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For too long, people have been required to take advanced math, or read an entire 400 page book to achieve a basic understanding of the nature of the universe. No longer.

In the past, we’ve abridged the Holy Bible, All of Science, and Mr. William Shakespeare. In celebration of the upcoming release of our guide to space settlement A CITY ON MARS, available November 7 2023, we are now abridging all of reality.

Although it fits in your pockets and wastes time making fun of chemists, The Universe: Abridged Beyond the Point of Usefulness will give you the history and science of the universe from the days when the ancient Babylonians were confused to the days when today we are still very confused.

With this campaign we’re raising funds to print The Universe: Abridged Beyond the Point of Usefullness, but you can also get a signed copy of A CITY ON MARS as well as other goodies by ordering during the campaign.

“Scientific, educational, and fun as hell.” -Andy Weir, author of The Martian

From the bestselling authors of Soonish, a brilliant and hilarious off-world investigation into space settlement.

Can you make babies in space? Should corporations govern space settlements? What about space war? Are we headed for a housing crisis on the Moon’s Peaks of Eternal Light—and what happens if you’re left in the Craters of Eternal Darkness? Why do astronauts love taco sauce? Speaking of meals, what’s the legal status of space cannibalism?

With deep expertise, a winning sense of humor, and art from the beloved creator of Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal, the Weinersmiths investigate perhaps the biggest questions humanity will ever ask itself—whether and how to become multiplanetary.

Get in, we’re going to Mars.

In stores November 7, 2023 at bookstores everywhere, or by supporting this project at certain tiers you could get a direct reservation of the book shipped to you on launch day if you live in the US or Canada, while supporting local bookstores thanks to a team up we’ve made with Upside-Go and Bookshop.org!

For $10 you get: The Universe: Abridged eBook and your name at the end of the book as a thank you for the support.

For $22 you get: eBook and physical copies of The Universe: Abridged and your name at the end of the book as a thank you for the support.

For $42 you get: eBook copies of The Universe: Abridged, your name at the end of the book as a thank you for the support, and a SIGNED copy of A City on Mars.

For $52 you get: eBook and SIGNED physical copies of The Universe: Abridged, your name at the end of the book as a thank you for the support, and a SIGNED copy of A City on Mars.

For $75 you get: eBook and SIGNED physical copies of The Universe: Abridged, your name at the end of the book as a thank you for the support, a SIGNED copy of A City on Mars, eBook bundle of all previous mini books (Shakespeare’s Sonnets: Abridged, The Holy Bible: Abridged, and Science: Abridged) and a SIGNED Kickstarter exclusive poster.

For $99 you get: eBook and SIGNED physical copies of The Universe: Abridged, your name at the end of the book as a thank you for the support, a SIGNED copy of A City on Mars, a SIGNED Kickstarter exclusive poster, and physical and eBook copies of all three previous mini books (Shakespeare’s Sonnets: Abridged, The Holy Bible: Abridged, and Science: Abridged)

For $250 you get: eBook and SIGNED physical copies of The Universe: Abridged, your name at the end of the book as a thank you for the support, a SIGNED copy of A City on Mars, a SIGNED Kickstarter exclusive poster, physical and eBook copies of Zach’s three previous mini books (Shakespeare’s Sonnets: Abridged, The Holy Bible: Abridged, and Science: Abridged), physical and eBook copies of the entire SMBC library, physical and eBook copies of Trial of the Clone 1 & 2, physical and eBook copies of Augie and the Green Knight, physical copy of Soonish: Ten Emerging Technologies That'll Improve and/or Ruin Everything, physical copy of Open Borders, and a physical copy of Bea Wolf.

For $1000 you get: Everything in the previous tiers plus your (or your pet’s) portrait in black and white in the back of The Universe: Abridged.

If you backed the project at a tier with a copy of A CITY ON MARS and you live in the US or Canada you'll get your copy it during release week, November 7, 2023, and the rest of your rewards once THE UNIVERSE: ABRIDGED ships. So you will be receiving rewards in two shipments if you're at a tier with both books (or more books!) 

If you live Outside the US or Canada all your rewards will go out in one shipment when THE UNIVERSE: ABRIDGED is ready to ship!