on writing stories in which genetic anomalies give people superpowers as the next step of human evolution. This applies to all writers everywhere.
"X-Men" did it, and it was super-cool. "Heroes" did it, and it was even cooler (if anyone wants to argue that point, bring it on). I just finished reading "Sole Survivor" by Dean Koontz. In it, children develop superpowers because of genetic anomalies, and it turns out they're the next wave of human evolution. Seems to me I've read that one somewhere before, Dean. When you try to make that the big reveal at the end of the book, I roll my eyes and think, "I wonder where you got THAT idea." That plotline is hereby retired (except that "Heroes" and "X-Men" are grandfathered in; they may continue making as many TV shows, movies, and spinoffs as they want. I reserve the right to revoke this grandfather clause as soon as either of the above-mentioned goes on for too long).
The penalty for breaking the ban is death in the same manner in which one of your poor characters has died at your sadistic hands.
[This message has been edited by wetwilly (edited December 13, 2007).]
Posted by Robert Nowall (Member # 2764) on :
It wasn't even original then...I remember seeing it in the first batch of post-atomic-war stories that showed up after the end of World War II. Mutants with superpowers abounded...
(Not that I read them after WWII...I'm not that old...I read 'em when they got reprinted in the seventies and eighties.)
Posted by skadder (Member # 6757) on :
*Grips forehead and concentrates*
I feel a great deal of uncertainty within you, wetwilly. Your emotions betray you...
Posted by lehollis (Member # 2883) on :
Besides, everyone knows the next step in human evolution will be organic USB flash drives growing out of our thumbs.
As for the concept, what I wouldn't mind seeing is something that describes how these changes are needed on an evolutionary level. It seems that necessity is often a factor in evolutionary concepts, so the idea of random superpowers as a product of evolution is a little off to me.
Posted by JeanneT (Member # 5709) on :
This has been a cliche for a long time. That doesn't mean it couldn't be done well and that it has been done before doesn't prove anything. The question is always was it well done with a different take on the trope. Posted by supraturtle (Member # 1518) on :
I'm a fan of duplicated limbs myself...
Posted by annepin (Member # 5952) on :
Granted, it's been a long time since I last read the comics (and I only had a passing interest) but I thought the concept in Xmen was that they had developed powers as a result of pollution. Whether the mutants represented the next step in human evolution was the point of contention between Xavier and Magneto.
I actually don't have a problem with this theme, or in seeing more of it. I like it, and though it's cliche, there's a lot of potential for it to be reworked. One could argue it was already cliche when Heroes did it.
I do agree, if that's the _only_ point of the story (i.e., as it sounds like in that Koontz's novel), then yes, its a bit trite. One of those first ideas that should probably get thrown out. But I just finished Octavia Butler's Dawn, which could be boiled down to the same idea, though she puts twists in it--in this case, aliens are guiding human evolution to suit their own purposes, but they view cancer, i.e. a mutation, as something that can help further the human race.
Posted by arriki (Member # 3079) on :
Arthur C Clarke wrote that in one of novels back in the 50s? 60s? What was the name of it?
Posted by JOHN (Member # 1343) on :
Your first mistake was reading Dean Koontz. Sorry couldn’t resist. There’s lot’s of lame plot devices out there I could do without. It’s funny you mentioned X-Men, though. As even Stan Lee admitted he got the idea as he couldn’t think of anymore origin stories and decided “they’re just born with it.” Laziness the mother of ingenuity.
JOHN!
Posted by rickfisher (Member # 1214) on :
Clarke's novel was Childhood's End.
[This message has been edited by rickfisher (edited December 13, 2007).]
Posted by 'Graff (Member # 2648) on :
A story that uses the conceit of mutants to explore other story ideas is perfectly acceptable. A story which has as its pay-off this sort of idea? Not worth the time taken to write it or the paper it was printed on. This sort of distinction needs to be made.
After all, any story could use as faster-than-light travel as a facet of its plot. We'd be bored to tears if a story's resolution relied on FTL as a "big reveal."
Posted by Marzo (Member # 5495) on :
quote: We'd be bored to tears if a story's resolution relied on FTL as a "big reveal."
Tonight on Trading Spaces we make Sally and Ben's livingroom into the next stage of human evolution! How will they react to the big reveal?
Posted by Robert Nowall (Member # 2764) on :
I think I was thinking of a series of early Poul Anderson stories...
Posted by tigertinite (Member # 4803) on :
If the story fits and is done well then we shouldn't worry ourselves too much on the whole how they got their powers aspect. I have no problem with any story written well. . .I don't usually like time travel but my writing group just critiqued a wonderfully well written piece of a rather hackneyed topic. . . it's all in how th tale is presented.
Sorry couldn’t resist. There’s lot’s of lame plot devices out there I could do without. It’s funny you mentioned X-Men, though. As even Stan Lee admitted he got the idea as he couldn’t think of anymore origin stories and decided “they’re just born with it.” Laziness the mother of ingenuity.