Space races, a brick Moon, and love beyond time: must-read books in the Library of the Future
Reading
improves memory and vocabulary, helps develop imagination and empathy, and also
has a calming effect, reducing stress. Visitors of the National Centre RUSSIA
can find inspiration for reading and discover captivating books in the
"Library of the Future" hall that showcases outstanding works by
science fiction authors who foresaw much of what was to come.
"The
Wind from the Sun"
"The
Wind from the Sun" by Arthur Clarke is one of the most inspiring books in
the library. The author envisions a future where an incredible new sport
emerges — races on solar sail-powered spacecraft driven by the pressure of
sunlight. The protagonist dreams of joining such a race and fearlessly pursues
this goal. It is a story about how courage, intelligence, and self-belief can
guide us through any challenge. The protagonist's journey proves that one
should never despair, as solutions can be found even in the most difficult
situations.
"The
Brick Moon"
This
novella by American writer Edward Hale was serialized in The Atlantic Monthly,
beginning in 1869. It is a striking example of 19th-century science fiction,
where the author first explored the concept of an artificial satellite and a
space station.
The story
describes the development of a project to build and launch the Brick Moon — a
sphere made of bricks intended to serve as a celestial marker for determining
longitude. However, by a twist of fate, several dozen people end up on the
Moon. Unable to return to Earth, they must build a new civilization.
Interestingly,
the author not only proposed an unconventional technical solution for launching
the Brick Moon into orbit but also described, for the first time, a process
resembling modern crowdfunding. The construction and launch of the satellite
were extraordinarily expensive, so funding had to be gathered collectively from
across the world.
"Stronger
Than Time"
This book
by Alexander Kazantsev is one of the most romantic science fiction novellas of
the Soviet era, proving that true love transcends the laws of physics. At the
center of the story are two sweethearts, Arseny and Vilena. Arseny, as part of
a space crew, is set to travel to the planet Rela in the constellation of
Scorpius. Due to Einstein's time paradox, Arseny will return to Earth 50 years
later, though for him, only five years will have passed. Thus, an
insurmountable barrier of relentless time separates him from his beloved. Yet,
the future spouses carry their love through years and trials, demonstrating
that their feelings are truly stronger than time.
However,
"Stronger Than Time" is not just a love story — it is also the
author’s attempt to look into the future and imagine what our world might
become and which path human civilization will take. Alexander Kazantsev
believed that human greatness is rooted in reason and created a true ode to the
strength of the human spirit.
One of the tracks of the Open Dialogue is "Investments in Human Capital." The pitch session on this topic brought together over 30 speakers.
One of the key topics for discussion within the initiative became "Investments in Connectivity," which attracted 24% of the essay authors about the future of the world.
The pitch sessions on four tracks took place at the National Centre RUSSIA on April 28, with the participation of authors whose essays were selected by the expert council of the National Centre.