Comparative Essay Sample: Generation One by Pittacus Lore vs. The Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury

The book I have chosen is “Generation One” by Pittacus Lore. After a group of aliens invaded the planet, certain people were chosen to receive legacies or powers that would allow them to protect the Earth. One boy named Kopano can manipulate his skin density while a girl named Taylor could heal. We follow their experiences inside the Academy they go to and how it affects their once normal lives. I am comparing this book to the Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury. The Sound of Thunder is about a future where time travel is real, and a hunter named Eckels goes hunting or a T-Rex. Eckels panics and steps off the path, consequently causing the future to change so a dictator is in charge. These two books are similar because of their controversies, characters' flaws, and how they responded to them.

Generation One and The Sound of Thunder use the controversy of utilizing powerful forces. Generation One consists of Legacies or powers while The Sound of Thunder dealt with Time Travel.  Two perspectives we can use are the antagonist of Generation One and the safari guide in the other story. “’ The Foundation, Earth Garde, the Academy. They are all just ways to control us,’ Einar said.” (Lore, 375) Einar states the truth. The Academy and Earth Garde force you to sign your rights away while the Foundation uses hostages to force you to work for them. “We don’t want to change the Future. We don’t belong in the past.” (Bradbury, 11) Travis warned them about the possible dangers. Time travel is clearly dangerous so using it for petty jobs like hunting is dangerous. This is where the people decide whether it is worth It to use time travel or use these people for their legacies or powers. However, the characters also play an important role in their corresponding worlds.  

Kopano and Eckel are the protagonists of their corresponding stories of Generation One and The Sound of Thunder. Kopano and Eckel are both confident in their abilities and have grandiose dreams. Kopano thinks of America in movie cliches while Eckels undermines the dangerous T-Rex. “We will be partners in carving out our great destiny as the stars have foretold it!” (Lore, 105) Kopano believes in his destiny, which is respectable, but he is sometimes too naïve about how dark his adventures would be. “Eckels, balanced on the narrow Path, aimed his rifle playfully.” (Bradbury, 51) Eckels planned to aim it at an animal in the past for fun. This could have catastrophic consequences and further proves how Eckel was too confident and didn’t take in any of the potential dangers. All this talk about their naivety wouldn’t matter if it wasn’t for their development from it. 

The protagonists of both stories eventually break their false views of the world. Kopano learns from his false visions of America when he experienced the truth. “I thought the Academy would be like one of those superhero movies... But now I see what I am capable of. Now I see how the world works.” (Lore, 292-293) He snaps out of delusions and realizes that things aren’t exactly as great as the movies portray. He understands this but only grows more determined to save his friends. Conversely, Eckels realizes his delusions are fake as well but takes a different turn. “I didn’t realize it would be this big...I miscalculated, that's all. And now I want out.” (Bradbury, 77) Eckels snapped out of the trance and proceeds to run from his mistakes rather than confront them. 

Due to their theme of using controversial powers, these stories are like each other. Generation One asks if using humans as weapons is right while The Sound of Thunder shows us a story about a failed time travel expedition. Their characters within these stories are also experiencing the same confidence and pride as each other. They then proceed to develop and realize that their views were false although they each take different paths. Therefore, Generation One and the Sound of Thunder are alike because of their themes, protagonists, and their character development.