Typescript of the Second Origin facts for kids

Typescript of the Second Origin (in Catalan: Mecanoscrit del segon origen) is a popular science fiction novel written by Manuel de Pedrolo in 1974. It became one of the best-selling books in Catalan literature. The story is divided into six parts. The first five are called Quaderns (which means Notebooks in Catalan). The last part is shorter and asks, "Is Alba the mother of current humanity?" The book was also published in English in 2017.

This exciting story was made into a very successful TV series by TV3. Later, in 2015, it became a movie called Segon origen.

What is Typescript of the Second Origin About?

This novel tells the amazing story of two young people, Alba and Dídac. Alba is 14 years old, and Dídac is 9. They live in a town called Benaura in Catalonia, Spain. Suddenly, aliens attack Earth and destroy almost all of humanity.

Before the attack, Dídac is being picked on by some kids from his town. He falls into the water. Alba sees what is happening and jumps in to save him. Being underwater actually protects them from the alien attack. This makes them the only two survivors on Earth!

Surviving in a New World

For the next four years, Alba and Dídac must survive in a world that has been completely destroyed. They face many challenges and difficulties. These tough times make them grow up very quickly. They learn how important knowledge is by finding and reading books.

They have to escape from sickness and find shelter in a farmhouse. There, they find both dead people and other survivors. They travel through the ruined city of Barcelona and along the Mediterranean Sea. They learn from everything that happens to them, like how to deal with illnesses or how to defend themselves. They also learn a lot from the information they gather along the way.

A New Beginning

The book explores the special relationship between Alba and Dídac. It also looks at how they try to create a new, better world, like a utopia. The story is told in chapters that often start by mentioning Alba's age and how she is growing up. A narrator who knows everything about the characters and events tells the story. This narrator uses a lot of descriptions to help you imagine the world.

Translations of the Book

Typescript of the Second Origin has been translated into many different languages. This shows how popular and important the book is!

• Spanish (1984)
• Dutch (1986)
• Basque (1989)
• Galician (1989)
• French (1993)
• Romanian (2000)
• Portuguese (2004)
• Italian (2011)

In November 2016, the city council of Lleida helped pay for the first translation into English. This English version was published in the United States in 2017.

See Also

• In Spanish: Mecanoscrito del segundo origen para niños