Hmmmmmm…

I did enjoy the early parts of the story. The conspiracy plot, though a bit tacked on (“ohh, I need a plot”), was kind of interesting, contrasting Ishamaels quick comprehension of the saboteurs motives with his inability to get human love relatioships.

I guess it just goes to prove that love makes fools of all… at least all who let it.

Betrayal would be a much more interesting attribute of humanity to explore then that oldest cliche, unrequested love. Elizabeth being in on the plot to bring the downfall of St. Croix, even coupled with the cheesy love story, would have made for a much more engaging story.

Point two. Why do so many science fiction love stories focus on well developed milk glands and bulbous hind-regions? Does there always need to be such an attempt to appeal to our internal oversexed teenager? I’m sorry to say but the reading only added to this effect. This story was downright creepy. I’m not sure how Steve could of read it differently but I felt as though I should be listening to it in the dark with the curtains drawn so my neighbors couldn’t see.

And another thing, Escape Pod kicks ass.

Thanks Steve!

I believe that it already has but humans feel so superior that we continually make higher standards for “intelligence” so that we are the only “intelligent” species on the planet.

I believe that Apes, Chimps, and such are in fact intelligent. Yes, we do have to teach them sign language. But don’t you have to learn Spanish or French to talk to someone from another country (or they have to learn your language).

First Contact has occurred. Get used to it.

Overall, my only real issue with this episode is the date. While I have nothing against classic sf, there is something that I find almost depressing about potential futures (when they were written) becoming alternate pasts (when they are read). Despite this, the story was still a worthwhile listen.

And I certainly think love stories can be told in short story format. It’s difficult, but no more difficult than telling any other sort of story in this format.

The last segment of the story was tough to swallow after learning a bit about how the author presented the dolphin thought process to then say, he found a female dolphin, had sex with her, and tried to make the human jealous. This part felt like the author was just trying to wrap up something that should have been a complex and drawn out process.

While the reader might infer that this is some of the things the dolphin learned of human behavior from the various spools he’d read from the sabatours, it would have been nice to have been led down this path with a bit more finess.

I would have liked to have seen Ishmael run out to sea, build a vast aquadic armada, and then lay seige to the water treatment plant in something like a modern Helen of Troy love story. Or at the very least, tied his actions to something that he had learned from his readings of human interactions.

I was with you through the consipiracy part, just thought the last segment could have used a bit more polish.

Still, I like “Impossible Dreams” & “N+1, N-1″ more. Can’t put my finger on it.

Come to think of it, you could view “+n, -n” as that sort of story, too. One of the reasons that story wasn’t as good is that the love aspect of that plot really got in the way of the alien mind aspect (quite directly, since the main character gave up his unusual mind for the sake of love).

I’m just not a fan of love stories in the short story format. I felt the same about Robert’s “+n, -n”. I think it’s far too complex to develop to the point where I care very much, or that the story simply becomes way bogged down with,

Padme, “I love you.”

Anakin, “I love you more.”

crap I mean, I have enjoyed some before, but they would have to be exceptional. I know Steve loves them, but it’s just not my thing. I did think that Robert’s humor was decent though (I remember thinking the same thing about one of his stories before, which really makes me root for him), which made it closer to a 5/10 thing.