So, I’m going to be talking about sex today. Again. My last article on the subject had more to do with the biological aspects, but today we’re going to examine the societal impacts. Specifically, how do the fantastic characters in your book find mates? Produce children? Care for their young? Is there sexual deviancy or abuse? As humans living on earth we might think aliens live just like us, but that may not be the case. And as I’ll point out, even two different cultures on earth may view marriage completely differently.
Finding Somebody to Love
The typical, idealistic romance is as follows: boy and girl meet. One falls in love with the other and has to pursue him/her until the two live happily (sappily?) ever after. Throw in some tension, unexpected drama, maybe a trendy setting, and voila – romance, Western culture style.
But that isn’t how every culture operates. A year out of college I had a roommate from India. And while he’d adapted to many Western norms, his marriage plan was still rooted in tradition. Yes, an arranged marriage, but with a modern twist. Instead of his future matrimony being determined at a young age (Yenta style, for you Fiddler on the Roof fans), an online list was employed. The parents of both singles sorted through the matches and determined eligibility for their respective children. Young men were chosen according to their health, as well as the stability of their careers and maybe a handful of shared interests. Women were picked for their good looks, intelligence, and (of course) culinary ability. Some of you feminists may scoff at that, but I dare you to scoff at good home-cooked Indian food.
In both Western and Indian romance, the interested parties must make a case for their eligibility. They both want marriage and sex, but must prove themselves acceptable in some way. This is because sex is a powerful motivating force, and the most successful cultures know how to harness it to create productive societies. Contrast it with a theoretical civilization where sex is readily available on pocket devices. What might you have? A bunch of unmotivated men living in isolation, and a bunch of lonely women trying to get their attention while continually lowering their standards. Sigh. I think we all wish that was theoretical.
Anyway, if you’re crafting a fantastic story world, you’ll have to consider the manner in which your characters find mates. Is it up to the individual or is there a third party? And the third party doesn’t have to be parental oversight. It could be a dystopian government trying to breed a better society, or a traditional monarchy marrying children off to forge alliances.
First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage …
Once the inhabitants of your world have found their mates, they may have children. And even if they don’t, your characters came from somewhere, so you’ll need to figure out how they were born. Or hatched. Or manufactured. Or whatever. A lot of the fertilization and birthing methods I’ve already covered in my previous article, but the manner in which these influence your world must be considered from a child-rearing perspective.
For example, if you have a species that generally produces a very small number of children, the parents are going to be more involved in raising those little ones. Contrast that with a species that produces dozens of children every few years. There simply can’t be the same level of nurturing. In this latter case, the young of the species will also need to have a lot more autonomy and capability as soon as they’re born.
The value a culture places on one life will also depend on the number of children typically produced. If your one son gets eaten by a local predator, it’s awful. If you have thirty sons though, it’s still awful, but not as devastating.
I can think of no better example of reproduction being an intrinsic part of culture and world-building than in Bioware’s original Mass Effect game. From the tragically (and arguably deserved) sterility of the Krogan, to the egg-laying broods of the Salarians, to the bizarre and oft-misunderstood all-female race of Asari, you’ll find no shortage of fascinating cultures to fuel your imagination. Even if you’re not into playing videogames, you should check out a Mass Effect wiki or some playthrough videos. The second and third entries in the series are mostly forgettable though, so don’t bother with them.
Laboratory Orphans
Asexual breeding is sometimes explored in science fiction. In Battletech, the advanced clans are selectively bred in tubes to produce the most efficient warriors. Individuals fight for their right to have their genetic strains added to the pool of genetic superiors. In Scalzi’s Old Man’s War, super soldiers are made from mostly human genetic material, with a few enhancements. In both of these cases, the people have been designed to defend their culture, and they dutifully do so within their specified role.
On the other hand, ExoSquad had its NeoSapiens, a manufactured breed of blue-skinned superhumans, and Space: Above and Beyond had its “In Vetroes,” or test tube soldiers. In these two cases, the created pseudo-humans had a hard time fitting in. Their place in life isn’t abundantly clear because their creators hadn’t been the most honorable. As a result, tension exists between the true humans and their creations.
Sex, Marriage, and Christianity
Lastly, for a sentient and moral species like humanity, sex and marriage is more than just reproduction. They pave a pathway to a profound intimacy designed by God and reflect God’s relational and complimentary nature. Numerous Christian books have been written in regards to this aspect of sex and marriage, including but not limited to: The Act of Marriage, Eden Derailed, Sex and the Soul of a Woman, Sex and the Supremacy of Christ, Every Man’s Battle, etc.. If your aliens or fantasy creatures are anything like humans, sex and marriage are likely parts of their purpose in creation. Also worth considering – sex is broken in our culture. Alien societies, if they have fallen from grace like us, might also have skewed views on sexuality including abuse, infidelity, and perversion.
Whatever you decide for your fantastic world, remember this: Sex is a powerful. For both men and women it is a motivating force created by God. It is therefore good, but like all good things the Lord has given us (e.g. nature, chocolate, etc.) it must be used responsibly. It’s just like Spiderman says.
Space: Above and Beyond Picture from
http://boltax.blogspot.com/2011/03/bishs-review-space-above-and-beyond_25.html
Krogan Image from:
http://masseffect.wikia.com/wiki/File:Wrex2.png
Fiddler on the Roof copyright MGM, 1971
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