A Vocational Career, by Joost Uitdehaag
Ian Brooks
Wednesday, 07 October 2009 20:28 UTC
A Vocational Career by Joost Uitdehaag
I loved it. Original take on hinted “post-apocalyptic” future and a fun premise. A Utopian view of a “what if” future. I liked the twist of the academic who should, one might think, have the more selfless view, being balanced by what should be the selfish-pharma scientist.
I wonder if anyone will still have a negative gut reaction though, because of either the Christian monastic symbolism (que: ranting non-Christian scientists, for example), or the psuedo-religious (albeit faux) overtones, including “penance” (a wonderful addition I thought); (que: PZ Myers et al., frothing and spurting venom to the Editor).
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Well, since I enjoyed the story, and seem to be a bit low on both froth and venom, I don’t think you get to congratulate yourself on your perspicacity. Sorry. You don’t seem to know me that well after all.
Also, like Henry, I regard A Canticle for Leibowitz highly. I hope your mind isn’t blown.
However, I do disagree with you about calling it a Utopian story. If you don’t think that was a nightmarish future (and not because of the monastic overtones, but because of the grim life of the researchers it describes), you’re welcome to pursue a career of total self-sacrifice to science, to my benefit. Thanks!
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Kausik: I’m sure you display a flair for oratory that would put me to shame. However, I have no intention of debating the matter; that was not the point.
PZM: I picked you out as a figurehead of the “New Atheist” movement. I could have picked on others, although in fact I think I should have picked on no one individually, but taken a few more seconds to phrase my point more carefully.
Joost: LOL, My pleasure!
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Now, I’m a bit confused here (though no more than I usually am, possibly, in the town hall if wet, concessions for senior citizens and the under 5s) – but none of the currently modish science-vs-religion malarkey struck me at all when reading Joost’s story.
To me, as a reader, it was all about how some elements of scientific and monastic organizations share certain features of devotion, secrecy, passion – and, yes, self-sacrifice. I enjoyed the setting, the characters, and the narrative.
Being in the privileged position of the Editor of the column, I get to read a lot of Futures pieces. Most of them don’t get published (though Interzone once published one I rejected, which was pleasing). The ones that do usually have a story and characters, like any other conventional narrative. The trick is to achieve all this in fewer than 950 words, which calls for a certain degree of skill.
Joost has it – Joost, if you’re out there, I’d encourage you to write more.
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I’m out there, and smiling
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