Great Hopes
Ska-drek Iloh Kiladi set his skimmer gently down in the skimmer lot of his office, and then set the controls so it would operate as a called-skimmer until he needed it. Then he stood for a minute and watched the ocean. He loved his office. He could actually do most of his work from home, but most of his en-drek-a-u had worked from home, and needed their space. This one perhaps more than any.
He entered and climbed the stairs. His office was in the second to the highest floor, which reflected his rank as well. He wasn’t particularly politically minded, so was comfortable where he was at. Any higher and he would have to get into the infighting, and do very little engineering.
“Iloh!” Farsten called from his desk by the doorway.
“Farsten,” Iloh said. The males did very little ‘kissing’ on his floor, except with the females. Between themselves a verbal greeting was enough, grasping wrists was considered unneccessary.
“How is your new en-drek-a?”
“She is quite pleasant. Her daughter is a bundle of new-planet energy, absorbing every new thing with joy. Well, except for her first chastisement. But she shook that off quickly.”
“But your en-drek-a? Willing? Eager?”
“I would say more ‘resigned’. Playing a part. She understands the rules, and will live within them, but not with any great enthusiasm. She has a great deal of pride, that one. The title ‘Trade Master’ fills all of her vision.”
“The house?”
“Everything as expected.”
Farsten meditated on what Iloh had said, as Iloh opened his work screens. “So, you will not have to do much teaching?”
“I will have to do much teaching, but for the daughter, it will be accepted as a plant in a drought. For the mother, it will be carefully noted, filed away, and acted on as needed… but never embraced, I think. Although…”
“Yes?”
“Ska-drek-a-u were created to have kesh-u, and her culture has limited her to one. It will be interesting to see what happens when my seed plants. Will she keep her attitude? Rebel? Or accept her role in life?”
“Indeed. And the fight might not be over in an instant.”
“It might not.”
“But the daughter…?”
“She will cast herself, heart and soul, into her en-drek and kesh-u, or that is my guess. Indeed, my hope. I have great hopes for the daughter.”
It’s been a while since I did any kind of summary, so I thought this would be a good time to talk about what I am trying to do here. I am NOT merely trying to tell a story… although I am trying to tell a story, and I hope it is enjoyable.
But this story is a light adult dystopia, and dystopias exist, at least in my mind, to make one think about where our society is currently, and where it is going. And, as Christians, to ask ourselves what society should look like.
In specific this story is about marriage. Neither of the two planets that are the main focus of this story have ‘marriage’. But, since they have men and women, they must perforce have some way for the sexes to relate. To have sex, produce children, and raise them.
For both of these societies my goal has been to take certain elements of reality (which are often ignored in our modern age) and certain (often contradictory) tendencies of our current sexual relations, and mix and match and bring to their illogical conclusions.
Back in the day, sleeping with someone before marriage was considered sinful, low class, shameful… use the name you will. It was different for men and women, and was constantly changing, but the underlying assumption was still there… sex was for marriage.
In a change that would have shocked my grandparents (and theirs, etc) modern people, even those who claim the name of Christ, see it as not only normal, not only acceptable, but even praiseworthy that their children have sex with several people before ‘settling down’. Writers of historical fiction and fantasy (which is usually set in a historical setting) have their characters dating and sleeping around casually.
And our red-pilled, black-pilled, incel community are reacting to the fact that our marriage relationships are totally broken. So what I have done in this story is to invent some new ‘marriage’ relationships. Not in order to propose them, but in order to bring forth some of the issues we are having. Such as:
Me too
Since the dawn of time women have gotten things by their ‘sex allure’. Since the dawn of time men have gotten in trouble for giving women things because of their sex allure. Ephemera goes one way, and designs all of their sexual activity around women getting things for sex. Liberatas goes the opposite way, and makes even sexual suggestion illegal outside of a contracted en-drek(a).
Alimony etc.
What is the end point of the red pilled problem? The idea that a man can marry a woman, have kids with a woman, get kicked out of his own house by the woman, be forced to bow and scrape before a judge for his sins by several women, be forced to pay alimony and child support by these same women, and (ditto) denied access to his own children? Ephemera solves this by devolving everything into a series of responsibility-free one night stands; with the guy getting a card on ‘progenitors’ day, and the possibility of a relationship with his kid when she grows up. Libertas handles this through a contracted short-term sexual relationship with the live in boyfriend paying a huge chunk of his salary into the household funds, but, at the same time, getting unlimited sex and full authority over the woman and her children. And a life-long relationship with his children as well.
Fertility
Our society is diving off the demographic cliff. Ephemera joins us (except for the rurals, who no one talks about but who populate the planet). Liberatas makes fertility mandatory.
Modesty
Jordan Peterson once got himself in a bit of bother (he probably didn’t notice) for saying that women wear makeup to work as a sexual signal. Pointing out the inconsistency of saying that men shouldn’t do sexual signalling at work. On Ephemera, everything is a sexual signal, since everyone is sexually signalling. On Libertas, you can dress as you like… since nothing can be taken as a sexual signal. Both contrast with our own hypersexual puritanism.
There are lots more issues, but I look forward to comments on these and the others as the story progresses.
Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!
Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.
If I don’t write you back it is almost certain that I didn’t see it, so please feel free to comment and link to your post. Or if you just think I would be interested in your post!
If you get lost, check out my ‘Table of Contents’ which I try to keep up to date.
Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,
Von
Links
Introduction // Podcast Version
In which I lay out the themes that I intend to explore in this light Dystopia, and ask others to participate.
Trade Master: First Chapter // Podcast Version
In which Fenestra, our heroine’s mother, puts in her application for the job of 'Trade Master’ on the planet Libertas, and finds out that it isn’t that easy.
En-Drek Contract // Podcast Version
In which Fenestra finds out that, on Libertas, everyone must be in an ‘En-drek’ contract… a long-term, live-in, heavy date between a man and a woman for the purpose of producing one child after the other with one date after the other.
Disappointment and Meditation // Podcast Version
In which Jellia, the daughter and our heroine, finds out about her mother’s job opportunity, including its difficulties, and commits herself to meditating on the situation. (And internally commits herself to encouraging her mother to take the job.)
Decision Reached // Podcast Version
Jellia tells her mother that she thinks she should take the job, and so her mother puts in her application… and gets the job!
First School // Podcast Version
Jellia goes to school and gets to tell everyone about her new adventure.
First Work // Podcast Version
Fenestra goes to work, and tells her coworker about her new opportunity.
Writing Class: Podcast Version
Jellia writes a poem (a limerick) and tells her classmates more about her new adventure.
Trader Galloway: Podcast Version
In which a man comes over for a ‘date’ (Ie to sleep over with her mother) and to tell them all about his time as Trade Master for their company on Libertas. And as how he was almost executed for asking a woman out on a date.
Shopping: Podcast Version
In which Jellia and her mother go shopping for the last time, and we explore some of the nature of the planet she is leaving.
Language: Podcast Version
In which Jellia starts using some new words at school, and everyone gathers round to find out what they mean.
Kesh-i Cooking Class: Podcast Version
In which Jellia finds out that children (Kesh-i) on Libertas are expected to cook.
Trade Master Training: Podcast Version
In which Fenestra begins her training for her new role, with an old enemy.
Two Week Date: Podcast Version
In which Fenestra and Alex decide to date for the next two weeks.
The Facts of Life: Podcast Version
In which Fenestra brings Alex home, and Jellia isn’t impressed. Although she is interested in how dating works for boys.
Snips: Podcast Version
In which Jellia spends time snipping with a boy, and brings him home.
Kissing: Podcast Version
In which Jellia and her mother both have a sexual ‘last fling’ before they leave, and Jellia practices the new kisses she will need for her new planet.
Off Ephemera // Podcast Version
In which Jellia and her mother arrive at the shuttle port, go through some annoying formalities, and take off!
And Fly! // Podcast Version
In which Jellia and her mother board their spaceship, and Jellia starts doing her homework.
Abstinate // Podcast Version
In which Jellia gets bored, rejects an older gentleman, and rejects her mother’s idea of dating.
Older Kesh-u // Podcast Version
In which Jellia learns more about what Kesh-u (children) are allowed to do on Libertas.
Fertility // Podcast Version
In which Jellia and her mother are taken off birth control by an odd doctor.
New Girl // Podcast Version
-Added out of order- Jellia meets a new girl on the shuttle, from a strange culture!
Decon // Podcast Version
Jellia and her mother arrive on their new planet, go through an awful decontamination, get sent to a briefing, and receive their first kiss/greeting!
Briefing // Podcast Version
Jellia and her mother are warned that the laws on Libertas can be very serious.
En-drek File
Fenestra reads up on her new ‘en-drek’.
Justicia // Podcast Version
Jellia rejoices in the new planet!
The House // Podcast Version
Jellia explores her new house.
Shopping and Greeting // Podcast Version
Jellia uses her new ‘kesh liberty’ and runs off to do some shopping. And has to kiss everyone all the way home.
Ska Illoh Kiladi // Podcast Version
Jellia meets her new Ska, who has business with her mother.
Ooops // Podcast Version
Jellia makes a mistake, gets chastised, and hates it here!
Neighbours // Podcast Version
In which Jellia goes off the cry, and meets neighbours.
Breakfast // Podcast Version
Jellia wakes up, makes breakfast, and runs off for a new day!
Kesh Liberty // Podcast Version
Jellia takes off for town with two younger kesh in tow, and has a fun time shopping!
Dinner // Podcast Version
Jellia comes home from her day in town, raced to unpack her new noodle machine, and cooks dinner!
Testing // Podcast Version
Jellia shows up at her new school, has to check herself it, gets tested for math, art, engineering… and whether she’s mature enough for a live in date.