“What do you mean,” Chris said, “that you designed a Library of Babel simulator?”

“Didn’t you ever read Borges?” Sam replied. “The Library of Babel is a short story about a library that contains every possible arrangement of letters and basic punctuation that can fit in a 410-page book with 40 lines per page and 80 letters per line.”

“So it would include very book that was ever written?” said Chris, sounding mildly interested. “Every book that could ever be written? The answer to life, the universe, and everything?”

“In theory, but that’s what this virtual site is supposed to prove is ridiculous,” Sam retorted. “That library would have at least 1.956 times 10^1,834,097 books, and for every genuine book there would be uncountable billions that were off by just enough to make them worthless. In essence, a library with infinite books is almost exactly like a library with no books.”

“Well, fire it up then,” said Chris. “Let’s see. Maybe we’ll get lucky and get some Shakespeare.”

Sam pulled up his program and it spat out its first book onto the screen. Entitled JJRQMPE RIJ RDYFSDT OPO LTXFGVOQRVM SVS, it began with the immortal line “AAFHF DPTNJRXYBTJHEQRCQMYIVFN, HGEF H.”

“Womp womp,” Sam said. “Care to try again?”

“Sure,” said Chris. “Hit me!”

The program created another book and filled the screen with its first page. THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY, proclaimed the title, continuing: FAR OUT IN THE UNCHARTED BACKWATERS OF THE UNFASHIONABLE END OF THE WESTERN SPIRAL ARM OF THE GALAXY LIES A SMALL, UNREGARDED YELLOW SUN.

Text generated by the Library of Babel online with apologies to Douglas Adams.

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