Playing “God” courtesy of our technological knowledge and “toys”.
Do you know what’s considered the first science fiction novel ever? Frankenstein by Mary Shelley in 1818. The full title is Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus. So in the Gothic novel classic the “mad scientist” (Victor Frankenstein) created his “new” human from corpses and brought it to life with the power of lightning. But let’s say the scientist isn’t “mad” and it’s not corpses? This is the 21st century after all. We have DNA mapping, genetic manipulation, and cellular cloning, which are no longer science fantasy but scientific fact.
The Ethics Board solicits you for your layman’s opinion. Should we? We’re just “creating” a cute cat with peacock feathers. What’s the harm? Yes, we’ll want to do other things later, but let’s start here. Should we? What’s your answer?
My After Eden Series is an international science fiction thriller series leading to World War Three. But this is the future—a century from now. A global war today would be beyond comprehension, but imagine 100 years from now.
In the second novel in the series, Star and Scorpions, I introduced this notion of man-made creatures. I won’t spoil the plot for those who have not read it, but the After-Eden: Tek-Fall miniseries goes further. Episode I deals with “playing God” with mechanical constructs—robots and androids, and Episode II deals with man-made creatures and clones. Self-replicating and “sentient” in the former, reproductive abilities in the latter–both explicitly for war purposes. How frightening indeed!
Here are the poems from my Tek-Fall books:
The Metal Flesh Poem
God creates Man.
Man rejects God.
Man creates Machines.
Machines become God.
Man accepts new God.
Machines kill Man.
Machines self-terminate.
God resets the universe.
A Hell’s Menagerie Poem
God creates Animals.
God creates Man.
God tells Man to take care of the Animals.
Man exterminates the Animals.
Man creates New-Animals.
New-Animals kill Man.
New-Animals kill each other.
God resets the universe.
As if normal weapons of mass destruction would not be enough. We see from this miniseries that this coming global war has far more profound dimensions than just world superpowers and religions versus anti-religious factions.
For a story this bleak you need someone to shepherd you through who is far from morose. What we get is a character by the name of Sprocket. It’s through his eyes we maneuver through this conspiracy all over the world, both in Tek-World and Faith World. Yes, he gets a laugh at seeing Amish and Mennonites on hovercraft, too.
But back to our serious question for you, or let’s make it two questions:
Should we? Would you make a cat (or dog) with peacock feathers?
And where should society draw the line?
Here’s a quote for you. “The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite insane” — Nikola Tesla, American inventor, scientist and futurist.
Comment with your answers to the questions below.
The After Eden Series: Tek-Fall (Complete Mini-Series) is available in ebook and paperback.
Austin Dragon is the author of over 30 books in science fiction, fantasy, and classic horror. His works include the sci-fi detective LIQUID COOL series, the epic fantasy FABLED QUEST CHRONICLES, the international futuristic epic AFTER EDEN Series, the classic SLEEPY HOLLOW HORRORS, and new military sci-fi PLANET TAMERS series. He is a native New Yorker but has called Los Angeles, California home for more than twenty years. Words to describe him, in no particular order: U.S. Army, English teacher, one-time resident of Paris, ex-political junkie, movie buff, Fortune 500 corporate recruiter, renaissance man, futurist, and dreamer.
LATEST RELEASE: Be (Liquid) Cool!
