I hang my head to solemnly mourn the passing of a great relic. Our generation is going to bear witness to the murder the familiar physical form of the book. In this world of high speed information, traveling at the speed of light, books are left with their pages fluttering in the wind. My generation and the next have turned their backs on this dying form. It seems the enjoyment of books is now reserved for the hardcore bibliophiles. Technology is murdering the encyclopedia, the non-fiction, and, most abhorrently, the classic works of literature.

First on the chopping block is the encyclopedia. Websites like Wikipedia.com offer information on a variety of topics from popular culture to history and science. The internet savvy no longer have to venture into the library and hold those ancient texts in their hands and inhale the scent of dust and mildew. However, one must realize that these sources are to be taken with an entire teaspoon of salt, and are never to be cited in academic papers.

Who wasnt surprised to see the non-fiction book fall to the hands of the internet? The television had been trying for decades to be the knife in the books back, but the internet snuck up out of nowhere and dealt the deadly blow. E-books are available to readers instantly and at a fraction of the cost. Now people can read it, delete it, and not have to invest in shelving. As if that was not enough the internet also has scores of audio books available on sites like Audible.com and for free on Librivox.org. Now, people can feign being well-read and all they have to do is pop in their ear buds.

The most gruesome murder by the internet to date, was that of the works of classic literature. It was also a complete defacing and public humiliation delivered by sites like Sparknotes.com. Rather than spend time reading and interpreting the words left by authors who had a gift for prose, students can just drop by, sneak a peek, and be on their way. I think of sites such as those as a strip tease for literature. Feel free to come look, but please dont touch.

The internet will continue on its rampage and soon, no work in print will be safe. Soon society will be saved from the annoyances of turning the page, cracking the spine, and inhaling the scent of our once treasured and beloved books.

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