|
|
|
|
- Categories:Gender, Short Story
- Title "'The Wild Y'", author also known as 'Polly Steward', In
"Brutarian Magazine #35, on sale in May of 2002", (C) 2002,
Shapeshifter, Sci-Fi
Description
MAJOR SPOILER INCLUDED! 'The Wild Y' is a great story by 'Teej
Grant' (Polly Steward), a younger female author who just has to be
one of us. The 'Y' of the title refers to a very rare genetic quirk
which occurs in some men (the 'Y' chromosome makes a male a male,
of course) and allows their physical bodies to change into any
other form when the DNA of the second person is introduced into
their systems. In other words, they are human chamelions who can be
transformed into other people while retaining their own minds and
personalities. This discovery is kept secret by the government, and
when 'something' terrible happens to the President (clearly a Bill
Clinton type), the Secret Service recruits a down and out former TV
actor named Tolbert to step in and clean up the mess. Tolbert has
his strange physical abilities explained to him and then
demonstrated when his own DNA is used for the transformation. He
becomes a super-healthy, 25 year old version of himself. Thinking
that he will simply have to impersonate the Pres until Al Gore can
be sworn in to replace him (and believing that then he will have a
future filled with exciting, James Bond-like adventures awaiting
him), Tolbert agrees to the job and is innoculated with new DNA.
The change feels substantially different this time, however. While
he is recovering, he overhears several Secret Service agents
whispering among themselves, accusing one another of not being
quick enough when the out of control Chief Executive 'did coke' and
went whacko again. Eventually, the agents agree that even tho their
duties are to stay close to him at all times, even they weren't
expected to be in the same bed with the First Couple when Bill
coked-up and strangled his wife. To protect Clinton (and their
jobs), they have to make sure that no one knows the Mrs. is dead.
Tolbert then opens 'his' eyes, stares down at Hilary's body, and
starts screaming. You see, 'he' now no longer has a 'Y' chromosome
of any kind and therefore cannot return to his masculine form. This
is a terrific story and would make a wonderful novel. Steward is
only seventeen, and the maturity and imagination she shows here has
me expecting many years of delightfully twisted TG fiction from
her. 'Brutarian' is a hip music, movie, and counterculture
periodical available at the larger bookstores and in music chains
like Turtles and Wherehouse; look for issue #35 and let the editors
know how much you enjoy Steward's work. It's a classic.
Threads linked to this entry
originally posted by Candalerio on 2002-05-02, no edits, entryid=4416
| |
|
|
|
|