[ Wolfe doesn't smile at her words, but the intensity of his expression lessens just a bit. He's read about the burning of Alexandria's Great Library, the destruction of the Lighthouse—he's mourned its loss in this world, but that means there is no Archivist, no Artifex to hunt him down. ]
And if it did not? Imagine instead if it only grew—that it operated daughter libraries all over the world so that the knowledge of its Scholars could be shared with anybody who wished to learn.
[ Almost unconsciously he's taken on his teaching voice as he lectures, slipping into the familiar patterns. ]
The destruction of the Serapeum at Rayy in 1029 resulted in the loss of more than 50,000 original works and thousands of years' worth of knowledge. As a result, the Library drew its knowledge closer, requiring that any original volumes be sent to Alexandria for protection and preservation of knowledge and meted out under its watchful eye. The Doctrine of Ownership was issued, making it illegal to own any book that was not one of the Library's copies.
[ He pauses here, looking directly at her. The intensity in his eyes is back, returned during his mini-lecture. ]
What do you think happens if one institution is charged with the appraisal and dissemination of the world's knowledge? When those in power review any discoveries or inventions resulting from their Scholars' research before the world learns of it?
no subject
And if it did not? Imagine instead if it only grew—that it operated daughter libraries all over the world so that the knowledge of its Scholars could be shared with anybody who wished to learn.
[ Almost unconsciously he's taken on his teaching voice as he lectures, slipping into the familiar patterns. ]
The destruction of the Serapeum at Rayy in 1029 resulted in the loss of more than 50,000 original works and thousands of years' worth of knowledge. As a result, the Library drew its knowledge closer, requiring that any original volumes be sent to Alexandria for protection and preservation of knowledge and meted out under its watchful eye. The Doctrine of Ownership was issued, making it illegal to own any book that was not one of the Library's copies.
[ He pauses here, looking directly at her. The intensity in his eyes is back, returned during his mini-lecture. ]
What do you think happens if one institution is charged with the appraisal and dissemination of the world's knowledge? When those in power review any discoveries or inventions resulting from their Scholars' research before the world learns of it?