It Could Happen Here CZM Book Club : Hermetica, by Alan Lea, Part Four
Aug 24, 2025
Dive into the philosophical depths of 'Hermetica' as ancient teachings meet modern life. Discover hidden truths aboard a generation ship, where political strife and a lockdown virus unfold. Engage in profound conversations about existential disconnect and the quest for grounding. Experience the chaos of technological disruptions and unsettling news, alongside humorous takes on space exploration and marketing. Finally, celebrate moments of awe and realization, capturing the beauty and unpredictability of life in the cosmos.
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Episode notes
Generational Voyaging Creates Unique Alienation
- Generation-ship life breeds unique psychological stress from never seeing origin or destination.
- Margaret Kiljoy shows Days feeling estranged between Terra and unknown future homeworld.
Regain Grounding With Simple Experiments
- Use hands-on experiments to ground abstract fears and regain agency.
- Zimp offers a simple inertial demonstration to make Hermetica feel tangible and knowable.
An Old Novel Amplifies Modern Paranoia
- Days reads an archaic novel and senses pervasive surveillance and dread in its characters.
- The book amplifies Days' feelings of suffocation aboard Hermetica and prompts more questions.
