Prelude To An Allision - Titanic's Fatal Encounter Revisited

[Samuel Halpern]

Dear friends,

I am happy to announce the availability of my new book:

PRELUDE TO AN ALLISION – Titanic’s Fatal Encounter Revisited

As described in more detail on the back cover, it has long been held that there was little or no time to react when an iceberg suddenly loomed up directly ahead of Titanic at 11:40pm, Sunday night, April 14th 1912. This book takes an in-depth look of what took place that night leading up to Titanic's fatal encounter with the iceberg. It explores the warnings that were given to those who were in charge of the vessel, the options that were available to them but not taken, and examines the whereabouts and movements of all the major players involved. The result is the development of a detailed and realistic second-by-second timeline of the events that took place from the moment the iceberg was sighted, and call into question some of the details told to us by certain eyewitnesses, some of whom gave conflicting and sometimes inconsistent accounts that simply do not hold up when all the evidence is considered. We now have better insight as to what most likely occurred during that short period of time, and what would have happened if certain actions were taken a little sooner, or a little later, than they actually were.

The book is in hardcover and contains 159 pages consisting of 13 chapters, 3 appendices, 92 supporting endnotes, plus a Foreword by J. Kent Layton, a Preface, Prologue, Acknowledgement and an Index.

The Table of Contents of the book can be viewed here:
Prelude

The book can be ordered through Amazon.com here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B7QR5BNJ/?tag=encyclopediatita

For those in the UK, it can be ordered here:
PRELUDE TO AN ALLISION: Titanic’s Fatal Encounter Revisited: Amazon.co.uk: Halpern, Samuel: 9798843039981: Books

By the way, I would like to post here a little passage from the Acknowledgement section: "This particular work actually stated after several stimulating private conversations that I had with a Titanic enthusiast, Arun Vajpey, over on the Encyclopedia Titanica website forum. We were discussing some of my published on-line articles when it occurred to me that the story of Titanic’s encounter with the fatal iceberg on the night of Sunday, April 14th 1912, needs to be revisited. So thank you Arun for all the many well thought out discussions and challenging questions that needed answers."

Best Regards,

Samuel Halpern

 

[Arun Vajpey]

Its fantastic that this book has come out at last! I mean, I was very excited from the time you told me about it last year Sam, but kept my promise of maintaining confidentiality. I was eagerly waiting for it to come out and ordered the book while still typing this message.

I am deeply honoured by your mentioning my name in the Acknowledgement section. Thank you very much.

 

[Mike Spooner]

Sam Halpern new book: Prelude To An Allision. look like another winner for him, on order indeed

 

[Arun Vajpey]

I have started reading the book and it is very interesting. Like with all Sam's work I'll take my time, understanding his points and reconstructiong scenarios in my mind as I go along.

 

[Julian Atkins]

Order placed

 

[Julian Atkins]

My copy arrived at lunchtime today!

Excellent binding and a hardback book that was unexpected, and a lovely book to read.

Sam has captured a lot of discussion on here. Very important that he has done so. I'm a third of the way through but did jump a chapter ahead to read about Boxhall.

The style of writing is very easy and enjoyable.

Have very much enjoyed it so far.

Cheers,
Julian

 

[Arun Vajpey]

The style of writing is very easy and enjoyable.

Yes. It always is with Sam. For example, Chapter 7 "Claims & Misunderstandings" is not easy to write with all the contradictory possibilities but has been presented very well.

I'm a third of the way through but did jump a chapter ahead to read about Boxhall.

Et tu Julian?

 

[Samuel Halpern]

Excellent binding and a hardback book that was unexpected,

Thank you Julian. It's the second self published book in hard back. The first was, Titanic - An Enigma in Time, which was released earlier this year. KDP, which I have used since I self-published Strangers on the Horizon, now supports hardback printing, which was not available when I did Strangers on the Horizon. (They also have a 500 page limit on hardbacks.) Many people have asked me about a hardback version of Strangers. Not sure if its worth the effort, but its possible to do with some editing down.

 

[Arun Vajpey]

I self-published Strangers on the Horizon, now supports hardback printing, which was not available when I did Strangers on the Horizon. (They also have a 500 page limit on hardbacks.) Many people have asked me about a hardback version of Strangers.

Sam, would I be violating any copyright regulations if I had my copy of Stangers in the Horizon privately harbound? I know an excellent outlet in India who does just that but wanted to check first.

 

[Samuel Halpern]

Sam, would I be violating any copyright regulations if I had my copy of Stangers in the Horizon privately harbound? I know an excellent outlet in India who does just that but wanted to check first.

As far as I know, you can do whatever you want with you own, personal copy. But if you buy a bunch of paperbacks, then make it into a bunch of hardbacks and then want to sell those, then we need to negotiate

 

[Arun Vajpey]

But if you buy a bunch of paperbacks, then make it into a bunch of hardbacks and then want to sell those, then we need to negotiate

I hope that it was a jest. No, I meant my own (and only) personal copy.

 

[Julian Atkins]

I haven't made any further progress with "Allision" today, but I would highly recommend it, same as I would highly recommend "Strangers on The Horizon" also authored by Sam.

Cheers,
Julian

 

[Samuel Halpern]

I hope that it was a jest.

Do you know me to ever fool around?

 

[Julian Atkins]

I finished reading Sam's new book before work this morning. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Yet in respect of the the final chapter 13, I remain unconvinced.

I very much liked the trashing of Boxhall's testimony and much else, and I totally agree with Sam's analysis of timings. We haven't had this before in a book about Titanic.

As to chapter 13, and I read it very carefully making notes, and soft pencil marks on the text on a new book I've paid for, I think there is a lot left out of valid discussion and disagreements on this forum amongst many threads that could have been dealt with but has not.

The Arabic incident proves nothing to me. And we don't have the full facts.

If Murdoch was such a fine Officer why didn't he call for extra lookouts in the front of the bow, and ensure he didn't have a second pair of an Officer's eyes with him on the bridge?

Why did he telegraph "stop engines"? When did this take effect? ( not included in the table on pages 127 and 128). (Mentioned in passing subsequently on page 132.)

Furthermore, if Murdoch was so 'with it' on his own on lookout, why did he not see this dark black mass of an iceberg below the horizon before Fleet saw it? And no mention of Fleet apparently not knowing what he saw initially?

Did Murdoch see the iceberg before the lookouts?

No mention that in the Ryan trial Lee appeared as a witness for the Plaintiff whereas as Fleet et al appeared for the Defendant.

If Murdoch was such a fine Officer, why did he not have something to say about his navigation expert Boxhall pottering around and in his cabin rather than Boxhall being with him at this vital time or swapping places with Moody?

Or simply Murdoch saying to the Captain, "We are up to the ice now, I want you or another Officer with me to keep a look out"?

Chapter 13 is based on chance, I would suggest. If Murdoch was as attentive and alert as Sam concludes, then there was no need for Fleet to ring the bell 3 times or telephone down.

Still a great read with fascinating conclusions!

Cheers,
Julian

 

[Mike Spooner]

I finished reading Sam's new book before work this morning. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Yet in respect of the the final chapter 13, I remain unconvinced.

I very much liked the trashing of Boxhall's testimony and much else, and I totally agree with Sam's analysis of timings. We haven't had this before in a book about Titanic.

As to chapter 13, and I read it very carefully making notes, and soft pencil marks on the text on a new book I've paid for, I think there is a lot left out of valid discussion and disagreements on this forum amongst many threads that could have been dealt with but has not.

The Arabic incident proves nothing to me. And we don't have the full facts.

If Murdoch was such a fine Officer why didn't he call for extra lookouts in the front of the bow, and ensure he didn't have a second pair of an Officer's eyes with him on the bridge?

Why did he telegraph "stop engines"? When did this take effect? ( not included in the table on pages 127 and 128). (Mentioned in passing subsequently on page 132.)

Furthermore, if Murdoch was so 'with it' on his own on lookout, why did he not see this dark black mass of an iceberg below the horizon before Fleet saw it? And no mention of Fleet apparently not knowing what he saw initially?

Did Murdoch see the iceberg before the lookouts?

No mention that in the Ryan trial Lee appeared as a witness for the Plaintiff whereas as Fleet et al appeared for the Defendant.

If Murdoch was such a fine Officer, why did he not have something to say about his navigation expert Boxhall pottering around and in his cabin rather than Boxhall being with him at this vital time or swapping places with Moody?

Or simply Murdoch saying to the Captain, "We are up to the ice now, I want you or another Officer with me to keep a look out"?

Chapter 13 is based on chance, I would suggest. If Murdoch was as attentive and alert as Sam concludes, then there was no need for Fleet to ring the bell 3 times or telephone down.

Still a great read with fascinating conclusions!

Cheers,
Julian

It look like you have beaten me in reading the book before others to. I will take note what you have said about Murdoch which I have always had some doubt wither he was in full command of the ship when on duty. Why the hell wasn't the fourth officer Boxhall on the bridge at time. He must got permission from Murdoch to be his quarters. Especially when they are at the most dangerous part of the crossing.