I've got an idea for a novel which involves a group of kids taking on or
thwarting an oppressive alien civilization. Problem is, for my plot to make
sense, the aliens have been killing a bunch of them before they figure out
they are even oppressed by aliens and then continue to do so as they figure
out how to fight back. I want the kids to be heroes and show how they
figure out the problem and fight back, from their eyes.   For the story to
make any sense, it's better for them to be under voting age.  The older
they are, the plot doesn't make sense.  The younger they are, I imagine
you're more at risk of either violating PC sensibilities or actually
scaring people.

Can you show 10-year olds in a sort of "The Poseidon Adventure" epic where
not all the ones you introduce the reader to survive by the end?

Post a reply to this message

Greg M. Johnson wrote:
> I've got an idea for a novel which involves a group of kids taking on or
> thwarting an oppressive alien civilization. Problem is, for my plot to make
> sense, the aliens have been killing a bunch of them before they figure out
> they are even oppressed by aliens and then continue to do so as they figure
> out how to fight back. I want the kids to be heroes and show how they
> figure out the problem and fight back, from their eyes.   For the story to
> make any sense, it's better for them to be under voting age.  The older
> they are, the plot doesn't make sense.  The younger they are, I imagine
> you're more at risk of either violating PC sensibilities or actually
> scaring people.
> 
> Can you show 10-year olds in a sort of "The Poseidon Adventure" epic where
> not all the ones you introduce the reader to survive by the end?

Battle Royale much?

-- 
Tim Cook
http://home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-empyrean

-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
Version: 3.12
GFA dpu- s: a?-- C++(++++) U P? L E--- W++(+++)>$
N++ o? K- w(+) O? M-(--) V? PS+(+++) PE(--) Y(--)
PGP-(--) t* 5++>+++++ X+ R* tv+ b++(+++) DI
D++(---) G(++) e*>++ h+ !r--- !y--
------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------

Post a reply to this message

Greg M. Johnson <pte### [at] thecommononethatstartswithycom> wrote:
> Can you show 10-year olds in a sort of "The Poseidon Adventure" epic where
> not all the ones you introduce the reader to survive by the end?

  You are going to offend someone.

  This can of course be understood completely in the wrong way, but children
are the Holy Cows of the later 20th century and the 21st. Even completely
fictitious accounts of maltreatment is seen as a tabu. I think it has gone
a bit overboard.

-- 
                                                          - Warp

Post a reply to this message

"Greg M. Johnson" <pte### [at] thecommononethatstartswithYcom> wrote

> [...]
> they are, the plot doesn't make sense.  The younger they are, I imagine
> you're more at risk of either violating PC sensibilities or actually
> scaring people.
>
> Can you show 10-year olds in a sort of "The Poseidon Adventure" epic where
> not all the ones you introduce the reader to survive by the end?

Of course you can. Granted, sci-fi of any sort (except maybe the fluff that
starts with "Star" and masquerades as sci-fi) will have very limited appeal
to readers/viewers in general.

Post a reply to this message

On Sun, 16 Sep 2007 05:58:51 -0400, Warp wrote:

>   You are going to offend someone.

That's *generally* true, isn't it?  (ie, no matter what you do, you're 
going to offend someone)

Jim

Post a reply to this message

Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:
> On Sun, 16 Sep 2007 05:58:51 -0400, Warp wrote:

> >   You are going to offend someone.

> That's *generally* true, isn't it?  (ie, no matter what you do, you're 
> going to offend someone)

  Yeah, but in this case with a much higher probability.

-- 
                                                          - Warp

Post a reply to this message

>> That's *generally* true, isn't it?  (ie, no matter what you do, you're 
>> going to offend someone)
> 
>   Yeah, but in this case with a much higher probability.

Nuke gay baby whales for Jesus!

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/

Post a reply to this message

On Sun, 16 Sep 2007 13:41:55 -0400, Warp wrote:

>   Yeah, but in this case with a much higher probability.

Possibly, yes.

Jim

Post a reply to this message

Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:
> On Sun, 16 Sep 2007 13:41:55 -0400, Warp wrote:

> >   Yeah, but in this case with a much higher probability.

> Possibly, yes.

  Not that I'm opposed to the original idea. I'm just stating the
sad facts.

-- 
                                                          - Warp

Post a reply to this message

Greg M. Johnson wrote:

> Can you show 10-year olds in a sort of "The Poseidon Adventure" epic where
> not all the ones you introduce the reader to survive by the end?

You have to explain why the parents of these children don't do 
everything they can to protect them, and if the plot depends on children 
figuring things out before the adults do, that also requires an explanation.

If the aliens are offing the kids but leaving the adults alone, that 
also requires an explanation.

If the enemy regards humans as vermin, then it makes perfect (albeit 
evil) sense for them to kill off any children who get into a position to 
offer effective resistance.

Regards,
John

Post a reply to this message