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Prime Baby

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Published on April 26, 2010

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Why did no one tell me that maths would help me make contact with aliens? If I’d read Prime Baby by Gene Luen Yang in school, my maths teachers would have loved me much more.

Also I would have invented time travel, because I’m pretty sure that came out this April from :01.

So I don’t feel quite as betrayed by the universe that I only just read it. But I finally did and now so should you.

It’s a small, fast read with gorgeous artwork and it made me giggle repeatedly. Sure there are themes and layers here about how humans view anything alien, whether it’s another race (er, subtext?) or actual small, slightly pink aliens, but also there’s a lovely, quite simple, storyline about a boy, Thaddeus, getting a little sister who, it turns out, is endeavouring to communicate through the use of prime numbers and is quite probably an alien, or at least blarfs up tiny little spaceships. Because according to his math teacher, were aliens to try and contact us they’d do it with prime numbers—one of the universal constants.

Prime Baby 1
Prime Baby 1

But what if the aliens were nice? And you’d planned your entire future around fighting them? Or what if your little sister thinks you love her and then you left her all alone in a government research facility? And you had just one space ship left? Would you pretend to blarf it yourself?

Read it. It’ll take you about 15 minutes to read and you’ll be thinking about it and smiling for the rest of the day. Then, I promise, you’ll go back and reread a couple times in that first day alone. It was originally in the funny pages of the NYTimes and you can get more of a taste of it over there.

There are multiple story-lines that all intertwine: the family, friendlessness, the little sister, alien contact and the school stories, all of which form a great rounded picture of both Thaddeus and the events as they happen, but my favourite might actually be the alien contact. The aliens are both entirely adorable visually and very determined to bring sunshine, happiness, socks and sing-a-longs to Earth (and sandwiches for homeless people). Which doesn’t click at all with Thaddeus’ determination to be a hero (and eventually ruler of everything) by defeating them and saving the Earth. Thaddeus, obviously, embodies the common mentality found in the media towards things that are alien. And coming to terms with the shattering of his preconceptions is a simply told, but beautifully drawn journey that broke a few of my preconceptions about him along the way.  

Bored of me talking now? Lookit adorable aliens:


Nina Lourie is mentally re-writing Code Monkey with the words “Prime Baby”. And possibly proposing to the Prime Baby author. In this signature line. Y/N?

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Nina Lourie

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5 years ago

I really, really wan to see book 3 BEFORE this show is released. Until then, I can’t get very excited about seeing ‘”prequel” material.

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Austin
5 years ago

Showtime probably asked Rothfuss to finish the last book before they committed and Rothfuss balked :P

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John
5 years ago

@2 after the reception to Game of Thrones ending I wouldn’t blame them

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5 years ago

Don’t care; finish the books.  Don’t care; finish the books.  Don’t care; finish the books.  Don’t care; finish the books…

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5 years ago

I’m curious, does it wind up being more money in the bank for the author when this happens? They get paid for the rights by a studio; when those rights are passed back, then they’re free to sell them elsewhere. Is that like selling the same car twice?  I think I can imagine how this actually works in a less beneficial way, but anyone know the process?

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5 years ago

@5, no, Lionsgate bought the rights and still retains them.  They just need a new network to air the damn thing now.

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5 years ago

The utter lack of patience and grace shown by so many of the Kingkiller Chronicle is just endlessly baffling to me. The story will come when it comes. It’s not like Rothfuss has ever toyed with fans, he’s been exceedingly transparent and you really can’t force creativity if you want quality. He’s given us some great tales, he’ll finish his story when he’s ready and it’ll be an exciting day to have the book in hand. This isn’t the first book that anyone has had to wait a decade plus for. In my experience that wait has been worth it and I trust Rothfuss to tell a great tale…on his own time. It’s not like there aren’t other wonderful stories to read, watch, and listen to in the mean time. Just because you want something in a certain order (gimme book not show!) or certain schedule doesn’t mean he’s obligated to provide. He’s promised a trilogy, I trust him to provide closure to this cool story, and that’s about all the obligation there is imo. Give the guy some peace and take your entitled demands to a store with mass produced products (or don’t because workers there don’t appreciate that attitude either and aren’t paid enough to deal with that crap).  

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Austin
5 years ago

@7 – “Exceedingly transparent?” Are you sure you’re thinking of the right author?

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5 years ago

@8 Yes. He’s kept channels of communication open year after year, responds to fans, streams, answers questions at live appearances etc. Just because the content of all of that isn’t what you want to hear doesn’t mean it’s not communication. He’s been honest about things that have proven to be obstacles to the book’s progress (his father passing, his mental health, these are very human, very reasonable things). He’s even done streams where he literally works on the book. I’m not sure how much more transparent you can be. 

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tromedlov87
5 years ago

@9 I think part of the problem is that we’ve been spoiled by Brandon Sanderson, who keeps literal percentage updates on how his writing is going, updates fans whenever there’s the slightest hint of a delay, and is extremely nice and prolific to boot. He’s so good about fan interaction and being transparent about everything possible that what other authors do feels… much less useful. Which isn’t really fair, absolutely, but that’s how it is.

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