11 Comments

A fascinating future world! I was hooked on the revelation of their history.

Expand full comment
Jun 12Liked by Some Guy

Great story!

Expand full comment

Man now I don't know what to feel about martians anymore

Expand full comment
author

The last section of Death Vector should have people from Newer York, who are more normal. This also was written before I figured out a lot about how I wanted everything to work.

Expand full comment

It's a bit ironic that this came out on the same day Scott wrote a post about how "no one can make you feel inferior without your consent", because these martians are probably objectively good but they sure can make me feel inferior.

Expand full comment
author

I’m behind on Scott, on my way to catch up.

And yeah, I just think a society like that would for sure be prejudice against any of us who had lived soft lives.

Expand full comment

They remind me more of Sir Galahad in TH White's the Once and Future King.

Expand full comment
author

For me it’s a useful look at how having a purpose makes people stronger. If you sit down and tell yourself that you are a cancer on the planet you become a cancer on the planet. If you tell yourself you are the reproductive system of the planet with a duty to reach the stars you become a Martian.

Expand full comment

I agree with that (and think it's the primary problem facing our civilization right now). But there is also a dual problem, where you focus on the purpose so much you start forgetting why it matters and disdaining people who ccan't or don't contribute to it, and I think the martians have something of this problem. I wouldn't usually pick at the "but what about this other problem" argument, except it's something that I'm bad at these days and trying to notice more.

Expand full comment

Brilliant. Just brilliant. Thank you!

Expand full comment
author

Be like Alison, people!

Expand full comment