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Posted By: stereobandito Mar 14, 2005 - 08:17 am

Hi there. My latest Sci-Fi epic is based in our universe around 2 centuries from now. However, I don't want to go over the top with my characters and creations etc. It's really quite complicated. One of my character ideas involved a British Ornathologist interested in hunting wild birds for a sport... Boring you may think, except these birds are large mutants, hunted in futuristic game parks for amusement. I came across the idea whilst doing some research.

An idea for my new universe is that hunting exotic artificial animals will become a great sport. They are kept in game parks (Jurassic Park... anybody?) Escaped genetically modified creatures are extremely dangerous and will require a highly trained team of experts to hunt down, because they can cause great damage if released into the environment. They range from large tigers to even stranger mutant animals.

Is this idea realistic for 200 years from now, or is it crazy, ridiculous and overblown?

Any thoughts?

Posted By: gnollslayer Mar 14, 2005 - 12:40 pm

It's realistic that we will be able to create mutant animals within 200 years. I'm pretty sure we won't, though, because there will be so many other things more entertaining and less dangerous than having huge game reserves for hunters.

Also, I don't know if it would be best to have the hunter be an ornithologist. Ornithologists would be more interested in observing these mutant birds than hunting them.

Posted By: Magus Mar 14, 2005 - 02:58 pm

Law suits anybody?

Other then that, I find that with genetic manipulation the way it's progressing now it could be possible. Although, with the overall danger and risk involved, you may want to consider this to be an underground illegal event.

Posted By: stereobandito Mar 15, 2005 - 08:22 am

True, maybe I'll scrap it... It was just an idea, one that I'm not particularly fond of now anyway

Posted By: Magus Mar 15, 2005 - 02:05 pm

I'm saying that it would very interesting if it was an illegal event. I wasn't saying you'd have a law suit, far from it. I meant story-wise. Sorry for the confusion.

Posted By: wafricansavage Mar 22, 2005 - 08:46 am

Might be interesting to see that the hunter himself must be genetically engineered or superior in order to hunt these animals.

Suffice it to say that you will also have to factor in a few groups dedicated to preventing animal cruelty.

My main concern would be more focused on what is the central plot of the story. If it's only focused on hunting it will get boring real soon. Unless you intend to create a theory in which you will deduce what hunting wil be like in the future.

If one of the birds turns out to be different and posses something essential, either for religious, monitary or scientific reasons, this is when the plot gets interesting. Either the hunter is hired to track down an animal and faces challenges in the process, both emotionally and physically. Or it leads to a greater conflict in which two opposing parties are interested in aquiring the bird as a sign of its devine purpose motivate its people. Now this would be interesting and you could mix in the various elements of hunting, genetic experimentation into the mix.

I find that a story is always more interesting when you start mixing in conspiracies and personal agendas into the mix.

Posted By: Magus Mar 22, 2005 - 03:09 pm

If done well then it can lend well to the story. Just be careful not to go overboard with it though, and drown the story with it.