strange, also sublime

[eldritchhobbit]

I am back after a wonderful experience at Duke, in time to say happy birthday to Jules Verne (1828-1905), one of the great parents of science fiction.

In his honor, a quote for the day:

And, among the worthy people who have so kindly received us, I revise my record of these adventures once more. Not a fact has been omitted, not a detail exaggerated. It is a faithful narrative of this incredible expedition in an element inaccessible to man, but to which Progress will one day open a road.

Shall I be believed? I do not know. And it matters little, after all. What I now affirm is, that I have a right to speak of these seas, under which, in less than ten months, I have crossed 20,000 leagues in that
submarine tour of the world, which has revealed so many wonders.

But what has become of the Nautilus? Did it resist the pressure of the maelstrom? Does Captain Nemo still live? And does he still follow under the ocean those frightful retaliations? Or, did he stop after the last
hecatomb?

Will the waves one day carry to him this manuscript containing the history of his life? Shall I ever know the name of this man? Will the missing vessel tell us by its nationality that of Captain Nemo?

I hope so. And I also hope that his powerful vessel has conquered the sea at its most terrible gulf, and that the Nautilus has survived where so many other vessels have been lost! If it be so -- if Captain Nemo
still inhabits the ocean, his adopted country, may hatred be appeased in that savage heart! May the contemplation of so many wonders extinguish for ever the spirit of vengeance! May the judge disappear, and the philosopher continue the peaceful exploration of the sea! If his destiny be strange, it is also sublime. Have I not understood it myself? Have I not lived ten months of this unnatural life? And to the question asked by Ecclesiastes three thousand years ago, "That which is far off and exceeding deep, who can find it out?" two men alone of all now living have the right to give an answer -- CAPTAIN NEMO AND MYSELF.

-Jules Verne, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

Comments

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much! I am indeed much better. They gave me a high-powered antibiotic I'd never had before, and though it immediately made me much sicker than I had been, that quickly passed and I actually got well quite quickly. (I had my doubts for a while there! LOL.) The last six weeks or so have been a trip, but I think things are about to settle down and even out, which is most welcome.

High five to the lady with Jules Verne in her bookcase! :)

[randomalia.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear you're feeling better! That antibiotic sounds like a interesting thing indeed... I suppose it's vaguely like a fever: you feel far worse but it's doing the job. Whenever I get a fever I'm always reminded of that episode of Voyager, where the gel packs become infected and they have to raise the temperature in the ship to neutralise it. Strangely, thinking of that makes me feel better about it all (obviously because I am a big geek). :)

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Ha! :) Isn't that the "get the cheese to sickbay!" episode? Good old Voyager. It's making me feel better all over again too, just thinking about it.