firecat: red panda, winking (Default)
[personal profile] firecat
I'm trying to listen to an audio version of Calculating God by Robert J. Sawyer. And some parts are really good, but other parts make me want to scream. Here's one of the parts that makes me want to scream.

Protagonist, Thomas Jericho, a human scientist in his 50s, is talking to Hollus, an alien called a Forhilnor. They've been working together daily for several weeks or months and have become friends.

[Thomas Jericho says] "And how long will you live?"
"Perhaps another 80 years assuming an accident does not befall me."
"So a typical Forhilnor lifespan is 130 years?"
"For females yes. Males live about 10 years longer."
"So, uh, my god, so, you're female?"
"Yes."
I was stunned. "I hadn't been aware of that, your voice -- it's -- rather deep."
"That is just the way Forhilnor voices are, male or female."
"I think I'll go on calling you 'he', if that's OK."
"I am no longer offended by it," said Hollus. "You may continue to do so."
"Anyway," I said...

Date: 15 May 2009 07:42 pm (UTC)
serene: fear the pussy (fear the pussy)
From: [personal profile] serene
Gah.

Date: 16 May 2009 03:08 am (UTC)
From: [personal profile] yarram
While I love the accuracy of his portrayals of life-with-disabilities, Sawyer has a horrible tendency to fall for the Medicine! Fixes! Everything! trope (except when Medicine! Goes! Wrong!, and I don't know which one is worse).

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firecat (attention machine in need of calibration)

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