Okay, you got me with this one. I lost count of the ways this story impressed me.

It's short, sure, but also perfectly brief, filled generously with fun references, true history, forum-references that made me smile, and subject matter that I love.

You included so much in so few words, Cainanite, I'm agog. Yes, agog, and I barely even know what that word means!

You nailed it, buddy. Totally nailed it.

Anybody who wants to see a glimpse of a possible (very!?) not-too-distant future, has to read this one!

Thanks so much for posting !

Thanks so much Stefan. Your comments mean a lot.

This story came to me when I was struggling with my longer novel, and needed a break from it. A few people gave me some invaluable advice on it, and it went through more than one draft.

The greatest contribution came from Jesus, who had written something very similar long before I took up the topic. He wrote "Making of the Modern World", which I swear I had not read before I wrote mine. He helped correct my grammar and make the text more official. I have to thank him for his input.

The biggest difference between my work and his, is that the widespread castrations in his world were triggered by crime, and overpopulated prisons. In my world it is more strictly associated with economics and the environment.

I wanted to write a somewhat realistic account of how we go from where we are, to that world that is so common in the Fiction Archive. I admit freely I was thinking of some very specific examples of boy-eunuchs when I wrote the "Select Quotes" at the end. I admit, in my mind, a lot of the stories in the archive could easily all be in the same universe.

Thanks again for your comments. I worried that that story would be far too stale a read for most people to get through. I'm glad to know someone appreciated it.

Thanks for the story.

Last Halloween was 7 billion day, that's close to three times the population when I was born.