Do you think a parasite would be justified in stealing a body like this? It's the only way for them to live, after all. What would you do in a similar situation?
It was a creative idea to have the parasite grow up in Mr. Crawford's body, thinking it was him, until it was removed. The parasite's situation reminds me of the Yeerks from Animorphs - although in their case, the host is actually conscious the whole time they're being controlled.
I never actually read Animorphs. I remember seeing the books around a lot in school. I bet I would have liked them if I did read them.
One of the formative books in my childhood was a book about a few teenagers being subjected to transformative experiments on an island. The main girl was transformed into a manta ray hybrid while another boy was turned into some sort of snake thing. I don't remember what the book was called though.
I've never read Animorphs either, though I also saw the books around a bit in elementary school. Whatever information I have about the series, I only know from stumbling across it on the internet at some point, or from looking it up out of interest after the first time I stumbled on it.
Your description of that book doesn't ring a bell, I'm afraid. As for me, I wouldn't credit any specific works of fiction with making me interested in TF/bodyswap; I recall that TF stuff (especially when it's human-to-human) has just stood out to me since I was a child. There was Calvin's "transmogrifier" from Calvin and Hobbes, and the 2003 Freaky Friday movie with Lindsay Lohan, and, maybe most obscurely, an episode of the Lilo and Stitch sequel TV series where Lilo TFs herself into a copy of her crush for sitcom-esque hijinks reasons. Whenever I saw that episode, I would turn the TV volume down, like it was "dirty" and I'd be embarrassed to be caught watching it.
Same I immediately thought Animorphs too it's a good series in my opinion if a bit long in my opinion. The author sets off to explore how war shapes people so my people didn't like the story direction and the ending but I liked it. You should go check it out if you have time
First of all, quite original idea with the oblivious parasite's perspective. Well done.
I think the parasite is justified to do the best it can do to survive. There is no evil in it. However, humans are also justified to kill the parasite obviously. The whole concept of "justified" can hardly apply when talking outside of human society. It is like asking of the lion is justified to hunt and zebra justified to run away (both do it to survive).
-Akiko PS: Your merging series is also quite nice. Who would have thought of combining merging and the great shift. It is these ideas that move the genre forward. Please keep coming with ideas such as there.
While I see your point, I think this situation is a bit different. The parasite has the intelligence and life experience of a human. Would a human be morally justified in stealing the innocent life of another to save their own? I think not. It's not exactly the same thing, the parasite isn't human. Its very existence is based on stealing from others. It is a difficult situation with no real right answer I think.
Thanks for the kind words! They mean a lot coming from you Akiko, you are one of the cappers who inspired me to start my own blog :) I've always loved your creative approach to these stories.
Quoting a friend of mine after she read the captions: "What would fascinate me more here is if the relationship between parasite and host weren't so inevitably parasitic. For example: what if the parasite were good at some things the host wasn't and consciousness between the two weren't such a zero-sum game as it seems in that story?"
I really thought about doing that. In the end I decided it was too much to explore in this caption. A total takeover was simpler and fit in with the parasitic vibe more. In addition, I find zero-sum games a bit more interesting. It appeals to a schadenfreude side to me I think. It also serves to raise the stakes and make the story more exciting IMO. I do think real life is very rarely a zero sum game, however.
I do want to explore the concept of a positive shared body story in the future. I was thinking of a person's consciousness being sent into the past to share a body with an ancient individual. The modern person could share what they can recollect from modern technology while the original person would explain how to fit into ancient society.
It was a creative idea to have the parasite grow up in Mr. Crawford's body, thinking it was him, until it was removed. The parasite's situation reminds me of the Yeerks from Animorphs - although in their case, the host is actually conscious the whole time they're being controlled.
ReplyDeleteI never actually read Animorphs. I remember seeing the books around a lot in school. I bet I would have liked them if I did read them.
DeleteOne of the formative books in my childhood was a book about a few teenagers being subjected to transformative experiments on an island. The main girl was transformed into a manta ray hybrid while another boy was turned into some sort of snake thing. I don't remember what the book was called though.
I've never read Animorphs either, though I also saw the books around a bit in elementary school. Whatever information I have about the series, I only know from stumbling across it on the internet at some point, or from looking it up out of interest after the first time I stumbled on it.
DeleteYour description of that book doesn't ring a bell, I'm afraid. As for me, I wouldn't credit any specific works of fiction with making me interested in TF/bodyswap; I recall that TF stuff (especially when it's human-to-human) has just stood out to me since I was a child. There was Calvin's "transmogrifier" from Calvin and Hobbes, and the 2003 Freaky Friday movie with Lindsay Lohan, and, maybe most obscurely, an episode of the Lilo and Stitch sequel TV series where Lilo TFs herself into a copy of her crush for sitcom-esque hijinks reasons. Whenever I saw that episode, I would turn the TV volume down, like it was "dirty" and I'd be embarrassed to be caught watching it.
Same I immediately thought Animorphs too it's a good series in my opinion if a bit long in my opinion. The author sets off to explore how war shapes people so my people didn't like the story direction and the ending but I liked it. You should go check it out if you have time
DeleteFirst of all, quite original idea with the oblivious parasite's perspective. Well done.
ReplyDeleteI think the parasite is justified to do the best it can do to survive. There is no evil in it. However, humans are also justified to kill the parasite obviously. The whole concept of "justified" can hardly apply when talking outside of human society. It is like asking of the lion is justified to hunt and zebra justified to run away (both do it to survive).
-Akiko
PS: Your merging series is also quite nice. Who would have thought of combining merging and the great shift. It is these ideas that move the genre forward. Please keep coming with ideas such as there.
While I see your point, I think this situation is a bit different. The parasite has the intelligence and life experience of a human. Would a human be morally justified in stealing the innocent life of another to save their own? I think not. It's not exactly the same thing, the parasite isn't human. Its very existence is based on stealing from others. It is a difficult situation with no real right answer I think.
DeleteThanks for the kind words! They mean a lot coming from you Akiko, you are one of the cappers who inspired me to start my own blog :) I've always loved your creative approach to these stories.
Quoting a friend of mine after she read the captions:
ReplyDelete"What would fascinate me more here is if the relationship between parasite and host weren't so inevitably parasitic. For example: what if the parasite were good at some things the host wasn't and consciousness between the two weren't such a zero-sum game as it seems in that story?"
I really thought about doing that. In the end I decided it was too much to explore in this caption. A total takeover was simpler and fit in with the parasitic vibe more. In addition, I find zero-sum games a bit more interesting. It appeals to a schadenfreude side to me I think. It also serves to raise the stakes and make the story more exciting IMO. I do think real life is very rarely a zero sum game, however.
DeleteI do want to explore the concept of a positive shared body story in the future. I was thinking of a person's consciousness being sent into the past to share a body with an ancient individual. The modern person could share what they can recollect from modern technology while the original person would explain how to fit into ancient society.
Dude this premise is insanely creative, I love it.
ReplyDeleteThanks! :)
Delete