Sunday, July 05, 2009

Kaguya

Japanese lunar orbiter now one with moon.

Named for princess found by woodsman inside glowing stalk of bamboo. Grew in his home to normal size and exceptional beauty. Gave five suitors impossible tasks. All failed. The emperor, smitten, asked for her hand. She refused him as well.

Kaguya grew increasingly sad, especially during moonlit nights. The bamboo cutter was concerned. She revealed to him her secret, that she was not of the earth, but the moon, and soon would be called back. When the emperor learned of this, he set guards around her to protect her from the moon people.

The moonies arrived, blinding the guards with light rays. They dressed her in a feathered robe and flew her back to the moon.

And so tenth century science fiction becomes twenty-first century science.

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