# Help with finding a science fiction short story **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 1, 2011, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-finding-a-science-fiction-short-story/583969 "2011-06-01T15:46:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-finding-a-science-fiction-short-story/583969/1 "2011-06-01T15:46:53Z")
I’m thinking back to a short story or novella that I read but can’t remember the name of it. It was written by a woman and it’s set in world where women are free to get abortions but they take a sample of DNA and “create” the child inside computers. So for five years, every time the woman logs onto a computer or uses an ATM, she sees the child as it ages and asks questions of her, etc. Any help as to the title? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-finding-a-science-fiction-short-story/583969/2 "2011-06-01T20:03:50Z")
Just wanted a quick bump. I think (but I’m not entirely sure) I read it in book of short stories edited by Orson Scott Card. I’m still searching around. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-finding-a-science-fiction-short-story/583969/3 "2011-06-01T20:28:30Z")
“A Birthday” by Esther Friesner (see description here [http://www.sfsite.com/06a/neb34.htm](http://www.sfsite.com/06a/neb34.htm)) ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-finding-a-science-fiction-short-story/583969/4 "2011-06-01T20:59:05Z")
That’s it exactly! I knew it was from an anthology and just looking at the cover you linked to, I was certain you got the right piece. thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-finding-a-science-fiction-short-story/583969/5 "2011-06-01T23:42:33Z")
Great - glad to help. I used the Google Groups search to search rec.arts.sf.written for this one. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-finding-a-science-fiction-short-story/583969/6 "2011-06-02T01:29:02Z")
So, what’s done with the “children” after five years, then? Is the program just terminated? And is there some sort of attempt at poetic justice inflicted on those who terminate the programs, too? ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-finding-a-science-fiction-short-story/583969/7 "2011-06-02T02:03:37Z")
Heh. No idea. The story just ends. It does discuss the implications of it as it’s happening but not about the future. There’s reference to women being relieved about it ending but no fully formed ideas. I found it in it’s whole. It’s only 14 pages. Let me see if I can find a link ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-finding-a-science-fiction-short-story/583969/8 "2011-06-02T06:01:30Z")
[[removed link]] Enjoy ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_A.Robrin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sam_a.robrin/32/14497_2.png) [@Sam\_A.Robrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_A.Robrin)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-finding-a-science-fiction-short-story/583969/9 "2011-06-02T06:44:32Z")
You may enjoy Vic Koman’s take on the topic, _Solomon’s Knife_, as well. Few books make me think as much as that one did. ---
**Author:** ![Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myron_Van_Horowitzski)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-finding-a-science-fiction-short-story/583969/10 "2011-06-02T18:21:31Z")
Wow. So this is where the slippery slope leads from making them look at sonograms first.