| “A print-book!” It was hard to tell whether Dors was shocked or amused. “That’s from the Stone Age.” “It’s certainly pre-Empire,” said Seldon, “but not entirely so. Have you ever seen a print-book?” “Considering that I’m a historian? Of course, Hari.” “Ah, but like this one?” He handed over the Book and Dors, smiling, opened it–then turned to another page–then flipped the pages. “Its blank,” she said. “It appears to be blank. The Mycogenians are stubbornly primitivistic, but not entirely so. They will keep to the essence of the primitive, but have no objection to using modern technology to modify it for convenience’s sake. Who knows?” “Maybe so, Hari, but I don’t understand what you’re saying.” “The pages aren’t blank, they’re covered with microprint. Here, give it back. If I press this little nubbin on the inner edge of the cover–Look!” The page to which the book lay open was suddenly covered with lines of print that rolled slowly upward. Seldon said, “You can adjust the rate of upward movement to match your reading speed by slightly twisting the nubbin one way or the other. When the lines of print reach their upward limit when you reach the bottom line, that is–they snap downward and turn off. You turn to the next page and continue.” “Where does the energy come from that does all this?” “It has an enclosed microfusion battery that lasts the life of the
book.” “Then when it runs down–” “You discard the book, which you may be required to do even before it runs down, given wear and tear, and get another copy. You never replace the battery.” |