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number onnnnneeeeeeeeeee

As a newly proclaimed fan of the genre Afrofuturism, – new in the sense that I was unfamiliar with the term more so than the actual media – I find myself attracted to works like “Aye, and Gomorrah” by Samuel R. Delaney (1967) for a myriad of different reasons that I can’t quite pin down. Maybe it has something to do with a childhood longing for space exploration or the casual queerness or the concept of desire for desire or all of that and something more. 

The Spacers have a unique freedom, one apart from gender, sexuality, and the confines of the planet, that in itself is entirely too enticing. However, their reality is also upsetting when you think about how it all comes to pass. (Do I still wish I could look completely androgynous and explore space at will? Yes… Does that make me sort of like the Frelk? Say no…)

The Spacers are essentially a castrated labor force, designed to increase efficiency at the expense of their humanity. They are victims of a predatory capitalist society that takes children and permanently alters their bodies (and as a byproduct: their minds) for the sake of profit. It’s eerie in the way it mirrors historical labor practices and forecasts an all-too-real possibility (i genuinely would not put anything past this administration and the future they are trying to scaffold).

Additionally, due to the unique features of Spacers – androgyny and lack of sexual desire– they are treated as a sort of “other” that is either ignored or fetishized as a sexual object. Their only worth being attributed to what they can provide for others, whether that be physical labor or sexual gratification. And while Spacers do manage to make this work for themselves, we do see how this desire for genuine connection (specifically romantic/sexual) is actually quite frustrating and painful. Especially because the Frelk – the people attracted to Spacers – only want them because they cannot experience that sexual/romantic desire. (me with my fictional characters and fear of intimacy. who said that?!)

Beyond all that, Is the short story kind of sketchy? Arguably yes. It’s hard to parse out if Spacers look childlike after not experiencing puberty. AND if so, are Frelk some type of pseudo-pedophiles parading as a form of queerness? … Because no, and also fucked up (and also also problematic!). Furthermore, the idea that losing your sexual characteristics would make you lose your capacity for not only sexual desire but also romantic desire feels wrong in the 21st century as awareness of the asexual spectrum has highlighted how romantic love and intimacy can exist outside of sex. 

But beyond “beyond all that”, I enjoyed it :)

(p.s. something mostly unrelated but fun) ->