Most people have probably heard of the June 30, 1908, explosive event that took place over Tunguska in the remote interior of Siberia. Here’s the brief summary that I used in the Prologue of my historical novel, Devil in the North Woods (2005, Slipdown Mountain Publications):
The Sky Splits Apart
On June 30, 1908, a 100,000-ton meteorite or comet plunged to Earth above the sparsely populated tundra of Siberia. Angled 30 degrees to the horizon, it ripped through the atmosphere from southeast to northwest at 50 times the speed of sound and exploded four miles above the ground with the force of a 40-megaton nuclear bomb. Ash and pulverized debris soared 40 miles high and spread around the world, causing brilliant sunsets and sunrises as far away as Western Europe, glowing night skies bright enough to read by over much of the Earth, and seismic and magnetic perturbations 2500 miles from the explosion’s epicenter.
A month later in North America, following an early wet spring, northern Michigan plunged into an extended drought that left the dense underbrush in the virgin forests dry, brittle, and flammable, perfect conditions for a rash of forest fires.
Was the extraterrestrial visitor connected to the Michigan drought and wildfires? We will never know for sure, but we do know that Michigan’s weather that fall took a sudden, unexpected shift.
“Shiel’s compassionate writing creates a community of bright, supportive, and determined people, whose characters develop and deepen as the fire grows.” – Historical Novel Review
Today marks the 100th anniversary of that momentous event. It’s worth paying attention to, since it is the only event of its kind in human history for which we have recorded eyewitness accounts. Back in November 2007, a team of Italian scientists reportedly found evidence that Lake Cheko (five miles from the explosion’s epicenter) actually might be an impact crater created by a fragment tossed from the exploding comet (or asteroid, nobody can be 100% certain).
“[Reads] more like a suspense novel than a historical one. The book becomes impossible to put down once the fire hits town.” – Reader Views
While today is the centennial of the Tunguska event, this fall (October 15 to be exact) marks the centennial of the Metz, Michigan, two-million-acre wildfire that swept through northeastern Michigan to be stopped only by Lake Huron. Devil in the North Woods tells the true story of that fire and how the farmers, loggers, and merchants fought to survive without the benefits of advance warnings or modern firefighting equipment. In addition to its print edition, the book is also available in a Kindle format and a PDF download.
“Vividly recreates the terrible blaze from start to finish, the toll it took, and the trials of human beings forced to recover from the devastating losses it inflicted. Though [telling] the story of man vs. nature, its core is emotional and human-centered.” – Midwest Book Review
Is this story still relevant today? Absolutely. Consider the wildfires raging in California right now. And remember, as Don Yeomans (manager of the Near-Earth Object Office at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory) estimates “on average, a Tunguska-sized asteroid will enter Earth’s atmosphere once every 300 years.”
“Will have readers frantically turning the pages!…leaps off the written page and into the hearts of readers.” – In The Library Reviews
So, keep your heads down and watch the skies…
