Agronomer's Mystery - Writers Forum

starling · 03-31-2005, 11:12 AM

So I have an interesting idea for a speculative ficition piece, but I am missing one very interesting piece of the puzzle. Maybe you can help?

In your opinion, why would a more evolved race of humans, working in our world (here and now), want to have total economice dominance over the world's food production, shipping and trade? Please note that they are NOT trying to kill off the existing people as they are likely (somehow) descended from them.

How could this be of benefit to them?

kittyanne68 · 03-31-2005, 12:04 PM

$$$$$$$$$$$$$ all living things must eat or they will die.

however, watch how you develop it b/c most people are quite capable of feeding themselves (gardening, butchering livestock, fishing, hunting) though they may not choose to.

the group in charge of food production, distribution could also 'supplement' that supply either in beneficial or detrimental ways.

hope this was a little helpful & good luck with it.
k

mammamaia · 04-01-2005, 08:46 AM

they could be using gm foods to modify the genetic makeup of the humans... to either raise them all to their own level, or to make them subservient for whatever nefarious purpose they may have in mind...

Sooperjesus · 04-01-2005, 11:22 AM

Perhaps they just believe that they've been chosen to save their less-developed bretheren, who couldn't possibly manage the world economics without them. Of course, bad things follow when ultimate power is put solely into the hands of just a few people.

Alan Nicoll · 04-01-2005, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by starling

In your opinion, why would a more evolved race of humans, working in our world (here and now), want to have total economice dominance over the world's food production, shipping and trade? Please note that they are NOT trying to kill off the existing people as they are likely (somehow) descended from them.

How could this be of benefit to them?

Are they good guys or bad guys? Knowing this would help a lot.

If they're good guys, presumably their motives are good and they likely want to end starvation and malnutrition worldwide.

If they're bad guys, they want money, I suppose, though a complete monopoly would hardly be required. And presumably it would be a lot easier and about as effective to corner the market in oil?

Alan Nicoll

Sooperjesus · 04-01-2005, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Nicoll

How could this be of benefit to them?

Are they good guys or bad guys? Knowing this would help a lot.

If they're good guys, presumably their motives are good and they likely want to end starvation and malnutrition worldwide.

If they're bad guys, they want money, I suppose, though a complete monopoly would hardly be required. And presumably it would be a lot easier and about as effective to corner the market in oil?

Alan Nicoll[/quote]

Would it be absolutely neccessary to draw the line between good and evil? Wouldn't it be interesting if the "evolved humans" convinced themselves they were doing good but only caused destruction?
I've always found stories with multi-faceted villians, the kind you couldn't absolutely hate and may have had sympathy for, to be the most interesting.

Alan Nicoll · 04-01-2005, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sooperjesus

Would it be absolutely neccessary to draw the line between good and evil? Wouldn't it be interesting if the "evolved humans" convinced themselves they were doing good but only caused destruction?
I've always found stories with multi-faceted villians, the kind you couldn't absolutely hate and may have had sympathy for, to be the most interesting.

You're right, of course. Shakespeare has the best villains because they have nobility and strength in addition to villainy. But most stories don't have such villains, and anyway I was just asking for clarification.

Alan Nicoll

starling · 04-04-2005, 07:31 AM

Thanks for the ideas everyone.

So far I have this. A woman is working for a major corporation in the agricltural production industry when that industry enters some kind of a crisis. When her boss, whom she assumed was from some area in northern/eastern Europe communicates in another language to a competing firm, it is somehow familiar enough to her that she gets the jist of the conversation. When her boss realizes this she undertakes some research and discovers the woman's parents were "like them" and brings the woman into the circle.

These aliens/humans are neither good nor evil. They are capitalist, and I think they should have other, political motives.

You are right to say that without food people can't eat/live/grow.

I like the idea of GMOs using advanced science and advanced understanding of the human physiology.

More ideas and thoughts always welcome. I like to play mix and match in my head with ideas from other. They spark things!