Out Of All Them Bright Stars By Nancy Kress: An Analysis

We began this course with a discussion on definitions of science fiction, and how these definitions have developed over time. After reading and discussing almost fifty science fiction stories, I understand why science fiction is difficult to define, since how each author used science and/or technology in his or her stories was seldom the same when compared to other authors. For example, in Tom Godwin 's "The Cold Equations," Newton’s laws of motion drove the story’s conflict, and forced Captain Barton to balance a cold equation at the expense of someone’s life. Other science fiction stories used a scientific concept for a backdrop, like in Nancy Kress’s “Out of All Them Bright Stars.” This story focused on a waitress’s encounter with an alien; while there is no scientific conflict, the idea that aliens are on earth and are capable of interacting with humans is a scientific idea that helps frame the story. To accommodate the variety of stories we have read

Even though other genres use point of view as a tool, science fiction writers can use their choice in narration to create a specific tone for the story. An example of this can be seen in Judith Merril’s “That Only A Mother,” in which a young, distressed mother repeatedly frets over the well being of her baby due to the possibilities of genetic mutations. The tone of worry and denial in the mother’s speech makes the reader think that something is wrong with her baby: “Even the first mutants...were not old enough yet to breed. But my baby is all right….My baby’s fine. Precocious, but normal” (Merril 218). This choice to narrate from the mother’s perspective adds suspense, and ultimately creates a more shocking reveal when the father sees that his baby is limbless. Overall, imagery and point of view are key details science fiction writers must consider if they are to effectively communicate their future to the