*evolve* that
>way, as they are wont to do? Actually, to be honest, it was never a 'fashion'. The Avatar characters of UF began their star-spanning adventures as non-conformist college students. Having read UF-1 recently, that point is made. From what I read there, and what I inferred from that and the authors notes, they were the (please pardon my labeling) oddballs. Anyone who was unconventional in some way ended up hanging with them. They embraced the uniqueness. (stopping before getting preachy here about a place I never visited or have seen. Sorry Gryph.)
>No, *this* is where I will be narrow-minded and object: (2)
>Most of these characters having sex are *teenagers*, well under
>the age of 18. And unmarried, to boot. --Yes yes, I know real-world
>US statistics indicate kids as young as 12 are engaging in carnal
>relations, and there's precedent in anime, but I nonetheless carry
>this silly old-fashioned notion that fiction should *set an
>example*. Even if it's artificial. Even if the story's audience
>isn't the people who *need* the example. <shrug> It's the
>thought that counts.
Well, friend, as some others have said, EPU DOES set an example. Tolerance. Loyalty. Imagination. Hope. Courage. The desire to keep fun alive in a world that seems to abound with people and situations that want to snuff it out.
><uncle>ONE MORE THING!</uncle> --I have another objection, an
>idiosyncracy you could call it, against: (3) Sex in the stories I
>read: specifically, anything describing before, after, and especially
>-- and thank the Muses that EPU doesn't do *this* -- during.
>(I can name SF pro-authors who are horrible horrible offenders.) By
>the end of "SoS2:7:Ceremony & Celebration", Kate and Juri have
>apparently consummated their relationship. That just creeps me out.
>Honestly. Couldn't they do it *between* stories? And for
>balance, yes, the first encounters in UF1 creeped me out too. For
>reference: the scene in "Hopelessly Lost" when Gryph forces himself to
>drink coffee to dispel the image of Zoner with Sylia.
No apparently about it. Question, WHAT exactly did you see written there? Did you see anything described in excruciatingly explicit detail? Did you see more than a few paragraphs that gave no doubt what was happening but left the exact details to your own imagination? I remember seeing the latter. I remember seeing a situation with people who knew what they were doing, did not coerce each other, but were sharing themselves with the one they love. I see nothing wrong at all.
>(Phil braces himself for reactions.)
Well, here is my reaction. I am in the Navy, so of course I have heard most of the homosexual smart-ass remarks before (1200 sailors go out, 600 couples come back, and so forth). I have learned a few things in my career and this has stuck with me for the lastfew years: I don't care what you think about politics, religion or relationships. As long as it does not affect your ability to work, how you deal with others in the work place, and how others deal with you, I do not care if you are straight Republican Christian or any other combination of labels. I have no room for them, nor for intolerance like I read above.
Sh*t, I seem to be getting off on a rant. My major thing is this: I like Eyrie. I like what they write. I like that for a brief time I am placed in a world that has good people doing good things and actually wanting to be nice to each other. Given the option, I would move there in a heartbeat. Gryph, Zoner, Truss and all of you, I thank you for making this sailor's life less dreary, and giving me wonderful dreams of a world I would like to see, even if itwould be a serious copyright infringement.
Keep dreaming. I still do.
Archr
The Damned Sagittarius
"If you are going to have delusions, why not go for the really satisfying ones?" -Marcus Cole