The Phantom of the Poles by William Reed

Description

The Phantom of the Poles is a book by William Reed, first published in 1906. William Reed, an American writer fascinated by polar mysteries, proposed a bold theory: the Earth is hollow, and what explorers call the poles are in fact phantom points — entrances to a vast inner world. He marshals observations such as warm Arctic winds, compass irregularities, embedded rocks in ice, strange auroras, unexplained dust deposits, and persistent open-water patches near the poles—claims he believed supported a cavernous Earth with polar openings. Reed structured his argument around a series of pointed questions: Why are the poles flattened? Why were they "never reached"? Why do compasses falter? What explains meteor showers, colored snow, tidal waves, and polar ice-pressure? His conclusion: beneath the polar veil lies an interior realm, perhaps warmed by an inner sun, populated by unknown lands, seas, and possibly life. In historical context, Reed’s work represents a strident voice in early 20th-century pseudoscience. Published just before explorers like Peary in 1909 and Amundsen in 1911 reached the actual poles — effectively debunking his central premise — it nonetheless captures the adventurous and speculative spirit of the era .

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