Digitization Project Modernizes 1943 Irish-Language Sci-Fi Book 'Manannán'
By
donohoe
Fresh out the oven, still warm. Top of the tray.
Summary
This article describes a GitHub project to digitize and modernize the orthography of 'Manannán,' a 1943 Irish-language young adult sci-fi book by Máiréad Ní Ghráda. The book is notable for containing early examples of mecha (outside Japan) and gravity assist concepts in literature. The project aims to make this historically significant but out-of-print work more accessible by converting it from old Irish orthography to modern spelling.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledManannán written in 1940 by Máiréad Ní Ghráda. An Irish-language young adult sci-fi space travel book.
Contains one of the first uses of a mecha outside of Japan and the first mention of a gravity assist in literature.
The book has never been reprinted or translated. This digitisation project aims to make the book more accessible and widely read.
The text used the old Irish orthography (dot over the letter = h after the letter, etc.).
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