12. CARL SAGAN: Make the most of this life
Carl Sagan (1934-1996) was an American astronomer, cosmologist, author and the coolest nerd ever. He was famous for making science accessible to anyone with half a brain. His 1980 documentary series, Cosmos, inspired a whole generation of people and I think it’s the greatest television series ever made. I only watched it for the first time five years ago (I wish I saw it when I was 14 instead of 24), but since then I’ve devoured all of Sagan’s books and watched Cosmos again about a thousand times. His work explained so much to me: the history of the cosmos, evolution, civilisation, the beauty of science, the perils of superstition and pseudoscience, the origin of religion – basically life, the universe and everything. Carl Sagan was the teacher I never had.
- Sagan wrote the above quote in an article for Parade magazine in 1996 while in hospital and facing death himself. It’s a beautiful article and you can read the whole thing here.
- I highly recommend you watch Cosmos (it’s on Youtube). Yes, It was made over 30 years ago and it looks a bit dated, but I can honestly say it was life-changing for me.
- If you don’t have a spare 13 hours, then these short 10-minute Sagan tribute clips edited by Milky Way Musings are a good place to start.
- Seth MacFarlane (yes, the Family Guy creator) and Neil deGrasse Tyson (often said to be this generation’s Carl Sagan) are making a Cosmos sequel that will air next year.
- I find Carl Sagan’s voice to be soothing and pleasantly hypnotic. Others think it sounds like Agent Smith from The Matrix.
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Thanks Em – damn, I should have showed it to u first!
I’m Indian and yep its totally like a sikh. No probs though.. Ur cartoons are too good. I think I’m gonna take you as an inspiration and will try the comical interpretations of poems cuz whenever I read a particular piece .. I always wanted express my opinions in some way.. writing appeared kind of corny to me. THis is cool.. Will try this stuff this summer itself. Thanks a lot. Keep drawing.
The ’7 virgins’ is hugely annoying. Love your work Gav and I’ve been a fan for years, but that entire ‘taliban virginal shtick’ – I would’ve expected better.
This cartoon is funny and is poking fun at stereotypes. How come you’re offended by that, but not the stereotype of a Christian soldier who arrives at the pearly gates of Heaven? Get over yourself.
Fuck you, seriously. Know what else is annoying? Short-sighted bigoted losers like you. Ya.
I’m also a big fan of Carl, and I totally agree with your comment on his voice. I’ve seen the DVDs for Cosmos in which each episode contains a prefix errata to correct where current science (at the time of the DVD production) corrects any facts stated.
Did your extensive reading also include his Novel? I haven’t actually read this, but I did enjoy watching the movie adaption (Jodie Foster starring).
Cosmos was one of my favorite documentaries. I particularly liked his big calendar where the Big Band was on January 1st, Life on Earth around December and man’s total recorded history in the last few seconds before midnight on December 31st.
Hey David, do you know if Cosmos has ever aired on Aussie TV?
It certainly was, that’s when I first watched it. I thought I was in High School at the time, but IMDB says it was released in 1980, so I must have watched it while I was in College (probably 1st year). But definitely early 80′s. I even bought the Vinyl LP soundtrack so pre-CD era, and it was most likely on ABC.
That’s correct, it was early 80′s on the ABC (it was the only channel I was allowed to watch).
Actually, Carl wrote quite a few books. But, if you’re referring to Contact (of course), I read it. Frankly, Hollywood once again butchered a master work with their treatment of it, though not as horribly as HeinLein’s Starship Troopers.
It’s a rare thing when Hollywood doesn’t turn a jewel into a lump of coal.
You are aware that Carl was involved in that production, right? They worked closely with him on the shape of the story. It’s doubtful he would have thought it as “butchered” as you did. I read the book before the film and I thought they did a great job. Books and films, dude. Different media, different treatments.
Carl Sagan didn’t sound like Agent Smith from The Matrix. Agent Smith sounded like Carl Sagan. ;^)
My bad – you’re right Marley. Hugo Weaving totally ripped Carl off.
No, he didn’t. He was asked to do Carl by the Wachowskis.
I love this comic strip.
We should stop pointless fighting and just enjoy life.
I still miss Carl
I <3 you Carl!
I’m with you Eduardo.
This is all around fantastic. Thank you for a morning smile!
You’re welcome!
Awesome, i really love this.
Dr. Sagan significantly influenced my outlook on the universe. Maybe it was because I watched COSMOS back when I was in my early teens.
Mi-ster An-der-son,
There are billions and billions of stars out there…
–
Furry cows moo and decompress.
This is wonderful. You have used Carl’s Big Words and pretty much the World Events of the last 10 years to tell a story that is ultimately about individuals improving their lives. Keep it up; you’re a genius!
Thanks so much Chris – too kind mate!
^+1
… NO I am not crying… just cutting up some onions in my ofice boss…
It’s ok to admit it Colin
Did you see what you’ve done to me? Now I’m crying. Thank you!
Wow – i’m making grown men cry – this is great!
This should be translated into multiple languages.
Beautiful work. Thank you for this.
As Dr. Plait says, Carl Sagan “had a way with words that made them not just profound, not just inspiring, but also warm and rich and enveloping.” I fully agree with that sentiment, and think that everyone should read his books. Even if they already have a Ph.D. in Baloney Detection, they should read his words just because of the great way he says things.
By the way, Ann is teaming with Neil deGrasse Tyson to update the Cosmos series. I know when I showed it to my daughter, she was put off a bit by it’s very antiquated special effects. Kids these days…
Wonderful job. Its nice that Carl Sagan continues to inspire other human beings to do good work. Thats all the afterlife we need.
translated into multiple languages… Thank you for your pen
translated into multiple languages….Thank you for your pen
That’s very cool – thanks
Thanks GAV, it is up-beat to know through you creation that there are so many of us who are like minded with Carl Sagan. In us humanity has a hope:)
You’re right, although sometimes it seems we’re in the minority
Dear GAV,
I believe it is the able minority always lead all the sheep. No fear, no giving up for the right minority.
2 out of the 5 comics I’ve read on your site just now have brought me to tears. Haw man. You really have something here.
Thanks Jason – what as the other one that made u cry?
Love LOVE your illustration! Coincidentally, I wrote something (kind of) similar recently. It’s called An Unlikely Idea http://trustthedevilyouknow.wordpress.com/2012/02/13/an-unlikely-idea/
Thanks mate – nice post
You get that wrong !
It is not about love, it is about PING PONG !
I would love to give you money for poster sized prints of these… *hint*
prints soon – promise
Just found out about you via Reddit. Fantastic stuff, I’ll be checking back often.
Your work is amazing. That’s all I can say.
He’s not making very good use of those virgins…
He’s only got forty and they’ve got to last him for eternity.
Ha – i thought an orgy scene might be a bit much
Educate yourself people: http://www.thepeoplesvoice.org/cgi-bin/blogs/voices.php/2007/03/11/p15072
Sunan al-Tirmidhi Hadith 2562 says:
The Prophet Muhammad was heard saying: “The smallest reward for the people of Paradise is an abode where there are 80,000 servants and 72 wives, over which stands a dome decorated with pearls, aquamarine, and ruby, as wide as the distance from Al-Jabiyyah [a Damascus suburb] to Sana’a [Yemen]”
——————————————————————————–
This is as a weak Hadith that has no Sanad — line or sequence of narration. Although listed in an authoritative collection, this particular Hadith has technical weaknesses in its chain of transmitters and is therefore not considered impeccable. As a result, Muslims are not required to believe in it. Even if the Hadith was true, there is nothing about it that says that if someone commits suicide they would get 72 virgins in paradise.
You need to sell prints of these. Seriously. I would be happy to buy one or two for a good price if the physical quality was good.
Please, please make prints of these, I’d be happy to buy digital or actual print! Fantastic work.
Coming soon
Make them come sooner-er!
Perfectly illustrated to match Carl’s brilliant words. Wish he was still around, but at least we have folks like you around to re-ignite the passion in his writing.
Sir, you’ve just conquered my feed
Muah ha ha – i feel so powerful!
Love these! BTW another great source for some Sagan mashup goodness is symphonyofscience dot com . . .
And I have a question: what’s your policy on relinking or embedding these for other blogs? I’d like to use your “Fear is the mindkiller” on a post that’s tickling my fancy but wanted to ask first.
Just send me an email with exactly how you’re going to use it – i’ll probably be cool with it
I was actually really happy to stumble across this picture the other day. Thanks for doing this.
Like you, Sagan’s work has had a major impact on my life. This world would be a much better place if there were more people like him.
The final comment on Sagan’s voice – so true…!
One of my favourites, along with this: http://zenpencils.com/comic/17-frank-herbert-litany-against-fear/
<3
This just made me misty-eyed during my morning commute. It’s so wonderful. I first encountered Sagan during college years, and at almost every profound sentence I would say: this man gets it. He’s my spiritual, science teacher unofficially.
still my favorite one. Really beautiful. The Ping Pong Democracy imagery is beautiful.
Fantastic blog! This has to be my favourite strip, with the ping pong sequence at the end. Keep up the great work!
Fantastic!
You have captured all the essence in Carl Sagan’s words. One of my all time heroes.
Very nice boss! Carl Sagan was one of the best science writers. I can still feel the awe he evoked in me when describing the cosmos. Almost poetic writing!
“Carl Sagan was the teacher I never had.”
That’s one of the most awesome definitions of him I’ve ever seen or heard.
Is it alright to put part of this in my personal website if perhaps I publish a reference point to this site?
Ok.
omg Gav- this was you?? I got sent this in two different emails on the same day a while back. Glad to hear that this is going viral and you’re getting success with this, all the best!
You should also check out Joseph Campbell. What Sagan did for astronomy, Campbell did for culture.
You’re a genius yourself! To take a very inspirational quote from Carl Sagan and put such a heartwarming story in it… genius!
I love all of your cartoons. I think it’s very nice to see people who still do what they want, even after everybody says that you should do the opposite.
Great work!
the link of the Sagan’s letter is broken
Wow. Thank you so so much for this. This is the greatest message on peace ever; put into a very hard-hitting, touching illustration. You have been doing a phenomenal job.
Btw, as pointed by the guy above, the link to the sagan’s letter is broken. “Sagan wrote the above quote in an article for Parade magazine in 1996 while in hospital and facing death himself. It’s a beautiful article and you can read the whole thing here.”
It takes me to http://www.dotster.com/dotster/sites/fortune-city.bml
Wow. Thank you so so much for this. This is the greatest message on peace ever; put into a very hard-hitting, touching illustration. You have been doing a phenomenal job.
Btw, as pointed by the guy above, the link to the sagan’s letter is broken. “Sagan wrote the above quote in an article for Parade magazine in 1996 while in hospital and facing death himself. It’s a beautiful article and you can read the whole thing here.”
It takes me to http://www.dotster.com/dotster/sites/fortune-city.bml
I searched for the text, it can now be found here: http://www.bauleros.org/saganenfermedad.html
Thanks Rob, I replaced the link in the post
This is brilliant. Definitely my favorite comic on the internet
.
Totally agree. This is the best comic I’ve ever seen.
Dude I am starting to dig your website!
Hey, this is absolutely amazing cartoon
Gav,
I’ve browsed through all your work. And I can’t help but appreciate the marvel of your work. I’m in my own life journey in pursuing graduate school, leaving behind my family and loved ones in the Philippines, and taking on a challenging trip as I try to sharpen my research work.
Your illustrations of quotes through cartoons are amazing, inspiring, and uplifting. Your cartoons just made my day on this quiet Sunday morning.
I hope you continue to keep inspiring more people like me with your work.
Kudos!
Migs
thanks a lot Migs! Good luck with your travels and studies.
I,ve been having a rough couple of months dealing with an ultra spiritual/religious and pushy crowd at work (my boss included!!!), I started feeling quite lonely in my belief of an unique and marvelous chance to be alive in this moment and my lack of faith in the supernatural forces that my coworkers claim control my destiny. Somehow I wasn’t familiar with Carl Sagan’s work. Trough your amazing work today I go to bed with the certainty of not being alone in my viewing of the world’s functioning and the bliss of having been introduced to an amazing man who even in death will be a dear company. I guess the man did got some kind of inmortality after all.
I saw this comic on another blog and it drew me to your work for the first time.
I’m a chemist on my 3rd deployment in Afghanistan (and an Atheist) so this quote, it’s author and the subject matter all made a tremendous impact.
It’s sad to see people who deliberately cast off the burden of tolerance and understanding and cloister themselves in a life of ignorance or are manipulated to commit heinous acts against others for the reward of life after death.
In the most simple ways, we are all the same people and I believe strongly in appreciating life BEFORE death.
- GT
Thanks GT, means a lot coming from a soldier.
LOVE the toon. Not loving the ‘virgins’ thing – that shtick is just getting boring and orientalist.
Awesome comic print. I also love quotes by Carl Sagan.. they are so meaningful..
like
” You have to know the past to understand the present. ” – Carl Sagan
It seems to me that he is not the teacher you never had. I’m not trying to edit what you wrote, just to remind you that he indeed has taught you.
very nice. good imagination and creative indeed. it is so very true that we ignore and overlook things infront of us and chase some mirage in an unknown and distant future.
Wow… that one is amazing! I love it!!
Is this print available for sale? I couldn’t find it, but would love to pay you for it haha
This is an ammazing quote and an even better cartoon. Hope we get more like this one.
This is such an amazing artwork! Very inspiring and touching.
Sagan’s text + your drawing skills = 100% awesome