Challenge 1150

Second Chances

In Jules’ Bones of the Earth: What is Esche’s original version of immortality? What causes him to change his mind, and what new concept does he adopt?
In David Margolin’s More Than Cousins:
1. It would be very simple for Debby and Diane to collect DNA samples from their parents, one of whom they suspect is their mutual father. Might further genetic testing reveal which uncle impregnated the other aunt?
2. What might be the moral of the story? Get DNA tested to find out who you really are? Or, perhaps, that DNA can tell you more than you really want to know?
In Mike Rogers’ The Attraction of Crime: Which operas does Armleigh recall that seem to be crucial in resolving the case at hand?
In Huina Zheng’s A Shared Second Chance: How does the story and its conclusion provide a welcome counterpoint to at least two social problems depicted in the author’s previous stories?
In Bruce Ducker’s Moonings:
1. At what earliest point do the rhymes indicate that the poem is comic?
2. What does “Cyrano aside” mean? In what way is it a tribute to Bewildering Stories?
In Robin Helweg-Larsen’s How Will the Singularity Feel?:
1. What is the “singularity,” exactly?
2. If any people knew they inherited a proclivity for, let’s say, two centuries of life, what would they be more inclined to fear than if they expected only the current average human lifespan?
In Marina J. Neary’s Too Lovely for the World: Does Haim promise Magda that her chiildren will have resurrection or reincarnation? Does it include redemption?

Responses welcome!