Coming next March from Wholecloth press:
*"Not to take root; that is the law....
Not to photosynthesize; that is the law....
Not to fix carbon; that is the law....
Not to exhibit tropism; that is the law....
---Are we not men?"*
THE ISLAND OF DOCTOR MOREAU’S FRESHMAN LAB PARTNER.
Excerpt from Chapter XV: The Vegesectionist Explains:
“Now, my dear Endprick–” began my host, but I interrupted him: “Excuse me, but my name is Prendick.” “Is it really?” said the scientist. “Sorry, but it’s an easy mistake to make, you’re such an annoying little drip. Anyway, my dear Prendick, late of the Lady Vine, you realize now that what you’ve seen here is not the debasement of man to a vegetable state, but rather the exaltation of plants, that they may aspire to humanity. The surgeon’s art is equal to this and more. But this is hardly unknown in the outside world: it is referenced in Victor Hugo’s ‘L’ Pomme qui Rit,’ among other works.”
“Such power must necessarily corrupt,” I accused.
“Well, obviously there’s a little graft here and there,” retorted the Doctor. “But I’ve also made it my mission to educate and train my creations as well. Most of us have experience working with pea-brains, especially if we’ve ever worked in customer service. I find my methods effective with most other species as well.”
“And if the training does not hold – if they revert to their natural state?” I asked insistently. The scientist’s eyes flashed in anger as he replied. “The training does hold! In … almost all cases. And if it does not, I still can protect myself, protect the community. For extreme examples,” he said, indicating the mechanical monster in the corner, “there is always the Juicer.”
“You aspire to become God!” I cried, emoting excessively.
“I do not! I would strive for a world in which all we living creatures under God are equal!” replied my benefactor. “We live in a society in which murdering a man is condemned, but weeding your garden is applauded! Prostitution is illegal, but the Pastor’s wife is admired for engaging in a little hoeing now and then! If I have my way, the petty distinctions barring plants from the protections of society will be erased. There will be no such thing as ‘homicide,’ no such thing as ‘herbicide,’ there will just be plain ‘cide.’ Or, occasionally, cider.”
