No one would have believed in the last years of the nineteenth century that this world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man’s and yet as mortal as his own; that as men busied themselves about their various concerns they were scrutinised and studied, perhaps almost as narrowly as a man with a microscope might scrutinise the transient creatures that swarm and multiply in a drop of water. With infinite complacency men went to and fro over this globe about their little affairs, serene in their assurance of their empire over matter. It is possible that the infusoria under the microscope do the same. No one gave a thought to the older worlds of space as sources of human danger, or thought of them only to dismiss the idea of life upon them as impossible or improbable. It is curious to recall some of the mental habits of those departed days. At most terrestrial men fancied there might be other men upon Mars, perhaps inferior to themselves and ready to welcome a missionary enterprise. Yet across the gulf of space, minds that are to our minds as ours are to those of the beasts that perish, intellects vast and cool and unsympathetic, regarded this earth with envious eyes, and slowly and surely drew their plans against us. And early in the twentieth century came the great disillusionment.
Yes, Bella, and when Orsen Wells gave this as an hours-long radio address 60 (?) years ago – saying that it was fiction at commercial breaks – several folks committed suicide rather than face the hideous monsters being described on-air. Quite a powerful moment for we Americans, actually.
This is one of the most intellectually satisfying sites on the net; still developing its stance but always informative and often entertaining.
Levitated Apples likes to publicize artists, writers and artisans whose work gets lost in the sheer volume of world creativity – and to suggest sites, exhibitions and installations that might prove rewarding to the viewer.
No one would have believed in the last years of the nineteenth century that this world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man’s and yet as mortal as his own; that as men busied themselves about their various concerns they were scrutinised and studied, perhaps almost as narrowly as a man with a microscope might scrutinise the transient creatures that swarm and multiply in a drop of water. With infinite complacency men went to and fro over this globe about their little affairs, serene in their assurance of their empire over matter. It is possible that the infusoria under the microscope do the same. No one gave a thought to the older worlds of space as sources of human danger, or thought of them only to dismiss the idea of life upon them as impossible or improbable. It is curious to recall some of the mental habits of those departed days. At most terrestrial men fancied there might be other men upon Mars, perhaps inferior to themselves and ready to welcome a missionary enterprise. Yet across the gulf of space, minds that are to our minds as ours are to those of the beasts that perish, intellects vast and cool and unsympathetic, regarded this earth with envious eyes, and slowly and surely drew their plans against us. And early in the twentieth century came the great disillusionment.
Can you see me waving down there?
Wholly crap !
I can see my house from here !!
^Huh…. I mean profound! markus ya lost me here.
I can see Russia. Mars must be in Alaska.
Bella,
Don’t worry. I am more of a lover than a philosopher. Actually, what you are reading is The War of the Worlds by HG Wells
Yes, Bella, and when Orsen Wells gave this as an hours-long radio address 60 (?) years ago – saying that it was fiction at commercial breaks – several folks committed suicide rather than face the hideous monsters being described on-air. Quite a powerful moment for we Americans, actually.
Eh, a bit of research. 1938, no confirmed deaths, lots of rumors. A really interesting pic, though!
I thought that was a miscropic image of John McCain’s brain. What a relief. It looked a bit on the big side not to have been photoshopped!
This is one of the most intellectually satisfying sites on the net; still developing its stance but always informative and often entertaining.
Levitated Apples likes to publicize artists, writers and artisans whose work gets lost in the sheer volume of world creativity – and to suggest sites, exhibitions and installations that might prove rewarding to the viewer.
“I thought that was a miscropic image of John McCain’s brain. What a relief. It looked a bit on the big side …”
Republican brains always look big when compared to Democrats, not to mention other parts of our anatomy.
markus, I like the first 2 sentences. Throw out the book and come meet me.