booklore
or book lore
[boo k-lawr]
1. facts and information about books, especially about authors and circumstances of publication.
2. book learning.
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Bis was nudged awake after much too short a time. He looked up at Dr. Gevin with an annoyed
look. The older man was too giddy to notice.
look. The older man was too giddy to notice.
“I guess the scrubbers are done?” Bis asked.
“Naturally. Now come on, we have much to see.” The doctor said quickly.
Without waiting for his student, Dr. Gevin ran into the freshly cleaned room.
The room was larger than Bis would have thought for something so deep underground. It was
simply furnished with things that he did not know, but could guess at. One was long, squat and
rectangular, with some kind of cushion covering its surface. He assumed it was a type of
bedding system.
simply furnished with things that he did not know, but could guess at. One was long, squat and
rectangular, with some kind of cushion covering its surface. He assumed it was a type of
bedding system.
A pair of objects that he guessed we're a desk and chair sat along one wall. The desk was
clear of objects, and Bis was not sure whether that was because the former owner of the room
had left it that was, or if the scrubbers had gotten a bit too zealous.
clear of objects, and Bis was not sure whether that was because the former owner of the room
had left it that was, or if the scrubbers had gotten a bit too zealous.
But what dominated the room by far were the shelves. The walls were covered with them, and
all were full. The objects on the shelves seemed to be made of some kind of processed plant
fiber, sported words on them and had probably once been quite colorful.
all were full. The objects on the shelves seemed to be made of some kind of processed plant
fiber, sported words on them and had probably once been quite colorful.
“Look at it.” Dr. Gevin said breathlessly. “Isn't it amazing? An almost perfectly preserved
shelter from the mid 21st century. Amazing. Truly amazing.”
shelter from the mid 21st century. Amazing. Truly amazing.”
Bis went up to one of the shelves. Instead of touching the no doubt fragile objects, he lowered
his scope visor and used the data feed to study them.
his scope visor and used the data feed to study them.
“What are these?” He asked.
“Books, my boy, books. Don't you remember? I talked about them in class.”
Bis thoughts about it. After that and a quick digital reminder, he said “Right, books. Paper
objects used to record information that remained popular even after the advent of digital
technology.”
objects used to record information that remained popular even after the advent of digital
technology.”
“Exactly. These books will give us insight into our ancestor’s lives. Their culture, their thoughts.
We’ve never seen so many books, so well preserved. This is true marvel.”
We’ve never seen so many books, so well preserved. This is true marvel.”
“What language is this?”
“English. It was the predominant language back before the Grand Unification. Your scope
should have all needed translation systems in place already.”
should have all needed translation systems in place already.”
Bis found the language system quickly enough and began to look them over.
“Harry Potter.” He read out loud. “Who's he?”
Dr. Gevin came over and looked at the faded titles.
“I don't know, but I’ve seen his name before. Many ancient ruins with intact writing have his
name somewhere. Not all, but many. We assume he was some kind of major political figure.
And a big one, seeing as he had eight books written about him. Oh I can't wait to get these
scanned and start reading them.”
name somewhere. Not all, but many. We assume he was some kind of major political figure.
And a big one, seeing as he had eight books written about him. Oh I can't wait to get these
scanned and start reading them.”
Bis nodded and continued to look around. There was one shelf with books all containing a
single word with a number.
single word with a number.
“What's a naruto?” He asked. “And why does it need so many books?”
Dr. Gevin hummed as he consulted his scope’s data reserves.
“It looks like a type of Japanese fish dish. I suppose that would make those Oriental cookbooks.
Fascinating. I would never have guessed we’d get insight into 21st century diets here. Keep
looking. It seems like you have good luck in finding all the best treasures. I’ll keep searching
for the other rooms.”
Fascinating. I would never have guessed we’d get insight into 21st century diets here. Keep
looking. It seems like you have good luck in finding all the best treasures. I’ll keep searching
for the other rooms.”
Nothing else really caught Bis’ eye as he searched, so he picked one at random.
“50 Shades of Grey?”
“Probably an art book.” Dr. Gevin said as he fiddled with his scope to search for hidden doors.
Bis looked at another long row of colorful books in surprise. “Hey, I thought the 21st century
people were messy.”
people were messy.”
“As far as we know.”
“Then why are there more than 70 books about a single cleaning supply?”
Dr. Gevin looked over his shoulder with his hands still probing a wall. “What?”
“There’s 74 numbered books all about bleach.”
“Hm. Well, imagine that.”
Bis was about to finish looking over the books and help examine the structure when he saw
something that made him freeze. “I thought the 21st century was pre-space travel.”
something that made him freeze. “I thought the 21st century was pre-space travel.”
“It was.”
“Then why is there a guide on galactic travel? And proof that other species were here a lot
earlier than we thought.”
earlier than we thought.”
That brought Dr. Gevin over to him. Bis pointed out the two books in question, Hitchhiker’s
Guide to the Galaxy and The Zombie Survival Guide.
Guide to the Galaxy and The Zombie Survival Guide.
“Well now, that is interesting.” Dr. Gevin said. “The Zombie delegation will be interested in the
second one. They say they didn’t get to this section of space until the 25th century. I wonder
what the truth is.”
second one. They say they didn’t get to this section of space until the 25th century. I wonder
what the truth is.”
“I’m more interested in that survival guide part. I mean, the Zombies are, like, the nicest species
out there. Why would anyone need a survival guide for them?”
out there. Why would anyone need a survival guide for them?”
“I guess we’ll find out later.” Dr. Gevin paused a moment, then approached one of the few areas
of the wall that was not covered by a shelf. “Here we go.” He said as he pressed an otherwise
normal looking section of the wall.
of the wall that was not covered by a shelf. “Here we go.” He said as he pressed an otherwise
normal looking section of the wall.
The wall slid away with a heavy grinding sound. A circular hatch was revealed, showing another
section of the shelter.
section of the shelter.
“Now then, let’s get to exploring.” The old doctor said. “These books are a treasure trove of
history, but there’s so much more to see.”
history, but there’s so much more to see.”
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I guess everything in the future in non fiction. That's kind of sad. But the fact that zombies are real is cool, even if they're actually aliens and not the undead. Still cool.
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