Earth Abides revolves around humankind nearly being wiped out not by atomics, but by plague. It brings in to sci-fi the post-war question of whether an ever increasing human population is truly sustainable. But perhaps more important to the history of sci-fi, it’ll ask a question that is almost a cliché in science fiction today, but was nearly unexplored at the time: the question of how you rebuild after a collapse.
Um I have a question what books are you all going to be covering because in a little more than a month I will be in basic training and I won't be able to watch the videos but I want to be able to read them when I do have time. If you don't respond I understand and I just wish you all have a good summer
Like it's hard to use the scientific model here, in that unlike a game here on youtube you're unable to pause and try out another possiblity; like in extra poltics conclusion noting how policy & poltical design has to be implemented while playing the political game; not that it's impossible or fruitless using the scientific method, quite the opposite, but there's limitations. Hence I guess the combination of methods and the faith we're able to learn & master the system
Here's a mind-blower: I grew up hearing about how the Indians up in the Andes were primitive because they never invented the wheel. Well it turns out they never *needed* to.
Early entries into what they make a huge genre are often unlike what comes after. Like, a lot of apocalypses are content to stay in stage 1 forever, the immediate survival, and just not move on to see how things change or rebuild.
I stumbled across this book in my father‘s library in July 2020. As a non-native speaker it caught my attention because I couldn’t get its title to make sense at first. Read it in full that same day. Even though I would say there‘s actually not that much happening in the book I have seldom read a book that has gripped me as much…
@@artofthepossible7329 "Wapole is the executioner of the plans and witness to all events." Walpole does things. But Bismark is the one who always has a plan, even if it's to wait until better odds.
but today all the metal ores are poor quality, and the fossil fuels are hard to get. rebooting technological civilization will not happen. the utube channel fall of civilizations has many excellent videos on this subject
The protagonist and his wife has to be one of the earliest examples of a positive interracial relationship in relatively mainstream media that I can think of in America during that era.
Knowing our problems with Linear A I fear that not teaching a generation about reading or writing would somehow make everyone forget the english alphabet.
Which segues most likely into the next book they ought cover, "A Canticle For Leibowitz" in which all the optimism and hopes at the end of this book are dashed, because war, war never changes.
Honestly I got the majority of the books featured in this series and Earth Abides was pretty low on my list, however after reading it's at the top of that list and even being one of my favorite books of all time.
I'll echo the voices telling you to do A Canticle for Liebowitz. But also, once you get out of the dystopia and post-apocalyptic kick and are open to just doing general sci-fi, Mary Doria Russell's "The Sparrow" could easily fuel a few videos.
The illustrations are getting better all the time - each picture succinctly telling an episode of the story like a latter day Bayeux tapestry or Parthenon Frieze.
I think that deep down, instinctively, we understand we are too many and we have made life in the world complex - thus the appeal for a great reduction in and simplification of who and what we are appeals to us.
I can definitely see the influence this work had on my favorite post-apocalyptic series of novels, William W. Johnstone's "The Ashes" series. Book one closely follows stage 1 (traveling and documenting events after sleeping through WWIII after being swarmed by bees) and 2 (builds a functional society that works for those who choose to follow the very simple and fair laws), but takes a turn as our main character Ben Raines (a retired special forces soldier and author) leads his followers around the world kicking the shit out of those who prey on the weak and helpless and bringing order and stability. I'm on I believe book 15 out of I think 30-33. Certainly not too thought provoking, but just a simple fun read.
"The Earth Abides" (George Stewart), "Alas, Babylon" (Pat Frank) and Canticle for Liebowitz (Walter Miller whose daughter I know) are my favorites. So much better than Mad Max crap or any other Apocalypse pablum (zombies, etc.) Hollywood pumps out today. This tradition actually goes back to Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's "Last Man" that you should have mentioned.
Fallout is a common example I bring up when I'm describing games as art. None of the installments are by any measure perfect games, nor are they personal favourites of mine. But how they use the medium to convey their unique message of an iconic problem is a perfect example of games as an art form and I love to talk about them. So don't get me started, heh.
"I do not know with what weapons World War III will be fought, but I know that the next world war will be fought with sticks and rocks." Albert Einstein EDIT: Also you cannot talk about the Apocalypse genre without doing A Canticle for Leibowitz guys. I'll be really disappointed if you guys never touch on Canticle.
I have never seen a Apocalyptic world book, even 1984, treated with more reverence by people outside the niche market for these books, than Earth Abides. Grandma said it's literature, and THAT'S saying something! XD
From what I'm seeing, Earth Abides is almost like an opposite to H.G. Well's The Time Machine. Main character jumps forward in time, in Earth Abides by nature, in The Time machine by science, finds a completely different world than before, an apocalypse and an utopia respectively, the people there have changed with either human instincts or ignorant bliss. And how the world left behind is regarded in both books makes an interesting comparison. While in Earth Abides, it's told but never preserved, and in The Time Machine it's preserved but never told. …I love being a sci-fi nerd.
The Time Machine was by Wells, not Verne, and it's hard to consider many of its ideas as depicting any kind of a utopia. It's more about evolution than utopias, and presented a satirical look at the problems of the social hierarchy of England at the time.
Love the series. Gradual reintroduction of technology can be seen in the end of Babylon 5 where a post-apocalyptic mankind is slowly nurtured back to normal by its space survivors. And in many fiction works we see how "speeding up the progress" can either not work at all or go horribly wrong. Moreover, some of the more modern Sci-fi (like Star Trek) introduce some social rules directly prohibiting intervention into alien progress because it can have bad and hard-to-foresee consequences.
It’s also fascinating how British rock during the Beatles era transforms into Ozzy Osborn and Sex Pistols as the Cold War went on. The British managed their fear of nuclear destruction with pop rock and then with metal.
Sounds like a book I have to read! Most dystopias and apocalypses are so dismal; I'm shocked that one of the most influential ones has such a hopeful message!
i know, few will care to notice, but the extra sci fi theme's made by the same guys who made the steven universe soundtracks. just a thought to think about
Seems like Metro Exodus took some ideas from this story. There’s a section where you enter a forest full of young and somewhat childlike people who co-exist with nature. Turns out that they’re from a children’s camp in the forest and they revere their (now dead) teacher who protected and taught them.
why does the picture in 4:28 remind me so much of the scene in "The Stand" where Mother Abigail tries to protect herself and her food from wolves? (if i remember correctly)
was the Cold War called the Cold War because (here’s a fun science fact for those reading this, I learned this on the internet so it’s true, it’s a very unknown fact but has basis in science and several research papers over the past 49 years) nuclear explosions are actually really cold and don’t break anything. The reason we have snow today is because of nuclear bombs. Just a minor question
Earth Abides revolves around humankind nearly being wiped out not by atomics, but by
plague. It brings in to sci-fi the post-war question of whether an ever increasing human population is truly sustainable. But perhaps more important to the history of sci-fi, it’ll ask a question that is almost a cliché in science
fiction today, but was nearly unexplored at the time: the question of how you rebuild after a collapse.
👌
METRO 2033 BOIS!!!!!!
Extra Credits WHEN WILL YOU DO FALLOUT??
Um I have a question what books are you all going to be covering because in a little more than a month I will be in basic training and I won't be able to watch the videos but I want to be able to read them when I do have time. If you don't respond I understand and I just wish you all have a good summer
Hey @Extra Credits can you make an extra history episode about the Philippine revolution and General Antonio Luna
This series really ties the channel together
I'm really glad you think so! I love doing this series so I'm always sad to see that it gets way less viewership than everything else.
-James Portnow
It's the least?! But I love the sci fi episodes!
*general perfrence is to give to people than media (oops with messaging)
Like it's hard to use the scientific model here, in that unlike a game here on youtube you're unable to pause and try out another possiblity; like in extra poltics conclusion noting how policy & poltical design has to be implemented while playing the political game; not that it's impossible or fruitless using the scientific method, quite the opposite, but there's limitations. Hence I guess the combination of methods and the faith we're able to learn & master the system
Ha, I see what you did there. I like your style, dude.
Here's a mind-blower: I grew up hearing about how the Indians up in the Andes were primitive because they never invented the wheel. Well it turns out they never *needed* to.
Necessity is the mother of invention
they literally had children toys with wheels
I'm enjoying the implication that Robert Walpole causes the Apocalypse.
Robert walpole is guilty for everything
For a post-apocalyptic story, Earth Abides is very optimistic!
yeah... makes me think of wanting to make a game alike this book
Early entries into what they make a huge genre are often unlike what comes after. Like, a lot of apocalypses are content to stay in stage 1 forever, the immediate survival, and just not move on to see how things change or rebuild.
It´s known as Cosy Catastrophe
Tribe = beginning of city
Stone = beginning of technology
Primitive knowledge = beginning of advanced knowledge
History = future
"You can call me the Earth or His Earthness or El Eartharino if you're not into the whole brevity thing."
Sir Earthalot.
Pure gold
Earth von Duck
I stumbled across this book in my father‘s library in July 2020. As a non-native speaker it caught my attention because I couldn’t get its title to make sense at first. Read it in full that same day. Even though I would say there‘s actually not that much happening in the book I have seldom read a book that has gripped me as much…
And the message came, “ ALAS, BABYLON”! and The Postman rose into the thousand year night, and the vultures feasted that season.
@Crosis101: Well-done. :)
3:28 that is literally a concept I never heard of today. I need more of that very untouched idea.
Earth Abides is one of my all-time favourite novels. Just gorgeous.
Very relevant book
Earth: Yeah well,that's just, like your opinion man.
I like all of your series, but extra sci-fi is by far my favorite and the one that inspires me to read all of the books.
PostApocalyptia will be lost if they fail to remember the lessons of Walpole...
Religion centered around Walpole?
He always has a plan?
@@barrybend7189 "He always has a plan?"
That was Bismark.
@@frankharr9466 Wapole is the executioner of the plans and witness to all events.
@@artofthepossible7329 "Wapole is the executioner of the plans and witness to all events."
Walpole does things. But Bismark is the one who always has a plan, even if it's to wait until better odds.
I love Fallout, so I am always interested in learning where all the ideas got their start.
i always know that war, war never changes
@@GoggleGum This is primarily a channel about video games, though.
I’m amazed at how many good videos you all have been able to make from this series on science fiction!!!
Great video. Pretty much the exact same thing happened during the Bronze age collapse and the Fall of the western Roman empire...
but today all the metal ores are poor quality, and the fossil fuels are hard to get. rebooting technological civilization will not happen.
the utube channel fall of civilizations has many excellent videos on this subject
Mate am loving the art style, really nice visual
Well that’s pretty much the most hopeful message you can get out of a post-apocalypse!
Please do “A Canticle for Leibowitz”
No comment ; )
Fiat Lux!
Hells Yeah!
Probably my all time favorite fiction novel.
The protagonist and his wife has to be one of the earliest examples of a positive interracial relationship in relatively mainstream media that I can think of in America during that era.
Part of me would love an Extra Literature series, spinning off from the Jane Austen Extra History episode
Knowing our problems with Linear A I fear that not teaching a generation about reading or writing would somehow make everyone forget the english alphabet.
Extra credits vid?
*[surprised picka-*
Wait oh god no PIKACHU NOOOOOOOO
Rats be like:*SNAP*
You should've gone for the head...
@@strategicgamingwithaacorns2874 you should've have used that poison on me...
Which segues most likely into the next book they ought cover, "A Canticle For Leibowitz" in which all the optimism and hopes at the end of this book are dashed, because war, war never changes.
This has been one of my favorite books since high school, great little video!
I drive a lot for work and I'm taking a second to say I have found a few audio books I enjoy from this channel. Just giving props where it's due.
Sounds a lot like Horizon Zero and some of those conflicts. Pretty cool, thanks y'all!
I was about to post the exact same thing. I wonder if they read the book?
"Three cars in every garage! Three eyes on every fish!"
Thanks to my uncle I heard this on cassette tape as a kid and I thought it was the coolest thing ever
I'd be curious to see you cover "I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream" if ya wanna get really bleak.
Is
@@seventeenthletter17 Sparta!
A Harlan Ellison episode would be tight!
Actually one of my favourite books!
Honestly I got the majority of the books featured in this series and Earth Abides was pretty low on my list, however after reading it's at the top of that list and even being one of my favorite books of all time.
I'll echo the voices telling you to do A Canticle for Liebowitz.
But also, once you get out of the dystopia and post-apocalyptic kick and are open to just doing general sci-fi, Mary Doria Russell's "The Sparrow" could easily fuel a few videos.
This book has been on my Audible wish list for 2 years now.
The list never seems to get shorter.
According to "A Canticle for Leibowitz" ( Walter Millar) , next time round will probably be worse.
I am assuming we'll soon be hearing about "Alas Babylon".
Watching this in 2020 is.... Quaint
That feel when you go "I read that book!" during the intro. Feels well red man.
The illustrations are getting better all the time - each picture succinctly telling an episode of the story like a latter day Bayeux tapestry or Parthenon Frieze.
This is haunting today
I think that deep down, instinctively, we understand we are too many and we have made life in the world complex - thus the appeal for a great reduction in and simplification of who and what we are appeals to us.
I can definitely see the influence this work had on my favorite post-apocalyptic series of novels, William W. Johnstone's "The Ashes" series. Book one closely follows stage 1 (traveling and documenting events after sleeping through WWIII after being swarmed by bees) and 2 (builds a functional society that works for those who choose to follow the very simple and fair laws), but takes a turn as our main character Ben Raines (a retired special forces soldier and author) leads his followers around the world kicking the shit out of those who prey on the weak and helpless and bringing order and stability. I'm on I believe book 15 out of I think 30-33. Certainly not too thought provoking, but just a simple fun read.
You are my favorite UA-cam
UA-cam is my favorite youtube too
Nate Kammerer thanks, really cheered me up seeing this
This is scarily relevent now
THE DUDE ABIDES. god i love the big lebowski 0:19
Inflection point. Wickedly accurate choice of words.
Watching this in the pandemic of 2020 scary man scary
"The Earth Abides" (George Stewart), "Alas, Babylon" (Pat Frank) and Canticle for Liebowitz (Walter Miller whose daughter I know) are my favorites. So much better than Mad Max crap or any other Apocalypse pablum (zombies, etc.) Hollywood pumps out today. This tradition actually goes back to Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's "Last Man" that you should have mentioned.
*crosses fingers* I hope they cover A Canticle for Leibowitz next :)
Love that book!
This story is so similar to Jack London's The Scarlet Plague written in 1912!
Earth Abides! I've never met anyone else that knows this one. Nice. I think about Ish & Em every time I cross the bay bridge.
Stage 2: exist
Me:plays rdr2’s house building theme
You guys should do the graphic novel, "V for Vendetta".
Man, now I want to see them do a video on Fallout.
Probably will never come but oh well.
Fallout is a common example I bring up when I'm describing games as art. None of the installments are by any measure perfect games, nor are they personal favourites of mine. But how they use the medium to convey their unique message of an iconic problem is a perfect example of games as an art form and I love to talk about them. So don't get me started, heh.
"I do not know with what weapons World War III will be fought, but I know that the next world war will be fought with sticks and rocks."
Albert Einstein
EDIT: Also you cannot talk about the Apocalypse genre without doing A Canticle for Leibowitz guys. I'll be really disappointed if you guys never touch on Canticle.
Canticle is 100% on of the top 10 apocalypse novels, if not top 3
Geoff F. True, but they'll fight WW5 with MIND POWERS
I have never seen a Apocalyptic world book, even 1984, treated with more reverence by people outside the niche market for these books, than Earth Abides. Grandma said it's literature, and THAT'S saying something! XD
From what I'm seeing, Earth Abides is almost like an opposite to H.G. Well's The Time Machine. Main character jumps forward in time, in Earth Abides by nature, in The Time machine by science, finds a completely different world than before, an apocalypse and an utopia respectively, the people there have changed with either human instincts or ignorant bliss. And how the world left behind is regarded in both books makes an interesting comparison. While in Earth Abides, it's told but never preserved, and in The Time Machine it's preserved but never told.
…I love being a sci-fi nerd.
The Time Machine was by Wells, not Verne, and it's hard to consider many of its ideas as depicting any kind of a utopia. It's more about evolution than utopias, and presented a satirical look at the problems of the social hierarchy of England at the time.
PLAYER PIANO!!!! I love that book!
"Perhaps, this is a better FOUNDATION to start again."
I think I know what you did there!
You guys make my day everyday!
Love the series.
Gradual reintroduction of technology can be seen in the end of Babylon 5 where a post-apocalyptic mankind is slowly nurtured back to normal by its space survivors.
And in many fiction works we see how "speeding up the progress" can either not work at all or go horribly wrong. Moreover, some of the more modern Sci-fi (like Star Trek) introduce some social rules directly prohibiting intervention into alien progress because it can have bad and hard-to-foresee consequences.
Hoping one of those books that deals with Nuclear Annhilarion is “A Cantacle for Liebowitz.”
It’s also fascinating how British rock during the Beatles era transforms into Ozzy Osborn and Sex Pistols as the Cold War went on. The British managed their fear of nuclear destruction with pop rock and then with metal.
Immediately realizes the things we are in at the moment.
Sounds like a book I have to read! Most dystopias and apocalypses are so dismal; I'm shocked that one of the most influential ones has such a hopeful message!
I need to sleep for a test tomorrow, but I need to watch this.
i know, few will care to notice, but the extra sci fi theme's made by the same guys who made the steven universe soundtracks.
just a thought to think about
Well, this aged well
God imagine that happening though a plague decimated the world that would be scary
Seems like Metro Exodus took some ideas from this story. There’s a section where you enter a forest full of young and somewhat childlike people who co-exist with nature. Turns out that they’re from a children’s camp in the forest and they revere their (now dead) teacher who protected and taught them.
Imagine clicking on the video and hearing that people died of a NEW plague....during Covid-19
🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔
Please let one of the following episodes be A Canticle For Leibowitz. So many similar themes treated in insightful ways.
4:57 Wow that slightly hidden history joke like sentence was a *slaps knee* knee slapper.
This is a surprisingly optimistic post-apocalyptic book!
That plague opening sounds a lot more realistic now than when this video came out.
I like how Stirling dealt with these issues in his Emberverse series
me : what is that 3:43 5:18 my brain : it's fallout 3 or 4 the game. Me: oh *sings I don't want to set the world on fire*
Very much appreciated the Frankenstein reference.
Reminder that Splatoon is a post-apocalyptic shooter game.
What have you done to pikachu!?!
They just made a Pokemon and Fallout Crossover
YouGottaMineDeep we just had Detective Pikachu so how about Zombie Pikachu?
And they already fucked up sonic, so wynaut?
oh boy its fun to watch this video in 2021
why does the picture in 4:28 remind me so much of the scene in "The Stand" where Mother Abigail tries to protect herself and her food from wolves? (if i remember correctly)
Anyone else thought the title was an oblique reference to The Great Lebowski? I feel like a philistine ...
Men go and come but the Dude abides.
Right, because the author was a time traveler. ::eyeroll::
Pikachu looks different than I remember!
This metaphor has a much broader application than face value. Very insightful.
was the Cold War called the Cold War because (here’s a fun science fact for those reading this, I learned this on the internet so it’s true, it’s a very unknown fact but has basis in science and several research papers over the past 49 years) nuclear explosions are actually really cold and don’t break anything. The reason we have snow today is because of nuclear bombs.
Just a minor question
Do 'A Canticle for Leibowitz' please!
Just finish arting that one mate
@@davidhueso awesome, much appreciated!
3:41 foooor the brotherhood!!
What a strong message
for some reason this makes me want to write a fantasy/sci-fi type story
There is a series of it coming 1st December
Great discussion
Another great Sci Fi story
What an amazing book
Man, if you were to make videos of books (both classic and contemporary literature) I’d totally watch
Great job as always!
A very memorable read.
"I don't want to set the world on fire."