This novel tells the story of developing a modern-day ‘Noah’s Ark’ spaceship to escape Earth as it faces destruction, then setting off with selected people aboard to find a new planet. While the overall plot is intriguing, the conflicts among characters surrounding the spaceship launch and the recurring portrayal of human society’s psychology were particularly impressive.

Eve, who developed a large spacecraft capable of traveling for over 1,000 years using light energy; Elizabeth, a former rowing champion and captain of the voyage who became paraplegic due to a car accident caused by Eve in the past; and Gabriel, a terminally ill billionaire sponsoring the project. These three become the protagonists, embarking on a space voyage against government opposition, carrying 144,000 individuals selected for superior genetic traits. Their goal was to find a second Earth, but crimes occur during the journey, and tragedies from Earth repeat themselves, leaving only six survivors among the passengers. The novel depicts the journey of a man and woman who discover the last planet of hope, beginning a new civilization like Adam and Eve.

The premise that, upon arriving at the planet after 1,000 years, they encounter dinosaurs instead of the spaceship—a product of immense scientific civilization—felt somewhat absurd. The conclusion, where dinosaurs become extinct due to a virus transmitted from humans, also seemed far-fetched. However, I understood it as conveying the message that the answer to humanity’s future can ultimately only be found in history. The question of whether humanity will continue to progress or perish and regress to a primitive age is a recurring theme in many books and films. I believe an era where past and future coexist in the present will persist. Evidence of this coexistence is seen in classic cars retaining their sentimental value despite the development of electric and hydrogen vehicles, and in people using smartphones as simply as old-fashioned phones coexisting in an age of global video calls.

I’ve decided to accept the novel’s absurd ending—where Adam’s rib saves humanity from extinction after a marital quarrel nearly severed the lineage—as Bernard Werber’s signature humor. This story made me believe that humanity’s hope isn’t far off, but lies right here in my relationships with those around me. It resolved me to start with small actions to change the future.