The Planet That Wasn't (1977) by Isaac Asimov

From astronomy to rainbows to God

The astonishing story of the planet Vulcan, an astronomical oddity that intrigued scientists for over a century, is the jummping off point for Isaac Asimov in the scintillating, easy to understand explorations of everything from ecology and space colonies to witchcraft and UFOs.

Here is Asimov at his best, where his wide-ranging intellect can play with such amazingly eclectic topics as the notorious Martian canals, the possibility of life on the Jovian sattelite Titan, the deadly dangers of cholesterol and aerosol cans, the smell of electricity, and nine explanations for the Star of Bethlehem. Equally amazing is the manner in which his stories unfold, from a lovely description of how rainbows are made, to the water clear logic in his refutation of the "judo arguments" - scientific proofs of the existence of God. Provocative, entertaining, and, as always, generously interspersed with sparkling Asimov wit, The Planet That Wasn't debunks old myths and offers fresh perspectives on the wonders of our solar system and ourselves.

-from the back cover of the Avon paperback edition