The Book That Saved the Earth

1.0About the Author

2.0Central Idea

This play is based on science fantasy, story is set in the twenty- fifth century. Play exemplifies what Stephen Hawking said about knowledge, "A greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge." Think-Tank is an arrogant fool ruling the planet Mars. He decided to invade the planet Earth. Think-Tank disclosed his plan to his apprentice Noodle and instructed him to collect information about the position of his crew on the Earth. There are three members in the crew-Captain Omega, Lieutenant Iota and Sergeant Oop. Noodle contacted Omega and informed Think-Tank that the crew was in the Centerville Public Library. The crew members had books in their hands and were trying to identify the objects. They were unable to identify them. Think Tank offered his wisdom to help them in identifying the objects. Think Tank, flattered as the most intelligent and powerful creature in the whole universe. But Think Tank gives ridiculous and fantastic interpretations of books. Think- Tank interpreted the rhymes in his own way. He concluded that the people on the Earth were more powerful and advanced than he was. He got scared and instructed the crew to come back. He decided to evacuate the entire planet of Mars also.

3.0Arrogant Mighty Ruler

The first scene of the play belongs to the twenty-fifth century in the Museum of Ancient History on the planet Earth. The historian tells the audience that twentieth century was called the Era of books. Books contained information about everything. One of the strangest thing a book did was that it saved the Earth. The historian then tells them that a book saved the Earth from the Martian invasion of 2040.

The historian then shows the audience. He has a huge, eggshaped head and he wore a long robe decorated with stars and circles. His apprentice Noodle is standing beside him at a switch-board audience through historiscope that Think-Tank is seated on a raised box with arms folded. Think-Tank was the commander-in-chief and the ruler of Mars. He was being praised with proper salutation by his apprentice Noodle.

4.0Martian Invasion

Lieutenant Iota thinks that the place must be some kind of a storage barn as it has two thousand peculiar items (books). The Martians in the space probe got confused about the strange items, all of them start making guesses about the books. Sergeant Oop thinks that the books are hats.

5.0Decoding the Books

The Martian team could not read the books and come to a conclusion that the printed lines and pictures must be some kind of code. Think -Tank then asked the probe team to eat the vitamins given to them to read the code. They follow him and are able to read the book. As captain Omega read the rhyme Think-Tank thought that the Earthlings were very advanced. They have discovered to combine agriculture and mining. They can grow cockle shells and silver. They had taught their domestic animals musical culture and space techniques. He thought they are about to send cows for an invasion to the moon. He is further terrified when he sees the picture of the fallen Humpty-Dumpty. He thinks it to be his picture. He declares that the Earthlings have seen him and they are planning to capture Mars Central Control as well as him. Think-Tank cancels the invasion. He ordered Noodle to prepare a space capsule for him to escape. He asks his probe to leave. He orders his fleet to escape to the star Alpha Centauri and evacuate the entire planet of Mars. The Historian reveals that it was 'Mother Goose', a book of rhymes, that saved the Earth. Mars and Earth were now friends. Noodle succeeded Think-Tank and became the head Mars. Earthlings had even set up a library in their capital city of Marsopolis. However, Martians could never gather the courage to read the 'Mother Goose' book.

6.0Let's Recall

• The Historian welcomes visitors to the Museum of Ancient History in the twenty-fifth century. She informs them how a book saved the Earth from a Martian invasion in 2040.
• Think-Tank, the ruler, sends a probe a team to Earth. The probe team reaches a library but are puzzled to see books. They make guesses. One of them calls them hats.
• Think Tank very proudly calls them sandwiches and orders his crew to eat them.
• The trainee under Think Tank, Noodle, points out that they may be used for communication. Think Tank orders them to listen to the communication devices (books).
• When they can't hear anything, Noodle says that Earthlings watch them. Think-Tank asks his crew to watch them. But they cannot understand the pictures or the lines of writing.
• They are ordered to eat vitamins that were given to them and decode the lines of writing. After consuming vitamins, the crew is able to read nursery rhymes and words.
• Think Tank assumes that earthlings were a very advanced civilian.
• Think-Tank is further terrified when he sees the picture of Humpty Dumpty. He assumes that earthlings were planning to capture him by invading Mars.
• He orders the Martian fleet to evacuate Mars and he decides to flee to the stars Alpha Centauri to escape from earthlings.
• In the twenty fifth century, the Historian says that people of Earth and Martians are friends. Earthlings have established a library in the Martian capital of Marsopolis.