Elements of 18th century satire

"fire and ice" is one of robert frost's most popular poems. it was published in december 1920 in harper's magazine and in 1923 in his pulitzer prize−winning book new hampshire. it discusses the end of the world, likening the elemental force of fire with the emotion of desire, and ice with hate.

c. the power of desire is greater than the power of hate.

21 balloons is the story of professor william sherman's travels.

in 1883, he set off from san francisco for a balloon ride over the pacific and was found a month later floating with 21 balloons in the atlantic ocean. this seemed an astounding feat and everyone wanted to know what had happened.    

professor sherman was loyal, however, and said he would tell his tale first to the western american explorers club in san francisco, of which he was a member. this built up suspense for several chapters before he began to tell of the wonders of his adventures and the amazing island of krakatoa, an island which had just been blown up by a volcano.  

the residents of krakatoa are all millionaires who live under a "gourmet government" of their own devising. we get to see all the incredible adventures that creative people with unlimited resources would create according to the author.