Quote:
Originally Posted by Catlady
Which still leaves the question, why? Why did the author choose to tell us they are sterile? Why does he have them hear lectures about sex and how they need to be careful about sex with non-clones in the outside world because they take it more seriously than the clones? What is the point he's making with this information? Why is it included?
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In the Society it serves to preserve and further the isolation of the clones. This isolation does not seem to be imposed by law, but by the clones themselves. Having and raising children is not consistent with their destinies. Such children would be orphaned if born to two clones. If born to a clone and a "normal" then the mother or father would disappear from the Child's life once donations began, or more horrifyingly continue to visit the clone parent as they were taken slowly apart. Many of those with clone partners would agitate for clone rights. Clone fertility would inevitably have lead to the closer integration of these sub-humans into normal society. Sterility is an easy solution. No laws, no guards, no heavy handed enforcement needed.
Further, if clones were truly considered sub-human and it was easily possible to ensure their sterility, I doubt the decision to do so would even attract much thought.
Finally, this author did not want to write a book about clones interacting with "normal" society. According to the video interview, he wanted to write a book about love and friendship amongst people facing mortality. Anything else he seems to have considered extraneous.