Friday, September 20, 2013

If Animals Could Talk...

...what do we think they’d say? First thing that sprang to my mind was ‘stop killing us!’ Let’s face it, humanity does plenty of that. 


It reminded me of The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - the televised version shown back in the 80s on British TV. Arthur Dent - one of the only two humans who survived the destruction of the Earth to make way for a hyperspace bypass - is introduced to the Dish of the Day at The Restaurant at the End of the Universe. The dish turns out to be an Ameglian Major cow, an animal created to actually want to be eaten and capable of saying so clearly and distinctly. Arthur’s two alien companions - Ford Prefect and Zaphod Beeblebrox - are quite happy to discuss what bits of the animal are best and how they should be served, guided by the animal itself as they investigate its haunches.
Arthur is horrified. “I don’t want to eat an animal that’s lying there inviting me to!”
“It’s better than eating one that doesn’t want to be eaten...” counters Zaphod. 



Which would you prefer? To be honest, I like eating meat and I’m not giving it up any time soon. I’d even kill and prepare it myself if I had to. But if my prospective dinner turned round and started chatting to me? Possibly not, however keen it might be on the idea of being consumed.

Some people believe animals can talk, and to a degree they can. I have bantams, the little half-sized chickens, and you can tell the difference between the contented clucking, the ‘I’ve just laid an egg!’ squawk, and the ‘cat,cat!’ screech. The kids adore the chooks, and the fresh eggs are a bonus, but they’re never going to end up on the dinner table. Sometimes, when I sit and watch them pecking away and one suddenly raises its head and eyes me, I wonder what goes through their minds. Do they even know what I am, aside from a source of food and the occasional nuisance when I shoo them back into their coop? Do they just see me as part of the landscape like a tree or the kids’ play equipment? Are they eyeing me up as a potential meal, remembering back to the time their T-Rex ancestors would have eaten something my size as a snack? Or are they just wishing they could say “more corn, minion!”?

From left to right - Chiana, Kyru, and Rush

So, as a newcomer to Romancing the Genre (thanks to Judith and Sarah for inviting me!), here’s a bit about me -

Bio
A stay-at-home mum of three who spent twelve years working as an Analytical Chemist in a Metals and Minerals laboratory, Pippa Jay bases her stories on a lifetime addiction to science-fiction books and films. Somewhere along the line a touch of romance crept into her work and refused to leave. In between torturing her plethora of characters, she spends the odd free moments trying to learn guitar, indulging in freestyle street dance and drinking high-caffeine coffee. Although happily settled in historical Colchester in the UK with her husband of 20 years, she continues to roam the rest of the Universe in her head.


Pippa Jay is a dedicated member of the SFR Brigade, a community of science fiction romance authors and publishing professionals committed to writing and promoting the very best in the genre.


Stalk me!
Twitter - https://twitter.com/pippajaygreen


6 comments:

Judith Ashley said...

Welcome aboard, Pippa. We are thrilled your writing schedule and real life permitted you to join us! I was engaged to a rancher many many years ago and one day he brought steaks to my house for us to BBQ for dinner. I'll never forget as I'm finishing my dinner, he casually mentioned I was enjoying Cleo. Didn't eat meat for a few months after that...so I can appreciate not being able to eat meat that is talking/communicating with me!

Sarah Raplee said...

I loved the Hitchhiker clip! Loved the books, too!

When I was about eight years old, Dad won a LIVE turkey in a contest at Thanksgiving time. I wanted to keep Jim for a pet, but our neighbor axed him for our Thanksgiving dinner (Dad didn't want to be seen as the bad guy.) I didn't eat turkey until I was an adult.

So glad you joined us! Great post!

Diana McCollum said...

Hi, Pippa! Great post! The clip was hilarious. I definitely couldn't eat a pet or an animal that talked to me. Quite interesting, food for thought. :)

Lynn Lovegreen said...

I love Hitch-Hiker's Guide, glad to see a reference to it! While I do kill salmon to eat them, I leave it to others to harvest the rest of my meat. I agree that it would be awkward if my meal could talk to me.

Thanks for a refreshing take on the topic!

Pippa Jay said...

Hi Judith, and thank you. I spent my childhood among farmers, and I remember one saying 'never name something you intend to eat.', lol! I think that's wise!
Hi Sarah! Oh, I'm a huge fan of Douglas Adams, starting with the Hitch-Hiker's Guide. Just loved his take on things.It's funny, but my kids are still happy to eat chicken even though we have them as pets - providing we don't ever cook one of our own. I think it does make it hard to eat something you've seen alive just a few minutes earlier.
Hi Diana! Isn't it weird though? Like Zaphod said, better than eating something that doesn't want to be eaten, and yet I go with Arthur's feelings!
Hi Lynn. Oh, I used to fish but could never eat them - although I think that was more because I didn't like fish, lol.

Robin Weaver, Author said...

Great clip. Enjoyed your post.