many books moved me, comforted me, and made me grow. thanks to the that, I can be where I am today. So it was difficult to pick just one life book. I pick one book what among the books I have read recently that impressed me deeply. This is Kim Cho-yeop's sci-fi <The Greenhouse at the End of the Earth>.
These days I often think about destruction. Due to the spread of ‘COVID19’ lasting for 3 years, large-scaled forest fires, occurred terrible downpour last summer, and the earthquake in Turkiye. many people suffered and lost their lives and habitat.
There is a saying that 'disasters are never fair'. I think disasters go to the poor first. In a disaster situation, discrimination and hatred deepen.
The appearance of destruction in the novel is exactly like this. The development of science technology made a lot robots that replace humans and autonomous driving car. This made it convenient for people. but it has brought about a catastrophe that disabling all of these. In 2055, poisonous dust self-propagated and suddenly encroach the earth.
In the novel, the story of Naomi and Ah-yeong unfolds alternately. Naomi is survived through the middle of the destruction. Ayeong is a researcher at the 'Dust Ecology Research Center'. Ah-yeonge traces the origins of Mosvana, which was an exclusive species in the Dust era, and meets Naomi.
Dust made all breathing beings die in an instant. 90% of the world's population dies from acute poisoning by dust. Few survivors create a 'dome city' isolated from the outside. Those who can enter Dome City are those with power and money.
The world is divided into inside and outside of Dome City. people start to shoot each other by making killer robots to survive in this dust. Some women with dust antibodies are chased by hunters, robbed of their blood and even became the experement materials.
The women who survived being kicked out of Dome City create their own community, 'Prime Village', in a remote forest outside the dome. Naomi also managed to escape Dome City after being subjected to biological experiments. She wandered through her forest and came to Prim Village. Most of the people gathered here are those who were bullied and discarded.
There is a 'greenhouse' at the highest point in this village. The owner of this greenhouse is Rachel. She only studies unknown plants in a greenhouse. She improves and provides plants that the villagers can cultivate every time. Some people consider her sacred, but Rachel has a hard time living without ‘Jisu’ because most of her body is made of machines.
Dome City is a space for strong people who push others away. On the other hand, Rachel's greenhouse is a place where plants stay and imperfect people revive each other. They are weak, insecure, and bear the pain of their pasts, but they try to save each other.
The people of Prim Village keep thier promise in their respective positions, without a grandiose cause or heroic sacrifice. They are willing to keep the small promise of going out of town to the desolate world and sowing the seeds of Mosbana while wandering the world. Even if no one takes credit for them they save themselves and each other, and eventually save this world.
I think the world is now in chaos due to diseases, climate disasters, wars and economic crises. I am afraid and sad many times. Because it seems clear that irrecoverable destruction will come in this chaos. But, I cannot despair and say that this is the end because a small group of people who sow the seeds of Mosbana exist in this world as well.
Every time I find their hard-hearted willingness to keep their promises, I talk to my heart to stop staying still and do what I can. A little courage and action can make the world a better place.
