In the Barn

by Piers Anthony

Short story appears in "Again, Dangerous Visions" by Harlan Ellison and "Anthonology" by Piers Anthony.

In the Barn is intended to be a shocker, of course. It could have been told without the, if you'll pardon the expression, vulgar detail. But the real shock should not stem from the portrayal of acts every normal person practices. It should be this: this story is a true representation of a situation that exists widely in America, and in the world, and that has existed for millennia. Only one detail has been changed: one form of mammal has been substituted for another in the barn.

Does human morality have to be defined in terms of humans? Is it impossible for us to recognize the inherent rights of nonhuman creatures? Surely, if we can show no more respect for cows, for chickens, for pigs, for any animal or color or philosophy—no more respect than this—surely we have defined our own morality unmistakably.

Genres: Fiction, Science Fiction, Short Stories, Fantasy

31 pages, ebook

Published January 1, 1972

About the author

Though he spent the first four years of his life in England, Piers never returned to live in his country of birth after moving to Spain and immigrated to America at age six. After graduating with a B.A. from Goddard College, he married one of his fellow students and and spent fifteen years in an assortment of professions before he began writing fiction full-time.

Piers is a self-proclaimed environmentalist and lives on a tree farm in Florida with his wife. They have two grown daughters.

Reviews

[M.Ars · Rating 2 out of 5]

Паралельний всесвіт з його іншими законами.
Де люди - за певних обставин (не без впливу представників свого ж виду) можуть ставати свійською худобою.
Важка книга з багатьма відкритими етичними питаннями.
Можна провести паралелі з Гакслі та його "О, дивовижний новий світе", де описувався дещо тотожний підхід до вирощування порцій дельт чи бет. Втім, навіть у Гакслі була лайт-версія.
У світі Пірса - новонароджених на кілька років знерухомлюють й обмежують у постачанні потрібного для формування мозку білку, а відтак - такі "представники" безповоротно деградують...

[Shawn Dewar · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you don't like this story you're probably brainwashed and eating animals that were violently slaughtered every day and that's not ok. Time for a change. It's never been easier to be a decent human being. Be better.