In case you hadn't noticed, we don't live in a perfect world. We're engaged in a war for resources. Unemployment is alarmingly high. Our education system is in dire need of reform. The list goes on and on. The way things are goes a long way toward explaining the explosion of dystopia in young adult fiction. When we consider the motivations of the characters in these books, some part of us is also thinking about ourselves. How would we find food if we had to? How far would we go to survive? Is security preferable to freedom or is it the other way around? What's the point of making friends when they might soon become our competition?
I've noticed another trend though, namely the element of science. Think about it. How do things fall apart? What so often determines who has the upper hand? Who has the ability to change things? With great power comes great responsibility, and time and time again, we see technology as creating a divide between the haves and the have nots. Scientific endeavor can lead to catastrophe.
Consider the technological terrors of the arena in The Hunger Games. Tracker Jackers are genetically modified wasps whose venom can cause delirium and death. The Gamemakers can place muttations in the path of the tributes at will. The elements are controlled from a series of consoles for the entertainment of the masses. And before the rebellion was put down, jabberjays repeated the plans of the Resistance to Capitol ears.
Yet, we must also acknowledge that, when the rebels learned what the Capitol was doing, they started to feed the jabberjays lies. When the genetically engineered birds were abandoned, they bred with mockingbirds, creating mockingjays, which had the attributes of both jabberjays and mockingbirds. The rebels made use of the new breed, and while they were initially defeated, they still triumphed in an important way. The Capitol's own technology was used against them. Technology can be used to gain the advantage, but it can also work against those it initially empowers.
The Hunger Games provides good examples of the element of science and its role in dystopia, but there are a multitude of other such works. In James Dashner's The Maze Runner, a group of teens find themselves in the Glade, tasked with navigating a maze whose walls change every day. Memories slowly return to the main character Thomas, and they hint at his role in the dire experiment that landed the group there in the first place. The Maze Runner is succeeded by two more novels though, and it quickly becomes clear that the experiment was meant to be a last-ditch effort at saving the world. Who is right? Does the end justify the means? It's a valid question.
One also questions science in Ian MacDonald's Planesrunner. Everett watches his father, a known quantum physicist, disappear into a dark car. After discovering a secret message he left for him, he goes through a gate into another world. His pursuit of his father leads him into an alternate version of London, one where oil was never discovered and steam-powered airships fill every inch of the sky. He carries with him the Infundibulum, the map of the different parallel universes theorized to exist. It's a major complication to the crew of the Everness, who offer Everett refuge. The information Everett carries endangers the people he comes to care for. Just when the highly unlikely happy reunion seems imminent, one of the devious agents who kidnapped Everett's father shoots the scientist with a gun that sends him into any of an infinite number of alternate worlds. Technology seems to accomplish nothing but heartache. The novel ends with Everett investigating the strange weapon, which he has come to possess. He admits to suspecting that it serves some other function, and the reader is left wondering if it has the potential to grant some kind of technological advantage.
Are we really so uncertain about the role of technology? Would we rather fear it than embrace it? Do these works warn about dependence on it or development beyond a certain threshold? What is that threshold?
I think we can all agree that science can be dangerous in the wrong hands, but what might it accomplish in the right ones? If power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, then will technology always lead down a dark road, one we'd prefer not to travel too far down?
STEM and its role in dystopia provides a great jumping-off point for discussion. When we really think about it, we wind up talking about who we are, what we want for the world, and what means are acceptable to achieve that end.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Monday, April 16, 2012
Lauren Myracle Responds to Being Most-Banned Author
If you want to make a book popular, ban it. Some of the greatest classics have been highly criticized over the years. And why do we love them? We love them because they're bold, daring, innovative. They challenge the way things are done. They drag our secrets out into the light. They make us uncomfortable. They change us. We are made better by our exposure to them!
According to the American Library Association's Office of Intellectual Freedom, Lauren Myracle's TTYL is this year's most challenged book. Myracle confesses to crying when she received the news. She assumed that there were forces out there that wanted her to go away for her gratuitous openness. The feeling slowly faded as she noted that OIC's e-mail had congratulated her. Being banned was an honor. Still, she admits to feeling sad about being banned. Sad for the close-minded adults who would keep truth from their children, sad for caretakers who, in an attempt to protect their children, keep them from knowing the world and growing.
I invite you to read Myracle's response and form your own opinion of her work and the outcries of those so opposed to it.
What are your thoughts?
According to the American Library Association's Office of Intellectual Freedom, Lauren Myracle's TTYL is this year's most challenged book. Myracle confesses to crying when she received the news. She assumed that there were forces out there that wanted her to go away for her gratuitous openness. The feeling slowly faded as she noted that OIC's e-mail had congratulated her. Being banned was an honor. Still, she admits to feeling sad about being banned. Sad for the close-minded adults who would keep truth from their children, sad for caretakers who, in an attempt to protect their children, keep them from knowing the world and growing.
I invite you to read Myracle's response and form your own opinion of her work and the outcries of those so opposed to it.
What are your thoughts?
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Make Your Own Light-Saber
Star Wars geeks unite! This fun and easy craft is perfect for parties. It's intended for younger children, but teens can definitely have fun with this too! I recommend enjoying a big plate of wookiee cookies while you work!
Supplies:
Duct Tape
Assortment of pool noodles
Knife for cutting noodles in half
Technique:
Cut the noodles in half using the knife.
Be creative in designing a duct tape handle
Also, if you happen to be in the Independence, Missouri area, do join us for a fun celebration of everything Star Wars on Saturday, May 12th.
Happy Crafting!
Supplies:
Duct Tape
Assortment of pool noodles
Knife for cutting noodles in half
Technique:
Cut the noodles in half using the knife.
Be creative in designing a duct tape handle
Also, if you happen to be in the Independence, Missouri area, do join us for a fun celebration of everything Star Wars on Saturday, May 12th.
Happy Crafting!
The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare
★★★☆☆
Cassandra Clare breathes life into each and every sentence she constructs, transporting the reader to a world that both mirrors our reality and turns it on its head.
★★★☆☆ City of Bones introduces us to Clary Fray, whose mother has attempted to protect her from the dangers of a parallel world by setting up quarters in "Mundane" New York. Unfortunately, the forces of evil never sleep, and the pretense under which Clary has been living is shattered when her home is attacked by demons and a sleeping spell cast upon her mother. Slowly, Clary begins to unravel the truth about her shadow hunter lineage.
Assisted by the charming and mysterious Jace, whose fierce beauty,solitary nature, and martial prowess are reminiscent of a lion, Clary enters a world that has long haunted her dreams. Clary's mundane best friend Simon,and fellow shadow-hunters Alec and Isabelle join the two on the quest for the mortal cup, one of the three legendary mortal instruments sought by Valentine, the seductive, dark lord responsible for the attack of Clary's now-comatose mother.
As the story unfolds, Clary finds it more difficult to resist Jace's charm, and soon finds herself falling in love with him. Meanwhile,Simon also professes his love for the heroine, who feels herself torn between two worlds.
★★★☆☆ City of Ashes delves deeper into Jace's mysterious past, and reveals that the evil Valentine is, in fact, his father. The Clave, which is responsible for maintaining order in the Shadow Hunter world, begins to take an interest in the former, and there are whispered rumors of Jace's allegiance to Valentine. The dark lord has used the mortal cup he obtained in the first novel to summon a greater demon and collect the blood of downworlder children: the children of vampires, werewolves, fairies, and warlocks. Their combined blood is required for a ritual that will further solidify his power.
Meanwhile, unforeseen circumstances cause both Jace and Simon to individually question the extent to which each is capable of loving Clary in the way she deserves.
★★★☆☆ City of Glass follows Clary and her mentor Luke to Alicante. Although she was denied entry through the portal her friend the warlock Magnus Bane created, Clary finds that she can create portals of her own. The ability she exhibited toward the end of City of Ashes is pursued in greater detail. The heroine seeks out the warlock Ragnor Fell per the instructions of an old friend of her mother's who approaches her early in the novel. Assumed truths are reexamined, allegiances and motivations are scrutinized, and downworlders and shadow-hunters are united in the task of fighting Valentine's demon forces and creating a new, better world. No one is left unchanged; even Valentine's resolve wavers before the angel he summons with the united mortal instruments. The effect on the reader is immediate-she feels good and evil as relative to the choices we all make.
★★★☆☆ City of Fallen Angels examines the complicated relationships developed between and among the characters central to the series. As drawn as he is to Clary Fray, Jace also questions his ability to protect and love her. Dark memories of his past threaten to unhinge his mind, and a series of nightmares endanger his sanity. Again and again, he dreams of driving a blade through his beloved. His imposed isolation causes a rift between the two. Meanwhile, Clary's best friend Simon, now transformed into a vampire bearing the Mark of Cain, struggles to keep two girls he's dating from learning of one another's existence. The first is the fierce shadowhunter, Isabelle, sister to Alec and adoptive sister to Jace. The other is the brave Maia, a werewolf belonging to Clary's mother's fiance's New York-based wolf pack.
Larger problems surface when several attempts are made on Simon's life. The Mark of Cain obliterates any who attempt to touch him, a fact that is reminiscent of God's promise to exact vengeance upon any soul who would raise his hand to Cain. Still, the mystery of his assailant's identity tugs at the fabric of Simon's mind--as does the business proposition of the powerful vampire Camille, who has asked him to join her clan. Despite his isolation among his human friends, Simon resists his nature, a truth which the ancient vampiress gleans with ease.
When the bodies of shadow hunters that are part of "The Circle" of The Clave are found murdered in the four "downworlder" territories, suspicion turns to Camille. As Clare's tale unfolds however, it becomes evident that a greater evil is at work.
The novel ends on a cliffhanger, as an evil thought defeated resurfaces and threatens to overturn the tenuous victory of those who would stand against it.
Cassandra Clare breathes life into each and every sentence she constructs, transporting the reader to a world that both mirrors our reality and turns it on its head.
★★★☆☆ City of Bones introduces us to Clary Fray, whose mother has attempted to protect her from the dangers of a parallel world by setting up quarters in "Mundane" New York. Unfortunately, the forces of evil never sleep, and the pretense under which Clary has been living is shattered when her home is attacked by demons and a sleeping spell cast upon her mother. Slowly, Clary begins to unravel the truth about her shadow hunter lineage.
Assisted by the charming and mysterious Jace, whose fierce beauty,solitary nature, and martial prowess are reminiscent of a lion, Clary enters a world that has long haunted her dreams. Clary's mundane best friend Simon,and fellow shadow-hunters Alec and Isabelle join the two on the quest for the mortal cup, one of the three legendary mortal instruments sought by Valentine, the seductive, dark lord responsible for the attack of Clary's now-comatose mother.
As the story unfolds, Clary finds it more difficult to resist Jace's charm, and soon finds herself falling in love with him. Meanwhile,Simon also professes his love for the heroine, who feels herself torn between two worlds.
★★★☆☆ City of Ashes delves deeper into Jace's mysterious past, and reveals that the evil Valentine is, in fact, his father. The Clave, which is responsible for maintaining order in the Shadow Hunter world, begins to take an interest in the former, and there are whispered rumors of Jace's allegiance to Valentine. The dark lord has used the mortal cup he obtained in the first novel to summon a greater demon and collect the blood of downworlder children: the children of vampires, werewolves, fairies, and warlocks. Their combined blood is required for a ritual that will further solidify his power.
Meanwhile, unforeseen circumstances cause both Jace and Simon to individually question the extent to which each is capable of loving Clary in the way she deserves.
★★★☆☆ City of Glass follows Clary and her mentor Luke to Alicante. Although she was denied entry through the portal her friend the warlock Magnus Bane created, Clary finds that she can create portals of her own. The ability she exhibited toward the end of City of Ashes is pursued in greater detail. The heroine seeks out the warlock Ragnor Fell per the instructions of an old friend of her mother's who approaches her early in the novel. Assumed truths are reexamined, allegiances and motivations are scrutinized, and downworlders and shadow-hunters are united in the task of fighting Valentine's demon forces and creating a new, better world. No one is left unchanged; even Valentine's resolve wavers before the angel he summons with the united mortal instruments. The effect on the reader is immediate-she feels good and evil as relative to the choices we all make.
★★★☆☆ City of Fallen Angels examines the complicated relationships developed between and among the characters central to the series. As drawn as he is to Clary Fray, Jace also questions his ability to protect and love her. Dark memories of his past threaten to unhinge his mind, and a series of nightmares endanger his sanity. Again and again, he dreams of driving a blade through his beloved. His imposed isolation causes a rift between the two. Meanwhile, Clary's best friend Simon, now transformed into a vampire bearing the Mark of Cain, struggles to keep two girls he's dating from learning of one another's existence. The first is the fierce shadowhunter, Isabelle, sister to Alec and adoptive sister to Jace. The other is the brave Maia, a werewolf belonging to Clary's mother's fiance's New York-based wolf pack.
Larger problems surface when several attempts are made on Simon's life. The Mark of Cain obliterates any who attempt to touch him, a fact that is reminiscent of God's promise to exact vengeance upon any soul who would raise his hand to Cain. Still, the mystery of his assailant's identity tugs at the fabric of Simon's mind--as does the business proposition of the powerful vampire Camille, who has asked him to join her clan. Despite his isolation among his human friends, Simon resists his nature, a truth which the ancient vampiress gleans with ease.
When the bodies of shadow hunters that are part of "The Circle" of The Clave are found murdered in the four "downworlder" territories, suspicion turns to Camille. As Clare's tale unfolds however, it becomes evident that a greater evil is at work.
The novel ends on a cliffhanger, as an evil thought defeated resurfaces and threatens to overturn the tenuous victory of those who would stand against it.
Med Head by James Patterson
★★★★☆
Med Head is heartbreaking and uplifting in equal parts. Patterson and Friedman portray Tourette's Syndrome and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder through the first-person reflections of Corey Friedman, whose daily challenges seem to be more than he can bear. While Corey's specific afflictions may be foreign to the majority of readers, his introspection, desire for acceptance, and attempts to define himself will be understood by anyone who has ever had the joy of being a teenager.
Diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder early in his life, Corey often finds himself taking dozens of pills each day. The combination of certain medications is painful, often causing insomnia, inducing rage, or leading to a proliferation of the involuntary verbal and physical "tics" that make normalcy so difficult. The Friedman family is urged to continue each new regimen however, with the assurance that, eventually, some combination will successfully treat the conditions from which Corey suffers.
The reader is drawn into the day-to-day challenges of Corey's life through reflections on things as commonplace as doing homework, making friends, and trying new things. To Corey, each of these activities is a mountain to be climbed. His tics often earn him ridicule from classmates and exhausted expressions from the adults charged with insuring his success. The reader cringes ever so slightly when an excited Corey decides to write a curse word on the blackboard rather than the word of the day. His acknowledgment that alcohol brings the peace that his huge list of medications cannot tears at our hearts. Corey's athletic accomplishments have the opposite reaction, causing our hearts to sing with glee.
Most amazing of all is Corey's eventual recovery through self-imposed exposure to the elements via a wilderness camp and several therapy sessions at a local mental health facility. As he leaves the nightmare behind, Corey comes to sense the truth of what his dependence on psychiatric medication (and other substances) has done to him. Ironically, he must be forced into a situation where his brain doesn't have the option to misfire in order to break free of the prison where he has spent the majority of his life.
The book concludes with a series of instructive interviews in addition to information on Corey's various afflictions, the dangers of alcoholism, the nuanced definitions of various mental heath care professionals, and a list of additional resources.
Med Head is both engaging and enlightening, and might be used to initiate a variety of discussions on such issues as the mysteries of the human brain and the medical industry's failed attempts to treat every disorder, the importance of family and faith, the daunting struggles of adolescence, and the positive effects of patience and kindness.
Med Head is heartbreaking and uplifting in equal parts. Patterson and Friedman portray Tourette's Syndrome and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder through the first-person reflections of Corey Friedman, whose daily challenges seem to be more than he can bear. While Corey's specific afflictions may be foreign to the majority of readers, his introspection, desire for acceptance, and attempts to define himself will be understood by anyone who has ever had the joy of being a teenager.
Diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder early in his life, Corey often finds himself taking dozens of pills each day. The combination of certain medications is painful, often causing insomnia, inducing rage, or leading to a proliferation of the involuntary verbal and physical "tics" that make normalcy so difficult. The Friedman family is urged to continue each new regimen however, with the assurance that, eventually, some combination will successfully treat the conditions from which Corey suffers.
The reader is drawn into the day-to-day challenges of Corey's life through reflections on things as commonplace as doing homework, making friends, and trying new things. To Corey, each of these activities is a mountain to be climbed. His tics often earn him ridicule from classmates and exhausted expressions from the adults charged with insuring his success. The reader cringes ever so slightly when an excited Corey decides to write a curse word on the blackboard rather than the word of the day. His acknowledgment that alcohol brings the peace that his huge list of medications cannot tears at our hearts. Corey's athletic accomplishments have the opposite reaction, causing our hearts to sing with glee.
Most amazing of all is Corey's eventual recovery through self-imposed exposure to the elements via a wilderness camp and several therapy sessions at a local mental health facility. As he leaves the nightmare behind, Corey comes to sense the truth of what his dependence on psychiatric medication (and other substances) has done to him. Ironically, he must be forced into a situation where his brain doesn't have the option to misfire in order to break free of the prison where he has spent the majority of his life.
The book concludes with a series of instructive interviews in addition to information on Corey's various afflictions, the dangers of alcoholism, the nuanced definitions of various mental heath care professionals, and a list of additional resources.
Med Head is both engaging and enlightening, and might be used to initiate a variety of discussions on such issues as the mysteries of the human brain and the medical industry's failed attempts to treat every disorder, the importance of family and faith, the daunting struggles of adolescence, and the positive effects of patience and kindness.
Treat Yourself to Raspberry Pi!
If you're looking for a recipe for raspberry pie, I'm afraid I have to confess that this article fails to address the subject. You might have better luck here. You'll have to let us know how it comes out by the way. To quote Pulp Fiction, "Anytime is a good time for pie."
If, however, you noted the spelling of "pi" above and found yourself wondering what a non-repeating, non-terminating number has to do with a tart summertime berry...read on!
Essentially, the Raspberry Pi is a computer—yes, a computer. It isn't just any computer though. It's a tiny but powerful $25 computer, and you, yes you, can own one soon. There is a caveat: only one Raspberry Pi per customer. This prevents large, profit-driven organizations from buying up the majority of the devices and reselling them.
More amazing than the price tag is the hope embedded in each unit. We often hear that computing is the wave of the future, but too often we forget that not everyone enjoys the same level of access. Public libraries have taken great strides to change the situation, but the resources at their disposal are often woefully insufficient.
The Raspberry Pi is the culmination of a dream. In 2006, a Cambridge professor by the name of Eben Upton began to notice a decline in the technological skills of his students. The internet boom of the 1990s had created a large number of hobbyist programmers, but, as Upton observed, that number seemed to drop off as technologies became more intuitive. The educational infrastructure also de-emphasized skillsets that were more natural in a group of young people who weren't afraid to experiment.
While the Raspberry Pi Foundation admits that it can't change the dynamic with a single device, it feels it can make a difference. The Raspberry Pi's operating system is open source, meaning that the code used to program its components is available for viewing. The Foundation hopes that it won't take long for someone to perfect the Pi.
The price of the device makes it accessible to just about anyone. The educational community has expressed great interest in the Pi, and developing countries are looking into the possibilities it offers for development, growth, and sustainability.
Want to learn more? You can view a diagram of the mini-computer and find the answers to many common questions about the device here.
How will you use your Raspberry Pi?
If, however, you noted the spelling of "pi" above and found yourself wondering what a non-repeating, non-terminating number has to do with a tart summertime berry...read on!
Essentially, the Raspberry Pi is a computer—yes, a computer. It isn't just any computer though. It's a tiny but powerful $25 computer, and you, yes you, can own one soon. There is a caveat: only one Raspberry Pi per customer. This prevents large, profit-driven organizations from buying up the majority of the devices and reselling them.
More amazing than the price tag is the hope embedded in each unit. We often hear that computing is the wave of the future, but too often we forget that not everyone enjoys the same level of access. Public libraries have taken great strides to change the situation, but the resources at their disposal are often woefully insufficient.
The Raspberry Pi is the culmination of a dream. In 2006, a Cambridge professor by the name of Eben Upton began to notice a decline in the technological skills of his students. The internet boom of the 1990s had created a large number of hobbyist programmers, but, as Upton observed, that number seemed to drop off as technologies became more intuitive. The educational infrastructure also de-emphasized skillsets that were more natural in a group of young people who weren't afraid to experiment.
While the Raspberry Pi Foundation admits that it can't change the dynamic with a single device, it feels it can make a difference. The Raspberry Pi's operating system is open source, meaning that the code used to program its components is available for viewing. The Foundation hopes that it won't take long for someone to perfect the Pi.
The price of the device makes it accessible to just about anyone. The educational community has expressed great interest in the Pi, and developing countries are looking into the possibilities it offers for development, growth, and sustainability.
Want to learn more? You can view a diagram of the mini-computer and find the answers to many common questions about the device here.
How will you use your Raspberry Pi?
Friday, April 13, 2012
Maze Runner by James Dashner
★★★★☆
Maze Runner by James Dashner is the first in a trilogy whose trajectory is both strange and delightful. Thomas awakens one day to find himself struggling to remember his whole name, along with details of his life that should be easily accessible, but aren't. A lift delivers him to a place called The Glade. It is a walled-in community where work is assigned according to ability. Without knowing the origin of the desire, Tom knows he wants to be a runner. Runners leave the Glade daily to explore the maze that waits on the other side of it, all in the hope that the puzzle can be solved. Gladers look upon runners with a sense of awe, knowing perhaps that their destinies lie in the hands of these dedicated few.
But who would want to return to a life he can't recall? A handful of Gladers have had the misfortune of being stung by the wicked "Grievers" that haunt the maze. "The Makers" kindly send a serum along with the supplies with which they provide the Gladers, and while its application insures survival, those who have been stung must also pass through the Changing. Memories of a dark world and an unhappy existence filter through.
But when a girl arrives in the Glade when no one new was expected to show up for several weeks, suspicious eyes turn to Tom, who seemed to show up out of nowhere too. When the new Glader says his name, there is no escaping the fact that, in another life, Tom knew the strange girl called Teresa, whose words pierce into his mind. What is their connection? What does it mean for the others? Is it possible to escape the Maze after searching for clues for two years? Is escape even wise considering the memories The Changing has brought to light?
The Maze is character driven. It is mysterious and touching. Dashner's words make us simultaneously want to know more and fear where the truth might take us. The turns the story takes will anger you, delight you, thrill you...all in turn. Just when it seems there's nowhere left to go, the plot deepens. As it does so, the Gladers must learn the true meaning of concepts such as cooperation, trust, faith. The Maze Runner is fast-paced adventure writing at its best. I recommend it to anyone who's wondered who they were, what it all meant, and what might lie beyond.
Maze Runner by James Dashner is the first in a trilogy whose trajectory is both strange and delightful. Thomas awakens one day to find himself struggling to remember his whole name, along with details of his life that should be easily accessible, but aren't. A lift delivers him to a place called The Glade. It is a walled-in community where work is assigned according to ability. Without knowing the origin of the desire, Tom knows he wants to be a runner. Runners leave the Glade daily to explore the maze that waits on the other side of it, all in the hope that the puzzle can be solved. Gladers look upon runners with a sense of awe, knowing perhaps that their destinies lie in the hands of these dedicated few.
But who would want to return to a life he can't recall? A handful of Gladers have had the misfortune of being stung by the wicked "Grievers" that haunt the maze. "The Makers" kindly send a serum along with the supplies with which they provide the Gladers, and while its application insures survival, those who have been stung must also pass through the Changing. Memories of a dark world and an unhappy existence filter through.
But when a girl arrives in the Glade when no one new was expected to show up for several weeks, suspicious eyes turn to Tom, who seemed to show up out of nowhere too. When the new Glader says his name, there is no escaping the fact that, in another life, Tom knew the strange girl called Teresa, whose words pierce into his mind. What is their connection? What does it mean for the others? Is it possible to escape the Maze after searching for clues for two years? Is escape even wise considering the memories The Changing has brought to light?
The Maze is character driven. It is mysterious and touching. Dashner's words make us simultaneously want to know more and fear where the truth might take us. The turns the story takes will anger you, delight you, thrill you...all in turn. Just when it seems there's nowhere left to go, the plot deepens. As it does so, the Gladers must learn the true meaning of concepts such as cooperation, trust, faith. The Maze Runner is fast-paced adventure writing at its best. I recommend it to anyone who's wondered who they were, what it all meant, and what might lie beyond.
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