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Puppet Masters - Occupations in Zone Red - gone, retained, changed
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Eric S. Harris
Jan 22, 2012, 12:47:27 PM1/22/12
to
One thing that was only hinted at (especially in the original, abridged
version) was what life was like for typical people in the areas
completely controlled by the slugs, and during the transition. We got
some details of life for those working as "recruiters" but not for the
truck drivers and such who keep society functioning.
The idea that the slugs would need to retain people in their roles as
bankers struck me as odd at the time, but makes much more sense now.
(The slugs were riding humans, not ants, after all.) I'll have to
re-read the unabridged version again, keeping an eye out for what
changed and what stayed the same in human society as the slugs took over.
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So some occupations would continue -- bankers, farmers, etc. -- with
some great or small amount of change, some would go away entirely, and
some new ones created.
Some occupations would have changed dramatically. Medical care would
look a lot more like a very busy motor pool where the mechanics didn't
much care about the quality of work they did, and the motorists didn't
much care about the condition of their rides, I think. (Remember Sam's
lice and damaged feet and other problems when he returned?)
The slug version of gladiators especially creeped me out: a demolition
derby with humans in place of the cars. But the audience's post-match
celebration in the stands was in some ways worse. A lot of people are
going to come out of their hagridden status with some serious
psychological issues, if those events were common.
Some jobs would have gone away entirely. No need for clergy; the slugs
provided their hosts a sense of purpose and the meaning of life, and
tamped down any questions or doubts. Psychiatrists? Only to sort out
the arena-fodder from the productive, I would guess. How about
advertising? Sales? Marketing? Cowboy? Opera singer? Actor?
Teacher? Day care worker? My first reaction was "no", but maybe not,
for some of them. It would depend on the practicalities of hagridden
society, and what pleasures humans might provide their parasites.
The idea of writing a story set in the areas that eventually became Zone
Red intrigues me, for the challenge of filling in the blanks that
Heinlein didn't tell us about, or that he didn't work out in much
detail. Making it plausible and consistent with the book would be a
major accomplishment. But a worthwhile one?
The act of researching and writing it seems like something that might
kill the soul of the writer, and then of the readers. Perhaps that's
too pessimistic.
Talked with my wife and son about that, and a few possibilities were
tossed around. Make it first person, like PM and DS, and Max Brooks's
zombie book. (Haven't read WW-Z, yet.) Have it include some of his
post-hagridden life.
To avoid the soul-killing, the plot would have to include some kind of
redeeming qualities retained by the protagonist during his time with a
slug on his back and/or during his recovery period after they were
vanquished. Or a whole lot of amnesia.
Ideas? -Eric
--
Replace the "w" with a "y" when replying via e-mail. If I haven't
replied to an alleged rebuttal (yet), it may not be the most deserving
of correction; it's a big Internet and I'm only one opinionated guy:
http://xkcd.com/386 Bitcoin addr: 19gYsCTyjyYwF48ea3rHaziDNzYhnvgLH5
version) was what life was like for typical people in the areas
completely controlled by the slugs, and during the transition. We got
some details of life for those working as "recruiters" but not for the
truck drivers and such who keep society functioning.
The idea that the slugs would need to retain people in their roles as
bankers struck me as odd at the time, but makes much more sense now.
(The slugs were riding humans, not ants, after all.) I'll have to
re-read the unabridged version again, keeping an eye out for what
changed and what stayed the same in human society as the slugs took over.
- spoiler space starts
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- spoiler space ends
So some occupations would continue -- bankers, farmers, etc. -- with
some great or small amount of change, some would go away entirely, and
some new ones created.
Some occupations would have changed dramatically. Medical care would
look a lot more like a very busy motor pool where the mechanics didn't
much care about the quality of work they did, and the motorists didn't
much care about the condition of their rides, I think. (Remember Sam's
lice and damaged feet and other problems when he returned?)
The slug version of gladiators especially creeped me out: a demolition
derby with humans in place of the cars. But the audience's post-match
celebration in the stands was in some ways worse. A lot of people are
going to come out of their hagridden status with some serious
psychological issues, if those events were common.
Some jobs would have gone away entirely. No need for clergy; the slugs
provided their hosts a sense of purpose and the meaning of life, and
tamped down any questions or doubts. Psychiatrists? Only to sort out
the arena-fodder from the productive, I would guess. How about
advertising? Sales? Marketing? Cowboy? Opera singer? Actor?
Teacher? Day care worker? My first reaction was "no", but maybe not,
for some of them. It would depend on the practicalities of hagridden
society, and what pleasures humans might provide their parasites.
The idea of writing a story set in the areas that eventually became Zone
Red intrigues me, for the challenge of filling in the blanks that
Heinlein didn't tell us about, or that he didn't work out in much
detail. Making it plausible and consistent with the book would be a
major accomplishment. But a worthwhile one?
The act of researching and writing it seems like something that might
kill the soul of the writer, and then of the readers. Perhaps that's
too pessimistic.
Talked with my wife and son about that, and a few possibilities were
tossed around. Make it first person, like PM and DS, and Max Brooks's
zombie book. (Haven't read WW-Z, yet.) Have it include some of his
post-hagridden life.
To avoid the soul-killing, the plot would have to include some kind of
redeeming qualities retained by the protagonist during his time with a
slug on his back and/or during his recovery period after they were
vanquished. Or a whole lot of amnesia.
Ideas? -Eric
--
Replace the "w" with a "y" when replying via e-mail. If I haven't
replied to an alleged rebuttal (yet), it may not be the most deserving
of correction; it's a big Internet and I'm only one opinionated guy:
http://xkcd.com/386 Bitcoin addr: 19gYsCTyjyYwF48ea3rHaziDNzYhnvgLH5
jeanette
Jan 22, 2012, 6:56:02 PM1/22/12
to
If people survived being controlled I think they would have to realized
that they truly did not have control over the undesirable behaviors.
How much human "professionalism" would be necessary? Strength, muscle
memory, and dexterity might make a difference, but I think the actual
knowledge and direction would come from the slugs.
I recommended World War Z here a few months ago. Not at all the same as
the slugs but an excellent read.
I just finished Zone One by Colson Whitehead. It was suggested as an
"If you like WWZ you will like...." I recommend it also. A tiny bit
more like The Puppet Masters as I think about it.
Jeanette
that they truly did not have control over the undesirable behaviors.
How much human "professionalism" would be necessary? Strength, muscle
memory, and dexterity might make a difference, but I think the actual
knowledge and direction would come from the slugs.
I recommended World War Z here a few months ago. Not at all the same as
the slugs but an excellent read.
I just finished Zone One by Colson Whitehead. It was suggested as an
"If you like WWZ you will like...." I recommend it also. A tiny bit
more like The Puppet Masters as I think about it.
Jeanette
Chris Zakes
Jan 22, 2012, 8:54:52 PM1/22/12
to
people to buy things. Since the slugs are just short of a group
>Cowboy? Opera singer? Actor?
>Teacher? Day care worker? My first reaction was "no", but maybe not,
>for some of them. It would depend on the practicalities of hagridden
>society, and what pleasures humans might provide their parasites.
slugs don't seem to care much about children, unless they're short of
hosts to ride--in Mary's memories of her time on Venus, the slugs
ingored her while they rode all the adults, then later, they *are*
riding her, because many/most of the adults have 9-day fever. On the
other hand, I think Heinlein was writing about a world where most
women were still doing the wife-and-mommy thing, so daycare would be
less common than it is today.
But on the third hand, how much slug-knowledge passes to the host? If
a slug has ridden an adult who (presumably) can read and write, can it
use that knowledge when riding a six-year old kid? If not, then
teachers would still be needed for a long-term slug-occupation.
>The idea of writing a story set in the areas that eventually became Zone
>Red intrigues me, for the challenge of filling in the blanks that
>Heinlein didn't tell us about, or that he didn't work out in much
>detail. Making it plausible and consistent with the book would be a
>major accomplishment. But a worthwhile one?
>
>The act of researching and writing it seems like something that might
>kill the soul of the writer, and then of the readers. Perhaps that's
>too pessimistic.
>
>Talked with my wife and son about that, and a few possibilities were
>tossed around. Make it first person, like PM and DS, and Max Brooks's
>zombie book. (Haven't read WW-Z, yet.) Have it include some of his
>post-hagridden life.
>
>To avoid the soul-killing, the plot would have to include some kind of
>redeeming qualities retained by the protagonist during his time with a
>slug on his back and/or during his recovery period after they were
>vanquished. Or a whole lot of amnesia.
>
>Ideas? -Eric
--
"Are you *sure*?"
"There's still some around, aren't there?"
-Terry Pratchett, "The Truth"
Chris Zakes
Jan 22, 2012, 9:20:03 PM1/22/12
to
Some fumble-fingered idiot hit the wrong keys and sent this message
before it was finished. Le tme try this again...
On Sun, 22 Jan 2012 11:47:27 -0600, an orbital mind-control laser
caused "Eric S. Harris" <eric_ha...@wahoo.com> to write:
Probably not, or not much. Those jobs are, essentially, persuading
people to buy things. Since the slugs are just short of a group mind,
how much persuading would be needed to get one partof the group to buy
something from another part of the group?
>Cowboy?
If classified as partof the food-production chain (raising cattle and
getting them to market) then yes, they'd still need cowboys, just like
they'd still need famers. Even slugs and their victims have to eat.
Hey, *there's* a question: Much of America's food-producing areas were
in Zone Red; where is the rest of the country getting its food?
>Opera singer? Actor?
Possibly, but it would depend on what the slugs found entertaining.
Their live combat events or equal-footing bullfights don't really
suggest an interest in opera or the theatre, though.
>Teacher? Day care worker? My first reaction was "no", but maybe not,
>for some of them. It would depend on the practicalities of hagridden
>society, and what pleasures humans might provide their parasites.
riding her, because the adults have 9-day fever and are dying. So I'm
not sure how much childcare would be going on, vs letting the kids run
pretty much wild. On the other hand, I think Heinlein was writing
they are today.
But on the third hand, how much slug-knowledge passes to the host? If
a slug has ridden an adult who (presumably) can read and write, can it
use that knowledge when riding a six-year old kid? If not, then
teachers would still be needed for a long-term slug-occupation.
Masters" is one of my favorites.
-Chris Zakes
Texas
before it was finished. Le tme try this again...
On Sun, 22 Jan 2012 11:47:27 -0600, an orbital mind-control laser
caused "Eric S. Harris" <eric_ha...@wahoo.com> to write:
people to buy things. Since the slugs are just short of a group mind,
how much persuading would be needed to get one partof the group to buy
something from another part of the group?
>Cowboy?
If classified as partof the food-production chain (raising cattle and
getting them to market) then yes, they'd still need cowboys, just like
they'd still need famers. Even slugs and their victims have to eat.
Hey, *there's* a question: Much of America's food-producing areas were
in Zone Red; where is the rest of the country getting its food?
>Opera singer? Actor?
Possibly, but it would depend on what the slugs found entertaining.
Their live combat events or equal-footing bullfights don't really
suggest an interest in opera or the theatre, though.
>Teacher? Day care worker? My first reaction was "no", but maybe not,
>for some of them. It would depend on the practicalities of hagridden
>society, and what pleasures humans might provide their parasites.
I'm not sure about teachers and daycare workers. On the one hand,
slugs don't seem to care much about children, unless they're short of
hosts to ride--in Mary's memories of her time on Venus, the slugs
ignored her while they rode all the adults, then later, they *are*
slugs don't seem to care much about children, unless they're short of
hosts to ride--in Mary's memories of her time on Venus, the slugs
riding her, because the adults have 9-day fever and are dying. So I'm
not sure how much childcare would be going on, vs letting the kids run
pretty much wild. On the other hand, I think Heinlein was writing
about a world where most women were still doing the wife-and-mommy
thing, so daycare centers as we know them would be less common than
they are today.
But on the third hand, how much slug-knowledge passes to the host? If
a slug has ridden an adult who (presumably) can read and write, can it
use that knowledge when riding a six-year old kid? If not, then
teachers would still be needed for a long-term slug-occupation.
>The idea of writing a story set in the areas that eventually became Zone
>Red intrigues me, for the challenge of filling in the blanks that
>Heinlein didn't tell us about, or that he didn't work out in much
>detail. Making it plausible and consistent with the book would be a
>major accomplishment. But a worthwhile one?
*I* would be interested in reading such a story, but then "Puppet
>Red intrigues me, for the challenge of filling in the blanks that
>Heinlein didn't tell us about, or that he didn't work out in much
>detail. Making it plausible and consistent with the book would be a
>major accomplishment. But a worthwhile one?
Masters" is one of my favorites.
-Chris Zakes
Texas
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