Waiting for the Galactic Bus

 

                                                                                 

  

Once again embarked on cleaning, de-accessioning, and generally bringing order to long-overlooked parts of the house, I've moved on to my workroom. Oh, boy, what a challenge! All my various past enthusiasms have left their clutter--lots of writing, painting, quilting, sewing, and other craft stuff to deal with, including an embarrassing number of unfinished items.

As I began clearing away odds and ends that had accumulated on my cutting table, I came across a book that I didn't remember and premised that perhaps it had been intended as a gift for someone. 

Nope, it was a book Mario and Jayna recommended to me back in 2015. And I bought it and read it and, if my blog post is to be believed, really enjoyed it.

I said:

The premise is that two teenagers from a very long-lived alien race were stranded on Earth at a time when apes were the most advanced form of life. The teens experimented with giving the primates a bit of a push (a la SPACE ODYSSEY 2001.)  

As time passed and the primates evolved, the two aliens came to be regarded as gods  . . . and when, much, much later, an anguished St. Augustine realizes the truth and asks what remains, if his beliefs are based on a mistake, he is told:

 "A great deal remains, you relentless man . . . that splendid mind I gave you. Though it's very like building a magnificent car for someone who obstinately refuses to learn to drive."

Waiting for the Galactic Bus is a wonderful, thought-provoking romp through time, history, theology, and philosophy!

With a glowing review like that, I had to read it (again.) And I'm enjoying it all over again. And finding it fearfully pertinent to 2024.