How a Novella Predicted the Titanic Disaster

Evan Swensen
September 25, 2024

In literature, fact and fiction often blur in the most unexpected ways. Every so often, a book will contain elements that later reflect real-life events in uncanny detail. Such is the case with the novella Futility, written by Morgan Robertson in 1898, a story that has earned its place as one of the most fascinating literary curiosities ever. Why? Because it eerily foretold the sinking of the RMS Titanic—a tragedy that wouldn’t happen until 14 years later. Let’s dive into the facts, quirks, and trivia behind this literary coincidence!

Robertson’s novella features a massive ocean liner called the Titan, heralded as the largest and most luxurious ship of its time. It was described as “unsinkable,” boasting state-of-the-art safety features, and carrying only a minimal number of lifeboats due to its perceived invulnerability. Sound familiar? The RMS Titanic, which set sail in 1912, was similarly dubbed unsinkable and famously lacked enough lifeboats to accommodate all its passengers.

But the similarities don’t stop there. The fictional Titan and the genuine Titanic met their tragic fates similarly—striking an iceberg in the North Atlantic. The Titan sank in April, and the Titanic’s collision happened on April 14, 1912. To make matters even more eerie, both ships were traveling at excessive speeds when disaster struck, and both sank, taking with them a large number of passengers due to inadequate lifeboats.

So, how did Robertson, a relatively obscure author, manage to predict these events so closely? The answer is likely less about supernatural foresight and more about his background and the zeitgeist of the time. Robertson had spent time as a sailor, and his knowledge of maritime technology and shipping trends informed much of his writing. By the late 1800s, ocean liners grew larger, faster, and more opulent. As shipping companies vied to outdo each other, it was easy to imagine a disaster scenario in which overconfidence led to catastrophe.

In other words, Robertson was more of an astute observer than a seer. He knew the industry was heading toward a hubristic peak, where engineering marvels would be pushed beyond their limits. The novella’s title—Futility—reflects this theme of human pride and the fragile balance between innovation and disaster.

Interestingly, the novella’s original title was Futility: The Wreck of the Titan. After the Titanic sank in 1912, subsequent reprints of the novella drew attention to the astonishing similarities between fiction and reality, and the story’s title was shortened to simply Futility. While the tale of the Titan predates the Titanic by over a decade, it’s hard not to be amazed by how close Robertson’s fictional disaster came to predicting the real thing.

Of course, there are some critical differences between the two ships. The fictional Titan was shorter than the Titanic, measuring 800 feet compared to the Titanic’s 882 feet. The Titan also carried 3,000 passengers, while the Titanic carried about 2,224. But the differences are overshadowed by the striking similarities in the circumstances of the sinkings.

The fact that Futility so closely mirrors the Titanic’s fate has made the novella a popular subject for trivia buffs and literary enthusiasts alike. It’s one of those stories that feels too bizarre to be true—but it is! And it is a fascinating case of life imitating art (or vice versa).

Beyond its connection to the Titanic, Futility touches on themes of arrogance, technological overreach, and nature’s unpredictability—all themes that resonate today as much as they did in Robertson’s time. The novella’s message, wrapped in what could almost be considered prophetic details, is that human ingenuity is not invincible. Nature, in all its unpredictability, will always have the final say.

In the years since the Titanic disaster, Futility has taken on a life of its own, moving from obscurity to a must-read curiosity for anyone fascinated by historical coincidences. Robertson wrote other books, but none has achieved lasting notoriety as Futility—largely thanks to its eerie connection with history’s most famous maritime tragedy.

So, next time you’re looking for a fun piece of literary trivia to impress your friends, remember the story of the Titan. Whether it was a stroke of eerie coincidence or a sharp prediction of the inevitable, Morgan Robertson’s novella has earned its place as one of the most curious coincidences in the annals of literature.

Futility may have been just a work of fiction. Still, its chilling similarities to actual events make it one of the most captivating stories for those who love trivia and history. Is fiction predicting the future? It’s not such a far-fetched idea after all!

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