The Cold Equations by Tom Godwin touches on the aspect of humanity in Science Fiction, an idea that I previously separated from this genre of work. Barton was faced with the difficult decision to rid Marilyn from his ship, which she ultimately did voluntarily when she walked into the airlock. Once I read Helen O’Loy by Lester Del Rey, I knew this decision could bring rise to an issue surrounding humanity in the Science Fiction genre.

I took Theory and Method with Professor Allen, a class in which we used the HBO show Westworld as a text to discuss similar questions of humanity that came to my mind while reading Helen O’Loy. In Westworld, robots appeared and behaved so humanely that one could not tell the difference between human and robot. We contemplated the question of whether or not a robot can ever become human, and if it is indeed self awareness that can allow such a transformation. So, while Helen is not human, her self awareness and ability to enter a loving and emotional relationship with a human surely presents her character as somewhat humane. 

Ultimately, combining Godwin’s use of morality, and Del Rey’s ability to portray robots with human features allows one to consider analyzing science fiction texts through an uncommon lens. Is there a point when science fiction can cross genres? At what point can the imaginative become real, if at all?