17776
by Jon Bois
Every once in a while, you come across a work of art that you already know will stick with you long after you finish it. This is one of those works for me. It’s not really a book, more like a mixed media experience/web series.
A simple answer to life’s greatest questions
This is the first time a piece of media filled me with existential comfort. I’ve always been terrified of infinity and never dying, but I think that’s because we tend to look at infinity as a „void”. But this work challenged the fuck out of my biases, made me feel hopeful about the future.
„Apocalyptic” is a word that we use whenever surrounded by dread. Hell, when i’m writing this, just a day ago everyone was uncertain if the world will continue to exist, the threat of a 3rd world war is upon us, and it’s not gonna disappear any time soon (unless somebody does IT(somebody please do IT)). But of all „apocalyptic” scenarios, this one speaks to me the most. Where we, as a race, solved hunger, wars, poverty, and every possible thing causing us suffering (although not really, one of the final chapters in the book speaks about climate change and it really hits hard), and our greatest worry is being bored. Besides, it’s now my favourite answer to the question of how technology will advance.
„Humanity had a choice. They could continue wandering through the endless darkness, an absence of everything they loved, an endless void of disappointment and loneliness…
…or they could look down, and embrace what they always had and loved”
This is the story, of how in the face of incomprehensible horrors, and unimaginable fates, we as humans remain kind, and loving, and playful. I never really got into sports, until recently when i discovered baseball (GO M’s), but this makes me understand why we „waste” time on chasing balls and shit. This story fills you with love and joy and sometimes uneasiness, but not really terror. It’s way too hopeful and heartwarming to be scary.
The idea and concept is straight out of something that borges would write, but it’s written by a fucking sports journalist! and it’s so incredibly good, if you see this review, look up 17776 on google, click on the sbnation link, and let yourself be immersed in wonderful endlessness.
17776 found me when i needed light in my world, and boy did it deliver.
The ability of humans to form a working society/10
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