What can we learn from history? That we don’t learn from history.

Why is this a science fiction classic? Humanity can survive the worst catastrophe, rebuild, and endlessly repeat the same mistakes It asks questions of its reader that are not easy or comfortable to think about What is the dark side of technology? That there is no guarantee that knowledge will be well used, even if preserved by good men

Part I:Is there hope for humanity? Yes, when the first book ends, the monks are dedicated to preserving knowledge in the hopes that it will someday benefit someone They faced constant danger in doing so. Why? Tension between those who would preserve knowledge and those who would destroy it

Part I: Societal Structure Nomadic existence for society in Texarcana New Rome (somewhere in the western US) The Monastery is in the middle of the desert The Pope’s Children, bands of genetically disfigured humans, roam the desert

Part II: Hope Turns to Triumph Tension between those who preserve knowledge and those who would use it In the end, the abbey is recognized as the true source of ancient knowledge The scientist, Thon Taddeo, gains knowledge from this source But it is a pyrrhic victory

Part II: Societal Structure Mayor Hannigan of Texarcana tries to unite all of N. America No moral consideration for various factions Only the desire to play one power off of another

Part III: Increased Tensions The monks have remained consistent throughout the work as a kind of moral compass But the invention of nuclear weapons causes mass destruction Will the new colony near Alpha Centuri repeat the mistakes again?

Part III: Societal Structure The history of superpowers repeats itself US faces off against another world superpower Devastation occurs

What did the scientist say to the monk? “How can a great and wise civilization have destroyed itself so completely? “Perhaps” says the monk, “by being materially great and materially wise and nothing else.”

But is there another hope? Yes, if you look closely at the book’s message There are people in the book who do not simply restrict themselves to the search for money and power If you put things in proper perspective, then all will be well

The End Who is Rachel? Why does she resist baptism? We don’t know if she represents human salvation

Summary What has not changed in the future? There is still racism, poverty, illness, etc. What is the price of civilization? War is one of the consequences