Since we discovered that we're about to turn onto final approach to Runway 00 at 21st Century airport (sometime this coming April, according to PNG), I've done some rumaging around in the flight bag and found an astonishing document. This document, among other things, tells us what the name of this aircraft that we're on is, (Taker Thunderbolt) and gives us a biographical sketch of the aircraft from conception and before, through manufacturing and various events leading up to the leg of the flight we're currently flying!

Although the Flight Plan is not specifically included, the rules we are flying under are laid out and explained in terrifying detail. Normally, there are Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). This aircraft, however, is flying under a completely different set of rules called Taker Flight Rules.

I've discovered that although I was correct in that your position and activity at touchdown would be crucial to your survival in the event of a crash, Jack Sprat was also correct in his assertion that there are a few parachutes. Bailing out, however is indeed extremely risky (although possible to survive in this aircraft) and will be limited to those very few hard case D&Gers who have the utmost comittment to their beliefs.

I've discovered that the Taker Thunderbolt is only scheduled to make an interim stopover at 21st Century airport. Furthermore, this document confirms (although by extrapolation) what we all knew: that there are nuclear weapons and chemical weapons and biological weapons aboard that could kill us all, along with all the personnel at the airport. Unless we crash and everyone is killed, the flight will continue. If we crash and any survive, the surviving crew and airport personnel will (according to the plan described in this document) eventually repair the aircraft and the flight will continue. According to this document, however, the Taker Thunderbolt will eventually crash, if not at 21st Century airport, perhaps on takeoff or soon after. It is my opinion that those of us who survive the landing and have read and understood this document will leave the Taker Thunderbolt at the first opportunity and have no part of any repair effort. This group will instead, begin the construction of an airship of an entirely different design as they will be aware of the fatally flawed design of this one.

Unlike a lot of you, I have not read Ed Yourdon's book. Neither did I previously know of Ed nor of his reputation in the software field. According to my own experience though, I've come to believe that when all, or nearly all, that you hear about another is consistent, it is likely to be accurate. That is, if all that you hear about a man is bad, he's likely to be so and if all that you hear is good, he's likely to be that as well. I have heard no negative, or even lukewarm, comments about Ed Yourdon, (Trolls excepted) and the people who speak of him on this forum have displayed credentials and understanding of such nature that I was, and am, prepared to take Ed on faith. In short, I trust him and I believe that he knows what he's talking about.

So it was that I came to discover the document referenced above. Just before last Christmas, there was a thread on this forum titled, Ishmael by Daniel Quinn . Ed's post on this thread struck me right in the curiosity and I ordered the book. It arrived on Friday and I've done little else but read it since I opened it, including visiting this forum.

Do you remember how you felt when you first "Got It" about Y2K? Do you remember the tingling throughout your nervous system and the inner voice that fanatically drove you to discover what it was all about? Ishmael would do that in any case, but within the context of Y2K awareness, it was an immediate and total takeover of my entire attention and I suspect would be for you as well.

A great many of the questions that we've discussed on this forum are no longer questions, in my mind, after reading Ishmael. As soon as I finish writing this, I'm going to read it yet again. I suspect that I'll read it quite a few times before the sequel and Quinn's other book(s) arrive. Honestly, it's that kind of experience. Try it: you will never look at life or Y2K in the same way again.

-- Hardliner (searcher@internet.com), January 31, 1999

Answers

Hardliner-I was wondering if anyone else on this forum would ever connect Ishmael and y2k. And as absolutely awesome and mindblowing as Ishmael is,I think he even outdoes himself with the sequel My Ishmael. A bit exaggerated perhaps,but reading these books and GETTING IT is absolutely equal to GI about y2k.

-- howie (dryfarmer@hotmail.com), January 31, 1999.

I've heard of that book and plan on reading it, but can you give us a hint as to how we will perceive Y2K after reading it?

-- (@@@.@), January 31, 1999.

Hardliner, how about a short paragraph on the theme of Ishmael. I've not read the book. You've got my interest, but I'd appreciate a little more information before I call the bookstore.

-- Puddintame (dit@dot.com), January 31, 1999.

If I could be so bold as to suggest one other book. It is written by Octavia Butler in 1994, called "The Parable of the Sower". I read it early this summer and it painted a world that we all might face after 2000.

-- Cary Mc from Tx (Caretha@compuserve.com), January 31, 1999.

Ishmael can not be explained with a summary paragraph. You'll have to read it yourself. I consider it to be an alternative view of world history told in novel form - one that makes more sense to me than the lies I was told in school.

The funny thing about Ishmael is that the author didn't say anthing I didn't already know. he just said it in a way that made me relax and say "aha, - so i'm not crazy for thinking/knowing/seeing that". Even so - I walked around in shock for a week or two. That book really did "change my world view". And when that happens, you have big life changes in your actions too - because you are not the same person anymore.

Anyone who enjoys this forum would probably enjoy reading Ishmael - its an interesting novel and good mental exercise at the same time.

Berry

-- Berry (BerryPicking@yahoo.com), January 31, 1999.

"Berry" is correct. There is no way to summarize Ishmael and do it justice. It is rather short and quite succinct in and of itself.

As "Berry" noted, it is an alternate view, but that is not to say that it is a view of something different. It is a different view of the same thing. You are asked to accept nothing new in the way of history, only to view it from a different point.

If you can read this book and not undergo a profound change in your perception of the world around you, you are very very different than anyone I've ever met.

FWIW, I found the change to be an extremely positive change and a valuable addition to the mental preparations and adjustments that I'm making vis a vis the ramifications of Y2K.

-- Hardliner (searcher@internet.com), February 01, 1999.

"can you give us a hint as to how we will perceive Y2K after reading it?"

Depends on how you handle it. Some who read Ishmael will react strongly against it. (Which is OK.) A lot of people will say "I knew that all the time! Why didn't I recognize it? Anyway it's a good thing Quinn wrote this." Then there's a group who will discover that their world is just about turned upside down. Which is quite uncomfortable. And it will dawn on them that there is another way to understand the world, and our lives. A way I'll let Ishmael describe.

But you asked about Y2K. It's nowhere mentioned in this book. But when you read it, you will see. Everything we've done and learned since the first city was built in Sumer -- or earlier -- has led us to this point.

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), February 01, 1999.

I read "Ishmael" a couple of years ago, and I haven't looked at the world the same way since. Daniel Quinn has another book that's due to come out this fall. It's called "Beyond Civilization" and I believe it's nonfiction. Also, a movie inspired by "Ishmael" is supposed to come out this summer. "Instinct" will star Anthony Hopkins and Cuba Gooding, Jr.

BTW, I have a small (extremely small) business selling used and out-of-print books. I try to keep copies of Daniel Quinn's books in stock at reasonable prices because I believe it's so important for people to read them. If anyone is interested, I have several new hardback editions of "Ishmael" available for $9.95 each, plus $4.00 shipping and handling. I also have one copy of "The Story of B" available for the same price. If you're interested, send me an e-mail and I'll let you know how to order.

-- Pam G. (Pam95818@aol.com), February 01, 1999.

OK, I got Ishmael at the library and I've been introduced to Ishmael, but I'm only about 30 pages into it. Nothing heavy yet, but I have high expectations.

-- Puddintame (dit@dot.com), February 01, 1999.

Should also mention that Ishmael has his own website at www.ishmael.com.

-- Pam G. (Pam95818@aol.com), February 02, 1999.

My local branch is having a copy of Ishmael sent from the main library, should be there tomorrow. Looking forward to reading it.

-- Uncle Deedah (oncebitten@twiceshy.com), February 02, 1999.