Comments on: What Are The Animals Becoming?

By: Brenda Cooper

Brenda Cooper — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 02:29:20 +0000

Funny. I just ordered SIRIUS since someone else who read this commented to me in email and recommended it. It should be here in a few days and I’m looking forward to reading it.
Nancy Kress’s current blog also mentions a number of current stories about genetically altered animals.

By: Your Obedient Serpent

Your Obedient Serpent — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 01:51:31 +0000

Predating either tale is Olaf Stapledon’s SIRIUS (1944).

Of course, the biggest question is how long it will take to overcome the speech impediment that characterizes Reorge Retson’s reloved Rastro.

By: Brenda Cooper

Brenda Cooper — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 02:39:39 +0000

Thanks — I’ll look for that. That does pre-date “Flowers for Algernon,” which appeared in 1958.

By: bfwebster

bfwebster — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:45:08 +0000

Actually, one of the earliest ‘enhancing animal intelligence’ novels is “City” by Clifford D. Simak (1952). It’s actually a collection of stories told and re-told by (intelligent) dogs about the now-legendary Men. Like most of Simak’s work, it’s thoughtful and groundbreaking; for example, there’s more than a hint of “Avatar” in the story set on Jupiter.

It’s also the only novel I’ve ever read — and I’ve read quite a few — that has a character with my name in it. But that’s not why I like it. Mostly. ..bruce..