than an earthquak"