Editing 1380: Manual for Civilization
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
+ | {{w|Brian Eno}} is a musician and a co-founder of the {{w|Long Now Foundation}}. He is talking to an audience that one of the missions of the Long now is to make a library of books that can help rebuild society when it has collapsed. The experts have made a list and this list suggests that reading the {{w|Animorphs}} books would be enough to help humanity in rebuilding society. | ||
− | + | Animorphs is a series of books written by {{w|K.A. Applegate}}. It follows a group of five children (later, an alien joins as the sixth member), that try to stop the parasitic aliens, the Yeerks, by transforming into animals. A Yeerk that enters a human has complete control over their host, and can read their memories. Because the Yeerks can imitate their host almost perfectly, humanity is slowly being taken over without knowing it, and for this reason the children cannot contact the authorities and are on their own in the battle against the Yeerks. | |
− | + | When asked if all the books on the experts list are from the Animorph series, Eno misses the point of the question by saying ''No!'', only to mention the {{W|List_of_Animorphs_books#Companion_books|Megamorphs}} books and {{W|The Andalite Chronicles}}, both of which are side stories to the Animorph universe. | |
− | + | There are other books like these which aren't mentioned here — but it is clear from the last two panels that it is a quite long list — and it seems to be written in two columns, so maybe all {{w|List_of_Animorphs_books#Animorphs_main_series|54 Animorphs books}} and all {{W|List_of_Animorphs_books#Companion_books|ten side stories}} could be included on the list. | |
− | + | In suggesting that a series of children's novels make up the blueprint for rebuilding civilization, [[Randall]] is spoofing the idea of such libraries (since such books would be largely useless in terms of providing the detailed instructions that would be necessary). At the same time, he may also be sending up a recent [http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/books/2014/06/against_ya_adults_should_be_embarrassed_to_read_children_s_books.single.html controversial article] from ''{{W|Slate (magazine)|Slate}}'', which suggested that adults should be ashamed of reading children's literature, by having a popular children's work be considered crucial to rebuilding civilization. | |
− | + | The title text makes it completely ludicrous by saying an entire wing of the library will be devoted to the {{w|The Attack (Animorphs)|book}} (#26) where {{w|Animorphs#Animorphs|Jake and Cassie}} finally KISS!!! | |
− | + | This comic may also be a pun on {{w|Isaac Asimov}}'s {{w|The_Foundation_Series|Foundation series}}, where Harry Seldon claimed that the Galactic Empire is going to collapse in a thousand years, there is no way to stop it but his group of scientists are writing Encyclopedia Galactica to help people rebuild civilization. | |
− | + | *The Long Now Foundation was mentioned recently in [[1340: Unique Date]]. | |
− | + | *Animorphs was referenced before in the title text of [[1360: Old Files]], where Cueball/Randall indicated that he was once an Animorphs fan, and is now ashamed of it. | |
− | *The Long Now Foundation was mentioned | ||
− | *Animorphs was referenced before in the title text of | ||
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
:[Brian Eno is talking to an unseen audience.] | :[Brian Eno is talking to an unseen audience.] | ||
− | :Brian Eno: Hi. I'm music's Brian Eno, co-founder of the Long Now Foundation. | + | :Brian Eno: Hi. I'm music's Brian Eno, co-founder of the Long Now Foundation. |
:[Panel 2 shows he is standing on a stage.] | :[Panel 2 shows he is standing on a stage.] | ||
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:[Panel 4 shows him reading from the manuscript.] | :[Panel 4 shows him reading from the manuscript.] | ||
− | :Brian Eno: *Ahem* | + | :Brian Eno: *Ahem* |
::''Animorphs #1: The Invasion'' | ::''Animorphs #1: The Invasion'' | ||
::''Animorphs #2: The Visitor'' | ::''Animorphs #2: The Visitor'' | ||
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{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
− | + | ||
[[Category:Comics featuring real people]] | [[Category:Comics featuring real people]] | ||
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