Do you think books are being replaced by the electronic media? Can we do away with books altogether?
In today's world, electronic media is definitely replacing books to a large extent. In the play set in the 25th century, we see the use of a historiscope and a movie projector to view past events, showing a clear shift towards electronic media.
However, we cannot do away with books altogether. The twentieth century was rightly called the Era of the Book. In those days, there were books about everything, from ant eaters to Zulus. Books taught people how to, when to, where to, and why to. They illustrated, educated, punctuated, and even decorated.
The play strongly highlights the irreplaceable power of books. A simple, dusty old book of nursery rhymes, Mother Goose, actually saved the Earth from a Martian invasion. It prevented the invasion from ever happening, proving that books hold immense power that electronic media cannot replicate.
Furthermore, even in the 25th century, the Earthlings established a model library in the Martian capital city of Marsopolis and taught the Martians how to read. This clearly proves that while the medium of reading might evolve, books are irreplaceable and can never be completely eliminated.
Explanation
The answer is constructed using details from the play 'The Book That Saved the Earth'. The context highlights that while electronic media like the historiscope exists in the future, books hold an irreplaceable value. The 20th century is termed the 'Era of the Book' because books educated and decorated. The ultimate proof of a book's importance is that 'Mother Goose' saved the Earth from an invasion. Furthermore, the establishment of a model library in Marsopolis in the 25th century reinforces that books cannot be done away with altogether.