Are books going the way of the 8-track?

This question has been on my mind ever since the first electronic reader was put out.

When these things began to appear, it was the death knell for something I love as much as life itself. I confess I am a bibliophile, a lover of books. I used to joke that even if I were starving to death, I would buy a book instead of food.

Sure these Kindles and iPads can a have hundreds of books stored in them. And they are much lighter, too. Maybe they are easier to travel with — until the batteries go dead. At least with a book, all one needs is enough light to see. I think we are drowning in gizmos. I believe it takes away from the joy of reading, the joy of cracking open a book, turning the pages to find adventure, love, hope and knowledge.

With the advent of these “readers,” which are a wonder from my science fiction stories brought to life, I see that very existence of books as threatened. They could go the way of 8-track or VHS tapes. On that day I will go into mourning. That would be among the saddest days in human history.

One of the greatest inventions of mankind is the written word, and books are the children of the written word. For centuries they were the means to spread ideas, science, art, poetry and even religions across the world. They still do to this day.

The printing press was the Internet of its time. With it books took off in ways that still make me wonder. I held one the first printed books in my hands many years ago while serving in Germany with the U.S. Army — a Gutenberg Bible. It was the birth of the age of reason. It was a thrill for me to hold that heavy leather-bound book in my hands. It’s a treasured memory I will never forget. But now with these new readers will my beloved books become doomed to extinction? What will happen to libraries? What about bookstores and thrift stores that sell books? And all those authors who write them? Are they headed for extinction, too?

I sure hope not. As long as I live books will have a home with me. I love holding one in my hands, turning the pages and getting lost with H.G. Wells in “War of the Worlds” or in Frank Herbert’s “Dune” saga. These were great books before they were turned into movies. The same holds true for “The Lord of the Rings.” J.R.R. Tolkien was a true master of fiction and the father of the fantasy novel. Even the Bible owes its long life to being translated and reprinted as a book. It still holds the record for being the most translated and printed book in human history. Its very titled means “The Book” in English.

I admit I love the special musty scent of old books. Put me in an old bookstore and it’s heaven. It is an ageless aroma. It is thrill for someone like me to find an old book to add to my growing collection. I have close to 3,000 books — from Mark Twain and Charles Dickens to Arthur C. Clarke. From science and history to science fiction and religion, I have a smattering of everything, except romance.

So, are they on the way out? Will they go down that dusty path into oblivion? Go the way of the 8-track? To someone like myself this would be a true tragedy. I am all for progress; after all, this is the 21 century.

For me, there will always be a place for books. But for my collection, the only technology I feel compelled to use is called a bookshelf.

Wasilla resident Daniel D. Grota retired from the U.S. Army after more than 21 years of service.