OFF: Solaris

[Brian Halligan]

> Over to you....
>
> FoFP

Reminds me somewhat of Ursula K. LeGuin's "The Left Hand of Darkness" where
a human emissary lives with aliens who are asexual until they become one sex
or the other, based on personal and environmental conditions, in order to
mate. Mating is also more like in the animal kingdom, in that they were not
always "in heat." Those who were, were considered freaks of nature and
perverts.

The story also involved their particular brand of government (not so
different than the norm), and the fact that they were living through an ice
age, which affected their sociology. I'm sure there was even more to it that
I'm missing, since I haven't read it in quite some time.


As far as examples in nature that could be drawn from, a friend of mine is
studying a fish called the Gobi, which can change sex based on the mating
situation it finds itself in. He would be able to tell you much more about
how and why it happens. So, if you're interested let me know and I can put
you in contact with him.

Brian
NP> Monster Magnet "God Says No"