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Recently I read a science fiction novel called “Ender’s Game”. It was good, except every time I would turn the page more words would appear. Honestly, it started to stress me out a little. I mean, I just read two pages worth of words, now you want me to read two more? If I could have a few minutes to reflect on what I've read, I’m sure I would have enjoyed the book a lot more.
It’s like an all-you-can-eat buffet with a plot and no seconds.
You see, back before there were words, books were no more than pieces paper stuck between two pieces of cardboard. They left a lot of room for imagination and the opportunity for the reader to project his or her own thoughts and ideas into the book. Books were much more enjoyable that way.
Books were a hit back then.
However to the chagrin of book-projecters worldwide, a man named Gutenberg invented words, and with that proceeded to print them on every piece of blank paper in the world [1]. Unfortunately, his destruction of the original books was so enormous that there are very few copies left to this day. And let me be the first to say there is nothing guten about that.
However, this legacy of book writing has not been completely forgotten.
The “This page intentionally left blank” phrase is possibly one of the most widely disputed sentences of all time among scholars and poets [2]. Its illogical self refuting nature makes it a masterpiece of literature as well as an eyesore in the history of blank-page writing.
Most people don’t realize this, but Philip Massinger wrote many blank novels including _____ and ______ . He later gave into wordcraft with his debut ironically titled, “The Virgin Matyr.” Unfortunately his blank writing never caught steam in the vast erosion of the blank book era and his early works are now lost to history [3].
I have since revised this lost art in my own work. Although my professors cannot truly appreciate this form, I’m sure the great minds of the past applaud my attempt.
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Citations
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[1] Thats just plain history, folks. (1400-1500ish)
[2] Most people know this. (Brokheimer, Arnold. Arguments Worth Remembering. In a Dark Alley: New City State, 1284.)
[3] My guess is as good as yours.
