I had this absolutely crazy idea. It probably wouldn't make any sense, but I thought I would throw it out there. As I remember, Marcao was a giant of man and he died young. Maybe someone can see where I'm going with this? We never really heard too much about Marcao, we don't know how smart he was or wasn't. And he was sterile. Perhaps, an attempted cure for his giantist caused this? Its crazy, I know. But what if Marcao was one of Bean's children?
And he was on Lusitania because of the Descolada, perhaps he even created it in an attempt to find a cure. Maybe it that is why the Pequinos are around, perhaps the disease had something to do with it. We are told that Marcao was a shy child in school, perhaps he was hiding his intelligence? Bean was small for awhile, perhaps this would explain how Marcao could have created the disease. And his time on the planet could be interrupted by a visit to see his dying father, brother, or sister. Aside from crazy, how does it sound?
[ September 15, 2005, 10:13 PM: Message edited by: SteveRogers ]
Posted by RunningBear (Member # 8477) on :
He died young from a testes based illness he had all his life I believe. thats why he had no kids too. I might be wrong though.
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
That may be true, but this was the story from the town's point-of-view. Maybe he was hiding something, like I said. I know I'm stretching, but the thought just occured to me.
Posted by TZM (Member # 8610) on :
He didnt seem like the type of person who would do things like that... plus, Ender did all the searches he could, with Jane's help mind you, to find out info on him... that little fact of "oh... he's related to julian 'bean' delphiki... thats interesting..." just wouldnt happen...
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
Jane most likely didn't have any records of where Bean was, let alone where his children are. And, if Marcao is indeed Bean's son, you would think he'd find a way to protect himself from being found out. Plus, I'm not suggesting that this is an actual component of the plot. I'm just saying that it would be interesting.
Posted by 0range7Penguin (Member # 7337) on :
When Macao was written had OSC even thought up Beans condition yet?
Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
It sounds not only crazy, but not that interesting of a plot twist. OSC has said that he doesn't feel the need to make sure every thread connects to every other thread. That's forced and unrealistic.
Asimov's joining the Foundation Universe and the Robot Universe is widely recognized as a terrible move, storytelling wise. It doesn't add anything, and it hurts the suspension of disbelief.
Posted by Joshua Newberry (Member # 7864) on :
...And the allusions to Marcao's childhood on Lusitania would hurt the believability of this twist.
Posted by TZM (Member # 8610) on :
Also, I dont think he was less than 20 years old, growth wise.
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
I just said that it was an idea. I'm not suggesting that its good or realistic. I just wanted to "throw it out there," as I said previously.