Val Harpster
LITR 4632
June 21, 2001
Dr. White

Midterm Exam

When signing up for this course I had no idea what it would cover. Blindly trudging onward, without the forethought to check the Course Catalogue, I saw this course as a means to fulfill that three-hour "Literature elective" in what I viewed as a relatively easy fashion. Reading materials would most likely consist of sci-fi and perhaps some futuristic fantasy, not my cup of tea but tolerable for five weeks. How could a sci-fi course be something for the academic realm? In the last two and a half weeks I have been enlightened, fascinated, and challenged by the literature that has been offered.

The course offers a broad range of views to the future of mankind that directly relate to my own experiences with the course. The Apocalyptic literature grounds me and forces me to confront mortality and the manner in which society chooses to accept the responsibility of caretaker of the planet. Along with the "end of the world" I found the end of my previous conceptions about the simplicity of the material covered. As we journeyed into evolutionary literature, I found myself confronting a different attitude in my writing about the ideas presented. For the first time since taking Advanced Writing, I was encouraged to incorporate the first person. "I" began to interact with my thoughts and "I" reflected itself upon my written word. This is the type of literature where one finds more questions than definitive answers. The questions posed by this type of work lead to interactive "I" statements of value and belief on a regular basis while exploring the "what ifs" we frequently choose to overlook. The traditional Literature course explores primarily the past and present of society and its interaction with human relationships. This class looks at possible repercussions of the action of society upon all mankind and beyond to the future species that mankind will leave to inherit this Earth and the worlds beyond. This class is truly a course of the future because it involves thinking as a "shaper" of the universe rather than a mere observer. The decisions we make on life’s path are like those in alternative futures, each fork reveals a change in direction for the planet we call home.

The literature we have read follows the narrative form of telling a story. In Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower the reader is presented with a parable demonstrating the moral lessons she wants the audience to learn from. Each work has also taken the form of a romance narrative. Some works have placed less emphasis on the conclusion than others have but none the less each has a beginning where the situation is setup, a period of struggle or decision-making, and a resolution of sorts regardless of which trajectory the narrative followed. In Genesis and Revelation the apocalyptic narrative form of following a linear path (beginning/middle/end) with a pre-set already written future leads the reader to the idea of predestination determined by God for the Earth. "Sower" again brings the dramatic apocalyptic view of an abrupt and catastrophic end to life as Lauren knows it followed through the lineal path of beginning to end. Apocalypse for the characters in "Sower" is a somewhat evolutionary process rather than the finality seen presented in Thomas Parker’s presentation of "A View of Apocalypse" based on the scenes from Terminator II where Earth is totally destroyed. "Sower" takes a view likened to Sabrina Frith’s presentation on "Project Genesis", one of evolution.

The evolutionary model of narrative is cyclical in nature. Over a period of time one thing ends and another species or situation evolves based on the classic Darwinian model of survival of the fittest. "Sower" offers a situation similar to Spock’s where one species, or in this case civilization, is ending but another is being born. This concept offers hope for those in despair during a time of crisis and an anticipation of better times to spring forth from the recreation of reality, as the characters know it. In "Bears Discover Fire", by Terry Bisson, this evolutionary theme brought on by introduction of shortened sleep patterns due to the semi-apocalyptic event we refer to as global warming causes an enhanced ability of the bears’ memory patterns. The bears are progressing up the evolutionary ladder and mankind must learn to interact carefully as Uncle Bobby does or he will be a victim to the quite literally stronger species. Throughout "Stone Lives", author Paul Di Filipo weaves both an apocalyptic and evolutionary narrative that contains even an element of an alternative future. Stone lives in a world of little personal hope until his retrieval by what we can only assume is his biological mother. It would be terribly difficult to argue that the world had not reached an apocalyptic state of affairs but Stone is taught and given opportunities that will help him construct a new civilization bringing about an evolutionary process. The dynasty of Alice Citrine is ending and the dawn of a new heir is about to begin. Evolution is given another reference in Alice Citrine’s choice of pet, a lemur created of genetic material retrieved through the methods of science that enhance the futuristic element of survival beyond time. Questions must be addressed by Stone of the benefit of extending human life beyond the traditional bounds. Humanity is already facing these frontiers in medical ethics surrounding cloning and transplantation today. Stone’s decisions become those of a man about to discover an alternative future path.

The alternate future is one of forking or dividing from the traditional straight- ahead motion through life. Stone’s decisions will affect change in society regardless of how he chooses to proceed because he now will have financial power and social status. As Stone goes right or left on his particular path so will go humanity. Technological development of medical bionics will either be dropped in favor of Darwin’s natural selection or enhanced as an artificial evolution for mankind. The alternative path chosen by Dr. Yu Tsun in Jorge Luis Borges’ "Garden of Forking Paths" will impact nations and perhaps the world as he kills a man named Albert to reveal spy information. The story of the labyrinth created by Dr. Tsun’s relative shows a cyclical pattern of a puzzle that never ends as Dr. Tsun chooses a path to an alternative future that will ultimately end. The theme of alternate history in "Forking Paths" is one explored in "Mozart in Mirrorshades" by authors Bruce Sterling and Lewis Shiner. Alternate history refers to a familiar past or present that is changed, usually by visitation from another time frame. "Forking Paths" merely alters the course of history from that point forward while "Mozart" time travels to impact the economy and paths history will take in the future. In Keely Coufal’s presentation on "Manipulation and Power in the Information Age" we see how easy it is to convince the public to believe what they see on the information highway. Taken a step further, we see "Mozart" can impact the public of multiple time frames by letting them "see" what the alternate futures hold and view it as accurate. A narrow view of the alternate time is presented due to the limitations placed on the portal’s transfer ability. Only fragments of truth filter across time but as in Keely’s presentation they are all too easy to believe in.

The possibility of time travel, shown in H.G. Well’s "The Time Machine", brings similar issues to the forefront. If we could time travel could we avoid "Mozart’s" temptations and not alter the future? Could we maintain the structure and integrity of Real Time while existing in another? Well’s faces basic human dilemmas that arise in a plot that involves interaction with species evolution has created from Well’s own likeness. Issues of cannibalism may be taboo in today’s society but they may very well be the result of survival instincts that preserve the species long enough to experience evolution to a different level. This matter is viewed in "Sower" as a life sustaining technique for those with fewer resources. The ingrained mores of modern man may very well have to adapt to abhorrent changes in the future as apocalyptic time approaches.

This view of the future may be bleak or it may be like that of "The Gernsback Continuum" written by William Gibson. In "Gernsback" the alternate future is viewed as a Utopian society that is clean, efficient, and happy; the "Gernsback" future is not unlike that of the Eloi as initially viewed in "Time Machine" prior to the discovery of the Morlochs. Perhaps the future is a combination of both good and bad as seen in "Sower" and "Time Machine".

The attraction of this type literature is based on many things. While we are fascinated with the prospect of looking into the crystal ball and finding out where we are headed we are also challenged. New methods of impacting the future may be extrapolated based on ecological, political, social and business dealings portrayed in these writings. By examining the ills of society through the stories, the end result of mankind’s ability as caretaker of the Earth and humanity can be seen. A warning message is sent that frightens us into action. Mankind wants to survive so this literature provides a venue for experimentation with alternate futures without the consequences. Another possible attraction of futuristic literature is the "I" power discussed in the opening paragraphs of this paper. The reader is drawn into the settings by use of imagery and symbols to a greater degree than in conventional literature. In order to buy into the scenarios presented the reader must be familiarized with the topics by use of very elevated images and sensual language.

This course becomes a course in culture by virtue of the moral implications each story displays. As society develops the story is being written. By strict religious standards the story is already written but this fails to take into account the alternate future pattern of forking paths. If you believe in God you believe in the ability of man to make decisions based on God allowing man to make the fateful decision to eat of the tree of knowledge. This God given right will also allow man to influence his own future for good or bad throughout time. Byron and Zach in Alison Baker’s "Better Be Ready ‘bout Half Past Eight" discover that mankind must adapt to the situations they face daily and make the decisions that make it possible to live life comfortably with other. Zach influences his own future by defining his sexuality, his God given right, and Byron makes his own decision that writes the future of their relationship.

Just as Byron and Zach write their own future; we must write the future of our planet. We cannot idly sit by and let apocalypse happen when how we make alternate future decisions can create evolution of ideas. Our personal views on hope impact the earth each day as seen on the CBS Evening News on June 20, 2001. A small alligator sighted in a pond in Central Park must be spotted and caught for removal, a safety issue, and returned to a natural habitat. An officer searching for the alligator was quoted as saying, "If I catch it I’ll put it back in its natural habitat – the sewers." While said in jest, this comment reveals the truth: man has disrespected nature until his views of what is natural and normal have been distorted. This is what ultimately will lead to the destruction of Earth if man does not chose the alternate path and chose to be a better caretaker of what God has given him. In reading this type literature I cannot avoid the conclusion that man is on a path of destruction stemming from a sense of helplessness. The hope of mankind rests with the future generations that perhaps will learn from the mistakes made by this one and those of the past that are outlined in Literature of the Future.