Atreyu69 (imported) wrote: Sun Sep 30, 2018 2:46 pm
More random thoughts. There are some very nice stories posted on EA that are set in a near (or distant) future where tween castration is commonplace. I've enjoyed reading these stories but they always leave me wondering; how in the story's "universe" did society get from "here" to "there." In other words how would society transition from abhorring castration to accepting it? Any ideas?
For a LONG and somewhat involved answer to Atreyus question, we can start with all of the Alternative Histories that have been published in both short story and novel form. Each begins with some turning point in history and speculates about what the present would be like if the event had turned out differently. For example: What would the modern world be like if the Third Reich had prevailed? What would North America be like today if the Confederate States had won the Civil War and slavery was still prevalent? What would the world be like if the Persians had won the Battle of Salamis in 480 BCE?
In the Persian case, especially, we could have the basis for an EA story (or a full novel) of a world where Persian culture and administrative practices spread across Europe. We know, for example, of three cases where rebellions in Greek cities controlled by the Persian Empire were put down with the execution of the adult males and the castration of all the boys, sending the women into slaveryexterminating the rebels. (The Chinese did this as well, at least from the extermination of Miao rebels during the 14th century in the Ming Dynasty through the defeat of Uighur rebels in the 1870s--executing the adult males and castrating all boys.) We know that Persian taxation of the provinces (satrapies) included castrated boys to be sent to the capital. The Babylon Satrapy was responsible for sending 500 castrated boys and 1000 talents of gold per year. Other satrapies sent fewer castrated boys, but several had regular levies. The eunuchs were used in palace administration and the most talented were sent out to administer far-flung provinces other than the one from which they originated.
Some of the literary techniques of such alternative histories might well be central to science fiction futures. The early 21st century has seen a strong (and widespread) rise of female power. The #Metoo movement is only a piece of it. Male power and patriarchy over the past several millennia has been based on greater male physical strength and male testosterone-fueled aggressive behavior. The strength formerly required for physical labor is being replaced by machines and automation. Most of it is now replaceable. The aggressiveness has fueled wars at the large scale and violent crime at the small scale. Is all that testosterone necessary in the modern world?
We also know from 8000 years experience with animal domestication that only a few fertile males are needed. Castration was invented partly to selectively breed desired characteristics into the herd. Its simple and effective and modern dairy cattle and swine production depends on artificial insemination from superior male breeding stock. (Considering some of the dog breeds, we know that some serious mistakes can be made.)
In humans, we know from recent genomic studies that at least 60% of intelligence is genetic. More recent research is demonstrating that even personality has a very high genetic component. The forthcoming book Blueprint: How DNA Makes Us Who We Are by Robert Plomin will detail some of this recent research.
We also know from lots of research that for many (most?) traits there is greater variability in males than in femaleseven when the averages are the same. For example, studies of the results of hundreds of thousands of IQ tests demonstrate that the average IQ of males and females is nearly identical (much less than one-point difference). The bell-shaped distribution curves show females clustering around the average and males spread out over a wide range with more at both the high and the low ends of the curve. This appears true for most traits measured, regardless of whether or not the average is the same. For example, males, on average, are taller than females, but females cluster around their average height and males spread out over their range.
This should make it easier for a female-centered society to select the appropriate males for reproduction. Non-breeding males could simply be sterilized (vasectomies work), but the aggressiveness would continue. Neutering, on the model of animal domestication might be superior. At what age? Convincing 18 year-olds that they should be castrated would likely lead to rebellion. Two would be too young to make intelligent decisions about personality and intelligence. Pick an age for your hypothetical society....
When can we expect to see your novel?
