Man has gone to the moon and returned. Even as I type out this statement a machine built on Earth trudges about on the surface of Mars. Doing our bidding, We live in the Space Age. But no...live is not the correct term. Not yet.
No, we crawl in the Space Age. In an era when Man's achievements and drive have finally unlocked the final frontier we still indulge ourselves in traditions and rituals that should have by all means been eradicated by now. War, poverty, greed still rule this world. Crushing humanity's dreams under its heel. We are two worlds now. One striving ever outwards, striving to attain humanity's place in the stars and then there is the other. The world created from the collective memories, fears and nightmares of two millenia of human conflict and misunderstanding. The anchored world. The world that shuns change, shuns novelty, shuns anything that might break the patterns and shatter the illusions of control. Which is a damn shame considering it is already 2012. And by Arthur C Clarke's schedule, we are way behind.
Mankind has been infatuated with Space for a long time. It was the pioneers of Science Fiction who first kindled the dreams of space travel in our hearts. Sci Fi as a genre exploded and solidified in the glory years of space exploration and has been on the wane since then. But it is the prediction of this humble reviewer of manga that Sci Fi is about to come back in a big way. After all like I said, its 2012 already. So in preparation of the resurgent wave of Science Fiction, I shall be presenting to you some absolutely not to be missed Manga set firmly in the realm of Science Fiction.
And we begin this awesome compilation with...
Planetes is ancient greek for "Wandering" or Planets, an apt name indeed. This manga is one of the most intricately designed pieces of art out there. Every word, every panel, every line, every background object. This manga is a masterwork of detail. And it is all set firmly in the Sci Fi world. After 2070 Earth faces a fuel crisis of sorts. Harvesting Helium 3 for Fusion powers the Space exploration drive. A new bubble of growth is centered around Space exploration. And since the riches of space are limitless it is not a bubble which can so easily be burst. The manga universe explores the possibility of a world where all society revolves around space exploration. Entire industries have spawned to support the needs that arise with such a momentous task. Entire economies exist on it. And this world seems hauntingly familiar to our own.
Of course it is not a perfect world. Humans being Humans are always pulled down by their baser instincts. Each man and woman fight their own battles with their own demons. Not everyone wins. Greed is not extinct. Pride is not forgotten. War is still a shadow that looms over our future. But it is still a better world. For flowering in this Space Age are the very virtues of humanity that make us do great things. The quest for knowledge. The drive for knowing. Our hunger for more. And in taking these steps into space Mankind faces some very obvious changes. Our horizon as a species expands manifold. Our perspective changes collectively. This manga touches over all of this and much much more.
Man will inevitably become aware of his place in the Cosmos. One way or the other. And in becoming aware of the universe that surrounds and envelops him he will be driven to seek out a balance within his own species. We are each alone in this world of ours. But we need not be so. Our isolation is as self imposed as it is artificial.
Ive been a fan of Yukimura Makoto's fine work for a while and am aware of the man's ability to sway our emotions but still this manga moved me. It reminded me of my own great love for Space. My infatuation with becoming an astronaut. It reminded me of a world I dreamed of when I was a child. One I was sure would be waiting for me by the time I grew up. A world with Space Stations, Lunar bases and regular ferries to the Moon and Mars. A world where the final frontier was not a glorified PR campaign to win an election. A world where mankind finally looks toward Space, towards the Stars. But most importantly this manga reminded me that even though we do not live in such a world, I can still dream that such a world come to pass. Read the manga for beautiful story of humanity taking its first steps towards the stars. Read it for its glorious artwork filled with amazing detail and realism. Or read it because you really dig Space. Either way, read it.
This one needs to be read!
No, we crawl in the Space Age. In an era when Man's achievements and drive have finally unlocked the final frontier we still indulge ourselves in traditions and rituals that should have by all means been eradicated by now. War, poverty, greed still rule this world. Crushing humanity's dreams under its heel. We are two worlds now. One striving ever outwards, striving to attain humanity's place in the stars and then there is the other. The world created from the collective memories, fears and nightmares of two millenia of human conflict and misunderstanding. The anchored world. The world that shuns change, shuns novelty, shuns anything that might break the patterns and shatter the illusions of control. Which is a damn shame considering it is already 2012. And by Arthur C Clarke's schedule, we are way behind.
Mankind has been infatuated with Space for a long time. It was the pioneers of Science Fiction who first kindled the dreams of space travel in our hearts. Sci Fi as a genre exploded and solidified in the glory years of space exploration and has been on the wane since then. But it is the prediction of this humble reviewer of manga that Sci Fi is about to come back in a big way. After all like I said, its 2012 already. So in preparation of the resurgent wave of Science Fiction, I shall be presenting to you some absolutely not to be missed Manga set firmly in the realm of Science Fiction.
And we begin this awesome compilation with...
Planetes.
Ominous
Planetes is ancient greek for "Wandering" or Planets, an apt name indeed. This manga is one of the most intricately designed pieces of art out there. Every word, every panel, every line, every background object. This manga is a masterwork of detail. And it is all set firmly in the Sci Fi world. After 2070 Earth faces a fuel crisis of sorts. Harvesting Helium 3 for Fusion powers the Space exploration drive. A new bubble of growth is centered around Space exploration. And since the riches of space are limitless it is not a bubble which can so easily be burst. The manga universe explores the possibility of a world where all society revolves around space exploration. Entire industries have spawned to support the needs that arise with such a momentous task. Entire economies exist on it. And this world seems hauntingly familiar to our own.
Engineers will get a hard on
Of course it is not a perfect world. Humans being Humans are always pulled down by their baser instincts. Each man and woman fight their own battles with their own demons. Not everyone wins. Greed is not extinct. Pride is not forgotten. War is still a shadow that looms over our future. But it is still a better world. For flowering in this Space Age are the very virtues of humanity that make us do great things. The quest for knowledge. The drive for knowing. Our hunger for more. And in taking these steps into space Mankind faces some very obvious changes. Our horizon as a species expands manifold. Our perspective changes collectively. This manga touches over all of this and much much more.
As a bonus it has explosions
Man will inevitably become aware of his place in the Cosmos. One way or the other. And in becoming aware of the universe that surrounds and envelops him he will be driven to seek out a balance within his own species. We are each alone in this world of ours. But we need not be so. Our isolation is as self imposed as it is artificial.
uhh..no..just something in my eye*sniff*
Ive been a fan of Yukimura Makoto's fine work for a while and am aware of the man's ability to sway our emotions but still this manga moved me. It reminded me of my own great love for Space. My infatuation with becoming an astronaut. It reminded me of a world I dreamed of when I was a child. One I was sure would be waiting for me by the time I grew up. A world with Space Stations, Lunar bases and regular ferries to the Moon and Mars. A world where the final frontier was not a glorified PR campaign to win an election. A world where mankind finally looks toward Space, towards the Stars. But most importantly this manga reminded me that even though we do not live in such a world, I can still dream that such a world come to pass. Read the manga for beautiful story of humanity taking its first steps towards the stars. Read it for its glorious artwork filled with amazing detail and realism. Or read it because you really dig Space. Either way, read it.
This one needs to be read!
That's what she said!
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