Evolution_beyond Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 I've just started writing a story in which Earth's major political and religious leader are chosen by extra-dimensional beings as representatives of the human race in a trial against the human species. The crimes with which the human species have been charged are : Gross Arrogance, Human-centric prejudice, Environmental Neglect and Incompetent Handling of Dangerous Memes. Guilty as charged, I feel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ouroboros Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 What will be the punishment? Maybe you can't tell, it would give up the ending. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evolution_beyond Posted March 23, 2008 Author Share Posted March 23, 2008 What will be the punishment? Maybe you can't tell, it would give up the ending. For various reasons, to do with other stories that follow on from it, we actually end up getting off the hook. On the basis of a form of ethics that is not human-centric, the hero character manages to exploit a loop-hole to do with the cyclical nature of reality and how death can be the source of new life to point out that the charge itself is self-contradictory. But I might have to decide what the punishment would have been - but I haven't decided yet. It might be interesting to see what would happen if the human race were found guilty and punished. However that would be a different story than the one I've planned. Maybe I'll do another one like that later. It could be a kind of sequel, where this time the human race don't get off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ouroboros Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 Alternate endings, like on the DVDs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonolithTMA Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 That is a cool idea for a story and a subject that has been handled by sc-fi authors in various ways. My first memory when reading this thread was of Star Trek The Next Generation Season One, Episode One, Encounter at Farpoint. In the first "Star Trek" story set in the 24th Century, Captain Jean-Luc Picard is the commander of the new Federation flagship, the fifth U.S.S. Enterprise. En route to the distant Farpoint Station, the Enterprise is captured by a capricious, omnipotent being who calls himself Q. In a court of his own devising, Q judges that, based on its past, humanity is unfit to exist. Picard argues that the human race has outgrown its infancy, and should be judged on its current actions. Q relents, and agrees to monitor the Enterprise's new crew as it investigates a mysterious force at Farpoint Station. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094030/plotsummary I know Stargate SG-1 has touched on this concept too. I'd like to read your story. I've been thinking of writing something too, though I haven't really written anything in a looooooong time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MathGeek Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 Sounds like an awesome idea, Evolution. I would like to read that. As for humanity being judged an omnipotent being, Monolith. There are plenty of human-made and natural catastrophes that will wipe humankind out, so I don't think a trial could be necessary. Plus, Q reminds me of Yahweh a slight bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonolithTMA Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 Plus, Q reminds me of Yahweh a slight bit. Yep, every bit as unstable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shion Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 But Q had a sense of humor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evolution_beyond Posted April 24, 2008 Author Share Posted April 24, 2008 In the first "Star Trek" story set in the 24th Century, Captain Jean-Luc Picard is the commander of the new Federation flagship, the fifth U.S.S. Enterprise. En route to the distant Farpoint Station, the Enterprise is captured by a capricious, omnipotent being who calls himself Q. In a court of his own devising, Q judges that, based on its past, humanity is unfit to exist. Picard argues that the human race has outgrown its infancy, and should be judged on its current actions. Q relents, and agrees to monitor the Enterprise's new crew as it investigates a mysterious force at Farpoint Station. Actually I think my memories of that Startrek episode may have sowed the seed in my mind that eventually grew into my current story Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuaiDan Posted April 24, 2008 Share Posted April 24, 2008 I hope that won't discourage you. Most great art is an original variation of an existing theme. The task at hand is fleshing out exactly how humanity gets put on trial. Isn't the story of Jesus essentially man put on trial? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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