Science Fiction and Fantasy
American Military University
Frank Herbert?s Seed Stock featured a classic theme in science fiction ? the struggle to adapt and survive on an alien world. This story, set on an unnamed world, centered around a small human colony, struggling to find a permanent source of food. The colony?s continuous failures with Earth plants and livestock eventually forces the colonists to look to native sources of food in order to ensure their long-term survival. I enjoyed this particular story and the possibilities it represented. I was further struck by the matter of fact manner in which Herbert presented the interracial relationship between the two lead characters, particularly since it had been published only three years after the monumental Loving v. Virginia decision which banned anti-miscegenation laws in the United States. Being in an interracial marriage myself, I?ve always appreciated authors and stories, particularly those from the 1950?s, 1960?s and early 1970?s who forecasted worlds where the color of skin of one?s mate was a mere happenstance to be mentioned in passing and not used as a source of irritation or controversy.
Roommates by Harry Harrison is a pessimistic tale of overpopulation, famine and disease. This story paints a grim picture of life in a future New York City, dying under the weight of 35 million people. Worldwide, too many people and too little water and food to sustain the population leads to famine, death and disease.
Further complicating these problems is a societal breakdown in law and order coupled with a government clueless to solve the greater problem of overpopulation. Instead, the powers that be do what powers that be always do first ? focus on the symptoms, rather than the disease. In this story, three characters: one police officer, his girlfriend and their elderly roommate illustrate the daily fight for survival in this world too little food and water and too many people.
The Undercity by Dean R. Koontz takes the reader on a journey in black market commerce. The two main characters consist of the seasoned veteran and his daughter. The seasoned veteran/father spends the entire story talking to his fifteen year-old daughter, walking her through a typical day in fraud, deception, fencing and other illegal activities. By the story?s finish, we learn that the father is preparing his daughter to take her place in the family business. In the end, this is a typical crime story set in a science fiction background.
Ender?s Game by Orson Scott Card is an interesting bit of science fiction with a military theme. In this story, humanity is engaged in a century long war with an unnamed enemy race. In a desperate move, Earth?s military turns to children in order to find their next military genius. Fortunately, they find their genius in Ender Wiggins. This is a unique and fascinating storyline. I?ve always wanted to read the Ender Saga and now I?ve got incentive. I can?t leave a storyline unfinished. I?ll be updating my Amazon.com wishlist tonight.