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Eternals 10: how our world will end

The Eternals, as the title suggests, is about the biggest principles that never change. This is the heart of apocalyptic prophecy: these are eternal patterns repeated forever. And here we see the hand of God judging an evil society. And we see the choices: they could have had Thena, but he was not good enough. And the outcasts who innocently sinned are saved to start again.

At first glance this book's (Eternals 10) is just a chapter in an ongoing story. And in a way it is: all history is ongoing. But Eternals 10 is possibly Kirby's biggest and most final story because it deals with the end of the human race, through analogy with our Deviant cousins. Deviant society is both older and more advanced, and here it ends. It feels like just one more battle, but look closer. This is the judgement of the fourth host: this is the end.

Some Deviants will survive of course. They may think they are still a mighty people. But from this point they are powerless. Kirby is being prophetic: our current world is like this. Humans think the disruption caused by technology is just one more battle. It isn't. This is the end and we are too vain to see it.

Note the symbolism:
  • the spirit of god moves over the waters (Genesis 1; Enuma Elish), 
  • the canals are broken up (Utnapishtim), 
  • the eye in the hand (Hamsa, Horus), 
  • the goddess of love with the mightiest of Earth's warriors lying defeated at her feet, etc. The title of the book is "mother": this symbolism is no accident. This is about the failure of the violent male gods and the return of the creative, nurturing female goddess.
  • The world ends in the tenth book, reflecting the ten generations from Adam to Noah, the ten plagues, the ten commandments, etc. see next post
Not only are the themes and symbols epic, not only is the imagery of the hand of god breathtaking, but the personal emotional story is powerful: Kro and Thena are three dimensional characters, and their scenes as Lemuria falls around them are so moving. I have read the Bible, and Shakespeare, and War and Peace, but this is why I consider Kirby to be the greatest writer of all. I don't expect anyone to agree with me of course. And I will not try to persuade you. I will simply declare it. Kirby is to be discovered, not defended.

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