In Fury Born
I am reading this book right now call “In Fury Born” about a young woman in the distant future who goes from school to the Imperial Marines. I love Sci-Fi and this is by one of my favorite writers named David Weber. The story jumps thru different portions of her career, starting as a kid who graduated college early to becoming an infantry marine and onward. Her resoning behind joinging was partly because of her mother’s father who was one of the most decorated marines in Imperial Service however her father’s side were more pacifist in nature going more into diplomatic service, although he got the need for a strong military.
Anyway, the story gets me thinking sometimes about what might have been. If I had a “genetic blueprint” growing up which was similar to my own, what might I have gone into? What heights might I have reached or would I have even gotten to the level I am at? My parents always tried to give me new experiences to help me decide what to do. They offered (forced) music lessons on me which was cool and while I do occasionally pick up an instrument and play a little tune, it wasn’t one of my favorite things to do but I wouldn’t trade the knowledge for the world. Music is one of the greatest gifts we can give another in my opinion and they not only showed me tons of different kinds of music (I’m listening to Vivaldi right now!!) but gave me the ability to be a part of it. Currently, I am working as a tech/geek. Would I have been inclined to go into this field? Would I have gone into police work like part of my military career or advanced electronics like the other part? Would I even have joined the Navy? Would I read so voraciously? Would I have met my wife and had the issues I did? Would she have a better life if she had never known me? Worse? Oh well, it’s not good to dwell on those thoughts to much.
Another thing about the story is the author’s descriptions of the heroine. It always makes me long a little to know when I read how this person looks came from this parent or that one in books. Have you ever noticed the care which writer’s will write about thier characters? How the descriptions often seem to contain some tidbit about how the hero/heroine’s appearance is similar to their parents. “It was easy to see where Alicia’s height had come from.” See it’s not easy for me to see where my height comes from. My mom is about 5′ and my dad is around 5′6″. Since I’m 6′5″ it’s not easy at all for me. Too look into another adults eyes and see my own is something I just can’t fathom. Heck, looking at my son and seeing the similarities still gets to me, however to see someone who has come before would be just to cool for lack of a better phrase. Maybe one day. Try explaining that to someone though and too often they don’t get it. Not their fault, it’s one of those things thats always there but you never conciously think about if you have it, but for many adoptees it is a big thing.
While I haven’t finished the book yet, I know her family will be killed and she will go rogue to avenge them, even to the point of forsaking and being hunted by her former comrades in arms. (Damn you “inside flap” writers and your summaries!!) Would you? Would you give up all you have for the sake of your family? Even if they were all deceased, would you hunt down the killers if the government stopped looking themselves? Would you expect and adoptee to do the same for their adoptive parents? Would you expect the adoptee to just move on and not care? Many people would probably think that yes, they would still expect the adoptee to care and would understand the feelings of revenge. Heck many of you would probably have the same feelings. So why is it so hard to understand why an adoptee wants to search? I mean they are still alive, at least in my heart until I know for sure otherwise and even then there are other’s out there who share my lineage who aren’t dead. No matter the odds, it is something I have to try to do.