On Sat, 10 Feb 2001 09:30:29 -0000 "Alison Page" alison@alisonpage.demon.co.uk writes:

Meegat/Gamete, the time-squad capsule, Chris Boucher's fondly-remembered story. We've got quite a sub-genre here. Stories which dramatise the meaning, or lack of meaning, that sexual reproduction brings to an individual life, but using space-colonisation as a metaphor.

What I like about interpreting stories in this way is that it raises questions in my mind.

Does leaving children behind really make your life more meaningful? Does a 'failure' to reproduce take anything away from your worth? How much should you sacrifice of yourself for the chance to leave a legacy?

Just my feelings on the matter, but -

I think one of the most important parts of our lives is how we interact with others. What we leave behind is our lives and how those lives touched others. There are people who've had incredibly meaningful lives who never had children, sure. There are people who, frankly, make you wish it was possible to keep them from having kids.

The monsters of WW II (and other eras) who could be quite decent in their home life and terrifying elsewhere? This isn't deep, but I think most people manage interesting - sometimes incredible - mixes of good and evil in their natures. Orson Scott Card, in Red Prophet, summed it up by saying nearly everyone has something so bad they won't do it.

Getting back to kids, however, they're the most overwhelming obligation package you ever get. Strangers - even friends - can be ignored or written off. Kids? Forget it. They're what Heinlein called "the whole Chinese obligation" (although he was speaking of cats). You're responsible.

However it works on an individual scale, being responsible for all the children your race can have? Ever?

No pressure, Meegat, no pressure.

As for Time Squad, I think they should have dumped it on an uninhabited planet, preferably after Avon had done a little adjusting to the little zygotes' training programs to cut out the homicidal mania.

Ellynne ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.