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The Jacksons' Debate
"The Jacksons' Debate" challenges speciesism and anthropocentrism through the lens of an advanced alien civilization. This alien race grapples with whether to consume humans as part of their diet, mirroring humanity’s treatment of non-human animals. By drawing parallels between the way we exploit animals and the aliens’ consideration of humans, the book forces readers to confront the ethical inconsistencies in our treatment of other species. With satire and philosophical depth, the novella invites critical reflection on the moral boundaries we construct and the arbitrary lines we draw between species.
Ultimately, the story asks: Are the ways we justify our actions as predators so different from the rationalizations these aliens are making? - I want this book to have a cover showing, as can be seen on the amazon website and a description so that I can start promoting it leading readers to the goodreads page of the book.
Ultimately, the story asks: Are the ways we justify our actions as predators so different from the rationalizations these aliens are making? - I want this book to have a cover showing, as can be seen on the amazon website and a description so that I can start promoting it leading readers to the goodreads page of the book.
132 pages, Paperback
Published December 2, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
December 5, 2024
The Jacksons’ Debate was a delightful surprise for me. The author does an awesome job using humor to show how weird we humans can be. We like to think we're so rational, but our actions often don't make sense, which made me reflect on our behavior towards animals and how society interacts with them. The book is packed with everyday situations and even some fun references to pop culture, making it really relatable and entertaining.
But this book isn't just a fun read. It also made me question the human expecies own existence and attitudes. In really found it a must-read, not only for fun but also for a deeper ethical discussion on how we treat other living beings.
But this book isn't just a fun read. It also made me question the human expecies own existence and attitudes. In really found it a must-read, not only for fun but also for a deeper ethical discussion on how we treat other living beings.
December 5, 2024
Very good! I had a lot of fun while also being able to reflect on such an important subject. I can't wait for the sequel!
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March 3, 2025Science fiction provides, through creative devices, the means to regard our world from new perspectives and to reimagine it. Neves’ Can Fiction Help us Thrive? The Jacksons’ Debate utilises sci-fi in such a way to offer a satirical take on human nature (as expressed through the capitalist machine), with particular applicability to the plight of non-human animals farmed for food. This is a useful and entertaining intellectual exercise that covers animal ethics, which is well-trodden ground in literary discourse, from the perspective of the Jacksons. The Jacksons are a species with a unique approach to ethical decision-making who are faced with contemplating the ethics of eating humans. This exploration provides some deep moments of reflection including on the unavoidability of harm in the pursuit of adequate nutrition (13) and on mortality, rather poignantly depicting living beings as ‘temporary guardians of consciousness’ (61). But, the two key features of the book I want to reflect on here are its approach to satire and its treatment of the Jacksons’ ethics (and what this has to teach us about human ethics).
Neves’ satire targets, centrally, the late-stage capitalist homo economicus. Throughout the book, humanity is depicted as exhibiting a ‘perplexing disregard for their own environment and other species’ (67). Humans are also regarded as fundamentally irrational, which is immediately evident to the Jacksons’ because of their clothing. This satirical take on humanity is a familiar leftist, anti-capitalist perspective in which we see clothing almost stand in for capitalism throughout the book as the central example of the contrast between the Jacksons’ way of being and the human way of being. While the Jacksons’ understand the use clothing is to ‘enhance one’s ability to exist in harmony with their surroundings’ (18), humans are observed to use clothing instead to ‘express unspoken rules, hierarchy, and even personal beliefs’ (21). So, fashion, and fast fashion in particular, serve as a touchstone of the nature/culture divide evident in human societies that are at once immaterial (in the sense of being disconnected from our material world) and materialistic. Indeed, in order to try and make sense of this peculiar humanity, the Jacksons ponder whether the cycles of fast fashion are a means of mimicking ‘Earth’s own environmental cycles’ such as ‘the seasons or the migration patterns of birds’ (36). Positing human nature as so fundamentally unfathomable (even reasoning they could be the result of a ‘cosmic glitch’ or AI-intervention (56)) is a powerful exercise that sci-fi provides the means to achieve. The Jacksons’ paint humanity with a sweeping, unifying brush. Of course, humanity is not unified in any such way, and the tendencies of homo economicus are reflected in different communities in quite different ways. I’m not sure whether this sweeping brush is meant as satire of the human tendency to paint other species with a similarly sweeping, unifying brush (chickens are for eating, dogs are for company). Whether this is the case or not, it provides interesting food for thought.
In contrast to the irrational human compliance with the laws of the market over the laws of nature, the Jacksons are presented as an eminently practical people. Their ethics take practicality as their ‘guiding star’ (18) and, throughout the book, the Jacksons wrestle with whether the practically correct outcome of eating humans for safe and adequate nutrition could really be the right outcome. There is a suggestion that environmental law’s precautionary principle be utilised here. In international environmental law, this principle instructs that environmental decision making be done from a position that assumes prognoses of doom are more likely than more hopeful alternatives. This is a means to act cautiously with regard to, for example, technical innovations in response to climate change, or interference with natural cycles, migrations, etc. It has also been suggested such a principle be applied to questions of ethics regarding what we eat. And, in this regard, the notion of sentience is taken to be important by the Jacksons. There is an assumption throughout the book that sentience is something important that impacts upon ethical decision making, though this assumption is never challenged or investigated for potential flaws (which seem uncharacteristic of the eminently practical Jacksons). This ethical contemplation is genuinely interesting to follow, and results in some considerations that are relevant in a broad sense, such as that ‘the bridge from what “is” to what “ought to be” is tenuous at best (64).
All in all, the book provides useful reflection on the animal question through the vehicle of sci-fi and through an enjoyably satirical means. I’d encourage anyone interested in what we eat, how we interact with our planet, or the future of humanity to spend time with the questions raised by Neves here.
Neves’ satire targets, centrally, the late-stage capitalist homo economicus. Throughout the book, humanity is depicted as exhibiting a ‘perplexing disregard for their own environment and other species’ (67). Humans are also regarded as fundamentally irrational, which is immediately evident to the Jacksons’ because of their clothing. This satirical take on humanity is a familiar leftist, anti-capitalist perspective in which we see clothing almost stand in for capitalism throughout the book as the central example of the contrast between the Jacksons’ way of being and the human way of being. While the Jacksons’ understand the use clothing is to ‘enhance one’s ability to exist in harmony with their surroundings’ (18), humans are observed to use clothing instead to ‘express unspoken rules, hierarchy, and even personal beliefs’ (21). So, fashion, and fast fashion in particular, serve as a touchstone of the nature/culture divide evident in human societies that are at once immaterial (in the sense of being disconnected from our material world) and materialistic. Indeed, in order to try and make sense of this peculiar humanity, the Jacksons ponder whether the cycles of fast fashion are a means of mimicking ‘Earth’s own environmental cycles’ such as ‘the seasons or the migration patterns of birds’ (36). Positing human nature as so fundamentally unfathomable (even reasoning they could be the result of a ‘cosmic glitch’ or AI-intervention (56)) is a powerful exercise that sci-fi provides the means to achieve. The Jacksons’ paint humanity with a sweeping, unifying brush. Of course, humanity is not unified in any such way, and the tendencies of homo economicus are reflected in different communities in quite different ways. I’m not sure whether this sweeping brush is meant as satire of the human tendency to paint other species with a similarly sweeping, unifying brush (chickens are for eating, dogs are for company). Whether this is the case or not, it provides interesting food for thought.
In contrast to the irrational human compliance with the laws of the market over the laws of nature, the Jacksons are presented as an eminently practical people. Their ethics take practicality as their ‘guiding star’ (18) and, throughout the book, the Jacksons wrestle with whether the practically correct outcome of eating humans for safe and adequate nutrition could really be the right outcome. There is a suggestion that environmental law’s precautionary principle be utilised here. In international environmental law, this principle instructs that environmental decision making be done from a position that assumes prognoses of doom are more likely than more hopeful alternatives. This is a means to act cautiously with regard to, for example, technical innovations in response to climate change, or interference with natural cycles, migrations, etc. It has also been suggested such a principle be applied to questions of ethics regarding what we eat. And, in this regard, the notion of sentience is taken to be important by the Jacksons. There is an assumption throughout the book that sentience is something important that impacts upon ethical decision making, though this assumption is never challenged or investigated for potential flaws (which seem uncharacteristic of the eminently practical Jacksons). This ethical contemplation is genuinely interesting to follow, and results in some considerations that are relevant in a broad sense, such as that ‘the bridge from what “is” to what “ought to be” is tenuous at best (64).
All in all, the book provides useful reflection on the animal question through the vehicle of sci-fi and through an enjoyably satirical means. I’d encourage anyone interested in what we eat, how we interact with our planet, or the future of humanity to spend time with the questions raised by Neves here.
February 9, 2025
The Jacksons Debate delivers a short, very readable story that forces the reader to reflect on human behaviour, anthropocentrism, and the impact and effects of speciesism. The book’s success is achieved through a skilful application of philosophy to a narrative that positions the human race as potential food for an alien community.
A cornerstone of Jackson ethics is the “Non-Interference Agreement” which prohibits eating sentient life forms. However, the Jacksons are dealing with a dietary crisis and come across a “nutritional wonder”: the human inhabitants of planet Earth. The issue of breeding and harvesting humans for food must be approached with caution, but researchers are perplexed by human behaviours (which Neves explores to encourage the reader to consider that their own prejudices and biases might be due to a lack of understanding) their destructive tendencies, and the way they treat nonhuman animals.
The Jacksons believe that they recognise the principles of sentiency, but their observed anomalies in human behaviour defy their well-established categorisations. Deliberations about the possibility of eating humans to satisfy their dietary needs follow. They include the pursuit of knowledge, consciousness, deontological ethics and justice, risks of injustice, the Precautionary Principle, and defining a “scale of sentience” in an attempt to ensure interspecies relations and interventions for dietary purposes are just and ethical.
Following deliberations, and a presentation of the situation to the community, the Jacksons must vote…
As someone who works in the animal rights/vegan space and also deals with law, ethics and justice, what struck me from this sensitive, sometimes humorous, short story is firstly its readability: The length of the book and the writing style will appeal to a wide audience, and the issue is certainly relevant to every one of us. Secondly, Neves achieves a functional eye-opening, effectively engaging the reader in critical reflection, thus generating self-awareness and the real possibility of influencing changes in personal behaviour. Thirdly, in justice there are winners and losers, and the search for a just society demands that we engage with the issue of sustenance and suffering as an issue of, and for, justice. Neves’s skilful fusion of philosophy and storytelling is an important contribution to this mission.
A cornerstone of Jackson ethics is the “Non-Interference Agreement” which prohibits eating sentient life forms. However, the Jacksons are dealing with a dietary crisis and come across a “nutritional wonder”: the human inhabitants of planet Earth. The issue of breeding and harvesting humans for food must be approached with caution, but researchers are perplexed by human behaviours (which Neves explores to encourage the reader to consider that their own prejudices and biases might be due to a lack of understanding) their destructive tendencies, and the way they treat nonhuman animals.
The Jacksons believe that they recognise the principles of sentiency, but their observed anomalies in human behaviour defy their well-established categorisations. Deliberations about the possibility of eating humans to satisfy their dietary needs follow. They include the pursuit of knowledge, consciousness, deontological ethics and justice, risks of injustice, the Precautionary Principle, and defining a “scale of sentience” in an attempt to ensure interspecies relations and interventions for dietary purposes are just and ethical.
Following deliberations, and a presentation of the situation to the community, the Jacksons must vote…
As someone who works in the animal rights/vegan space and also deals with law, ethics and justice, what struck me from this sensitive, sometimes humorous, short story is firstly its readability: The length of the book and the writing style will appeal to a wide audience, and the issue is certainly relevant to every one of us. Secondly, Neves achieves a functional eye-opening, effectively engaging the reader in critical reflection, thus generating self-awareness and the real possibility of influencing changes in personal behaviour. Thirdly, in justice there are winners and losers, and the search for a just society demands that we engage with the issue of sustenance and suffering as an issue of, and for, justice. Neves’s skilful fusion of philosophy and storytelling is an important contribution to this mission.
December 5, 2024
A Thought-Provoking Look at Ethical Dilemmas: My Take on The Jacksons’ Debate
As an animal lawyer and deontologist, The Jacksons’ Debate by Marqv Neves left me both fascinated and unsettled. This speculative fiction flips the ethical script by putting humanity under the moral microscope of an alien species, forcing readers to confront uncomfortable truths about our treatment of non-human animals.
The premise—a society of advanced telepathic beings, the Jacksons, debating whether humans should be ethically consumed as food—is a provocative lens through which Neves critiques speciesism. The Jacksons’ deliberations, particularly their attempt to define a “scale of sentience,” hit close to home. It’s eerily reminiscent of the arbitrary hierarchies we create to justify how we treat animals. As someone who works within legal frameworks meant to protect animals, I found myself reflecting on how often those frameworks are molded more by human convenience than by genuine respect for animal rights.
One aspect I found especially compelling was the character of Grag Jackson, who champions the Precautionary Principle. His call for restraint and further understanding of human sentience aligns with deontological ethics, where the duty to respect beings with intrinsic worth is paramount. The tension between Grag’s caution and the more pragmatic (and morally dubious) arguments of his colleague Marvin serves as a brilliant parallel to real-world debates about how we justify exploiting animals for food, entertainment, or research.
The satirical elements of the book are sharp and effective. The Jacksons’ bewilderment at human fashion trends, wastefulness, and contradictory behaviors often had me chuckling in recognition. Yet, that humor is undercut by the sobering realization of how these critiques mirror our larger societal failings, particularly in our relationship with the environment and other species.
For me, the book’s greatest strength lies in its ability to evoke empathy through reversal. By positioning humans as the subject of moral debate, it forces us to confront how little voice we give to animals in decisions that shape their lives. It’s a discomforting thought, but one that feels necessary.
If I had one critique, it’s that the book sometimes leans so heavily into its thought experiment that the narrative can feel secondary. But perhaps that’s the point. This isn’t a story designed to comfort; it’s meant to challenge and provoke, and it succeeds on those terms.
As someone deeply invested in both animal rights and ethical philosophy, I found The Jacksons’ Debate to be a brilliant and unsettling reflection on the inconsistencies of human morality. It’s a must-read for anyone willing to wrestle with the uncomfortable question: What would our actions look like under the scrutiny of a truly impartial gaze?
As an animal lawyer and deontologist, The Jacksons’ Debate by Marqv Neves left me both fascinated and unsettled. This speculative fiction flips the ethical script by putting humanity under the moral microscope of an alien species, forcing readers to confront uncomfortable truths about our treatment of non-human animals.
The premise—a society of advanced telepathic beings, the Jacksons, debating whether humans should be ethically consumed as food—is a provocative lens through which Neves critiques speciesism. The Jacksons’ deliberations, particularly their attempt to define a “scale of sentience,” hit close to home. It’s eerily reminiscent of the arbitrary hierarchies we create to justify how we treat animals. As someone who works within legal frameworks meant to protect animals, I found myself reflecting on how often those frameworks are molded more by human convenience than by genuine respect for animal rights.
One aspect I found especially compelling was the character of Grag Jackson, who champions the Precautionary Principle. His call for restraint and further understanding of human sentience aligns with deontological ethics, where the duty to respect beings with intrinsic worth is paramount. The tension between Grag’s caution and the more pragmatic (and morally dubious) arguments of his colleague Marvin serves as a brilliant parallel to real-world debates about how we justify exploiting animals for food, entertainment, or research.
The satirical elements of the book are sharp and effective. The Jacksons’ bewilderment at human fashion trends, wastefulness, and contradictory behaviors often had me chuckling in recognition. Yet, that humor is undercut by the sobering realization of how these critiques mirror our larger societal failings, particularly in our relationship with the environment and other species.
For me, the book’s greatest strength lies in its ability to evoke empathy through reversal. By positioning humans as the subject of moral debate, it forces us to confront how little voice we give to animals in decisions that shape their lives. It’s a discomforting thought, but one that feels necessary.
If I had one critique, it’s that the book sometimes leans so heavily into its thought experiment that the narrative can feel secondary. But perhaps that’s the point. This isn’t a story designed to comfort; it’s meant to challenge and provoke, and it succeeds on those terms.
As someone deeply invested in both animal rights and ethical philosophy, I found The Jacksons’ Debate to be a brilliant and unsettling reflection on the inconsistencies of human morality. It’s a must-read for anyone willing to wrestle with the uncomfortable question: What would our actions look like under the scrutiny of a truly impartial gaze?
January 22, 2025
The likes
- I truly enjoy the writing style and would love to read more of it in the future. It reminds me of the wittiness/science mix that I love in Dennis E. Taylor and Andy Weir
- I liked the whole premise of the story where humans for once take a "back seat"
- The alien species of the Jacksons sound very novel and fresh to me (usually we always get the same type of boring alien)
- Interesting world building
The dislikes
- While I understand it was the goal of the novella, the argument of whether or not the humans shall be a source of food didnt really catch my interest. The same argument happens many times over and feels very drawn out for such a short book
- I found the use of the words sentient and conscious confusing as they seem to be used with the same definition and also their definition does not match up with my understanding of the words. I would have found an argument around whether or not the humans are considerate enough of their surroundings to be more believable.
- I like the world that you built and I would love for a really fleshed out novel to be placed in this world.
- I truly enjoy the writing style and would love to read more of it in the future. It reminds me of the wittiness/science mix that I love in Dennis E. Taylor and Andy Weir
- I liked the whole premise of the story where humans for once take a "back seat"
- The alien species of the Jacksons sound very novel and fresh to me (usually we always get the same type of boring alien)
- Interesting world building
The dislikes
- While I understand it was the goal of the novella, the argument of whether or not the humans shall be a source of food didnt really catch my interest. The same argument happens many times over and feels very drawn out for such a short book
- I found the use of the words sentient and conscious confusing as they seem to be used with the same definition and also their definition does not match up with my understanding of the words. I would have found an argument around whether or not the humans are considerate enough of their surroundings to be more believable.
- I like the world that you built and I would love for a really fleshed out novel to be placed in this world.
December 5, 2024
“The Jacksons’ Debate” byis a compelling, fascinating and thought-provoking work of speculative fiction that flips the ethical script by placing humans under the moral scrutiny of an advanced alien species. Through its imaginative narrative, the book challenges our assumptions about sentience, sustainability, and the treatment of other beings, drawing unsettling parallels to real-world practices like factory farming and environmental exploitation. Perfect for readers interested in ethics and sustainability, this novella provokes deep reflection on humanity’s place in the world and its responsibilities to other species.
December 5, 2024
"The Jacksons’ Debate" is a bold and imaginative exploration of humanity’s treatment of other species, seen through the eyes of an alien civilization. By questioning the ethics of consuming humans, the book mirrors our own moral struggles with animal rights and exploitation. Perfect for advocates of World Animal Justice, this innovative work challenges us to rethink dominance, empathy, and coexistence. A must-read for those seeking a transformative perspective on the future of human-animal relations.
January 27, 2025
Very nice reading! This book deals with very delicate and current issues, paralleling the relationship that man has with biodiversity with the potential relationship between an alien society and human society, using humor and satire, resulting in a fun read but stimulating reflection. Recommended!
December 10, 2024
This book is incredible! So funnyyyy, yet thought provoking. It has the ability of showing the reader a new perspective on daily debates. The book surprises by exploring the morals and ethics being vastly different from what we are accustomed to. It immediately challenges the conventional frameworks of right and wrong, inviting the reader to step into a world where values and social norms diverge significantly from those of modern society. The author presents a unique perspective, where moral decisions are shaped by entirely different forces—be they cultural, philosophical, or existential.
Read
December 7, 2024The Jackson’s Debate is a very good philosophical novella which illuminates a very important topic using a science-fiction lens when an alien species perceives human beings as food. This book explores much of the ethical and anthropocentric reasoning used by humans toward animals and showcases this by the deliberations of the alien species that came to view humans in the same way as humans have done to other species. I recommend this book for showcasing the important issue of how humans can view other species using science fiction to do so.
January 3, 2025
Absolutely spot on! As I have studied the history of what is alleged to be an extraterrestrial reptilian species that considers Earth to be their property (Charles Forte first acknowledged that "We are property") - I resonated immediately with the hypothesis in Marqv's novellas - that perhaps - just perhaps- humans are the "food crop" that the reptilians are so obsessed with preserving and protecting for their own purposes.(IMHO- the last htig they want is for humankind to destroy itself in a global nuclear holocaust. This would be bad for their desire to continue harvesting the "food crop").
I am reminded of the movie The Day the Earth Stood Still, where the last scene shows a human holding up a book entitled "How To Serve Mankind" as many humans embarked on a UFO to begin what they thought was a "better life." Ironic, isn't it, that the better life would seemingly involve the "food crop" being served (as food for the reptilians) - and not the other way around—where they thought the ETs would serve THEM?
I wholeheartedly recommend this book as your gateway to a new and unconventional way to view what is going on - across the planet at this time: The sightings of orbs, spheres, "drones", UFOs. UAPs- and most recently what some are calling the "Death Fog" which has made many people extremely sick- a respiratory sort of "illness".
For FULL DISCLOSURE: I am considering a sequel to my fantasy fiction short story "SV for Soto Voce" - a tale that follows 2 humans abducted by the reptilian species to an off-world world called Ceres.
So, you see, Marqv's book pretty well echoes my own speculations as to who and what is behind the worldwide sights of the alleged interstellar starships! I am sure the book will inform you as to some sort of "grounding" as you live through - not an epic- but a biblical time in humankind's paradigm-shifting adventures with an off-world sentient being (or multiple ET beings from different dimensions/galaxies/universes!) - over the next few months and years!
I am reminded of the movie The Day the Earth Stood Still, where the last scene shows a human holding up a book entitled "How To Serve Mankind" as many humans embarked on a UFO to begin what they thought was a "better life." Ironic, isn't it, that the better life would seemingly involve the "food crop" being served (as food for the reptilians) - and not the other way around—where they thought the ETs would serve THEM?
I wholeheartedly recommend this book as your gateway to a new and unconventional way to view what is going on - across the planet at this time: The sightings of orbs, spheres, "drones", UFOs. UAPs- and most recently what some are calling the "Death Fog" which has made many people extremely sick- a respiratory sort of "illness".
For FULL DISCLOSURE: I am considering a sequel to my fantasy fiction short story "SV for Soto Voce" - a tale that follows 2 humans abducted by the reptilian species to an off-world world called Ceres.
So, you see, Marqv's book pretty well echoes my own speculations as to who and what is behind the worldwide sights of the alleged interstellar starships! I am sure the book will inform you as to some sort of "grounding" as you live through - not an epic- but a biblical time in humankind's paradigm-shifting adventures with an off-world sentient being (or multiple ET beings from different dimensions/galaxies/universes!) - over the next few months and years!
December 6, 2024
The Jackson’s Debate is not just a simple novella but a profound philosophical narrative. By
analysing the Human Race through the perspective of highly conscious aliens, Neves makes us
question the absurdities and contradictions inherent in our daily lives. Whether it be our clothing
habits or dietary choices, society seems to be playing a crucial role in how we live our lives and
take care of our planet. This is pushing the reader to reconsider our ethics and the rational behind
our actions. Each chapter has its own set of ethical questions, from sustainability to veganism or
our fear of death.
Neves challenges us to scrutinise the reasons we provide for our treatment of other earthly
species, questioning whether our perceived superiority is in natural order or simply a human made
belief.
The aliens are very logic centric, and although their conscious is heightened, it makes us question
what truly makes a sentient being. Is our consciousness the centre of our superiority or is it the
society we created over the centuries, sculpting us into those irrational and non logical beings?
The philosophical aspect of the book confronts readers with uncomfortable truths and asks them to
reassess their beliefs and practices. Rather than giving us full answers, Neves let us make our own
decisions by opening up a debate on the human race and on what defines us as a species. This
introspection leaves the reader with one question: Are we truly worthy of the planet we inhabit, or
have we taken advantage of a presents from the universe (or a higher entity) without ever being
grateful for this gift?
Less of a storytelling piece, more of a philosophy thesis, this book is a fantastic way to analyse
what we have become as a species and what makes us worthy of living.
January 12, 2025
Marqv Neves' "The Jacksons' Debate" blends speculative fiction with ethical inquiry. It offers readers a thought-provoking exploration of humanity through the eyes of an advanced alien race. The Jacksons (the aliens), have meticulous moral frameworks, and grapple with the concept of consuming humans. This combines to draw unsettling parallels to our own treatment of animals.
Neves uses this narrative to challenge anthropocentric biases. He encourages readers to reflect on their ethical stance towards environmentalism, animal rights, and societal norms. The unique alien perspective, combined with characters like Marvin and Grag, elevates the story beyond a simple moral parable into an engaging philosophical discourse.
The aliens are not cutey or even likeable. They're above all of that. They read a little like any of the billionaire oligarchs - vastly superior. But then, let's reflect on our attitudes to animal proteins. Are we surprised when we witness animal emotions? Could they be more like us than we think? Would dining on our cousins be seen as awkward in polite company?
What sets "The Jacksons' Debate" apart is its ability to balance intellectual rigor with accessible storytelling. The book’s speculative scenarios are imaginative and grounded in contemporary ethical dilemmas. This makes it both entertaining and intellectually stimulating. Neves’ writing is crisp and engaging, weaving humour with serious reflection. The combination of immersive world-building and nuanced examination of sentience ensures the narrative resonates on multiple levels. "The Jacksons' Debate" invites readers to question and reconsider their place in the ethical hierarchy of life.
Neves uses this narrative to challenge anthropocentric biases. He encourages readers to reflect on their ethical stance towards environmentalism, animal rights, and societal norms. The unique alien perspective, combined with characters like Marvin and Grag, elevates the story beyond a simple moral parable into an engaging philosophical discourse.
The aliens are not cutey or even likeable. They're above all of that. They read a little like any of the billionaire oligarchs - vastly superior. But then, let's reflect on our attitudes to animal proteins. Are we surprised when we witness animal emotions? Could they be more like us than we think? Would dining on our cousins be seen as awkward in polite company?
What sets "The Jacksons' Debate" apart is its ability to balance intellectual rigor with accessible storytelling. The book’s speculative scenarios are imaginative and grounded in contemporary ethical dilemmas. This makes it both entertaining and intellectually stimulating. Neves’ writing is crisp and engaging, weaving humour with serious reflection. The combination of immersive world-building and nuanced examination of sentience ensures the narrative resonates on multiple levels. "The Jacksons' Debate" invites readers to question and reconsider their place in the ethical hierarchy of life.
May 5, 2025
The human race is self-destructive and nonsensical so probably no great loss to the universe. However, it is potentially a great source of protein.
To the analytical eye of an alien species, it’s hard to fathom just what on earth good we are! Clearly we are a pest and there are just too many of us. We are busy blindly polluting our own planet with no sign of caring, killing our fellow earthlings and destroying their habitats… oh and we wear ridiculous and uncomfortable clothes for no apparent reason. So it is debatable as to whether we are really that intelligent at all (I do wonder myself!) and therefore -is it ethical to turn humans into meatballs to feed a vastly superior species? Perhaps humans are no more sentient than the much loved fungi growing on the Jacksons’ alien world. At least they live peaceably and in harmony with their surroundings.
The Jacksons, are vastly our superiors. It’s fascinating (and slightly worrying) to be able to listen in on their telepathic debates, with some Jacksons urging caution just in case we are sentient despite the lack of evidence, or the lack of compassion we show our fellow earth creatures.
Anyway, read this book and join the debate! And maybe prepare to become dinner!
I wonder if they will move on to factory farming humans? You know it makes sense!
To the analytical eye of an alien species, it’s hard to fathom just what on earth good we are! Clearly we are a pest and there are just too many of us. We are busy blindly polluting our own planet with no sign of caring, killing our fellow earthlings and destroying their habitats… oh and we wear ridiculous and uncomfortable clothes for no apparent reason. So it is debatable as to whether we are really that intelligent at all (I do wonder myself!) and therefore -is it ethical to turn humans into meatballs to feed a vastly superior species? Perhaps humans are no more sentient than the much loved fungi growing on the Jacksons’ alien world. At least they live peaceably and in harmony with their surroundings.
The Jacksons, are vastly our superiors. It’s fascinating (and slightly worrying) to be able to listen in on their telepathic debates, with some Jacksons urging caution just in case we are sentient despite the lack of evidence, or the lack of compassion we show our fellow earth creatures.
Anyway, read this book and join the debate! And maybe prepare to become dinner!
I wonder if they will move on to factory farming humans? You know it makes sense!
December 8, 2024
The Jacksons' Debate is a series of conversations about eating other species. In his rigorous and riveting style, the author works through the ethical complexities involved in breeding, raising, slaughtering and eating non-human animals through an alien lens.
Speculative fiction is an ideal genre through which to explore the ethical implications of eating animals. This is not a novella in the traditional sense but a carefully constructed ethical mirror: by forcing us to view our own species from an alien perspective, the author achieves a far-reaching critique of human supremacy. It is essay-as-story, where the narrative serves as a vehicle for profound philosophical engagement. The effect is familiar and deeply unsettling.
In short, The Jacksons’ Debate succeeds not despite its philosophical bent but because of it. The novella represents a choice to use fiction as a medium for ethical debate. The book offers a mind-bending experiment in self-reflection. Any reader who is prepared to engage with ethics, to sit with uncomfortable parallels and question long-held assumptions will be enriched by reading it.
Speculative fiction is an ideal genre through which to explore the ethical implications of eating animals. This is not a novella in the traditional sense but a carefully constructed ethical mirror: by forcing us to view our own species from an alien perspective, the author achieves a far-reaching critique of human supremacy. It is essay-as-story, where the narrative serves as a vehicle for profound philosophical engagement. The effect is familiar and deeply unsettling.
In short, The Jacksons’ Debate succeeds not despite its philosophical bent but because of it. The novella represents a choice to use fiction as a medium for ethical debate. The book offers a mind-bending experiment in self-reflection. Any reader who is prepared to engage with ethics, to sit with uncomfortable parallels and question long-held assumptions will be enriched by reading it.
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March 24, 2025If we step back and look at ourselves in the mirror - it could not get any weirder. No, not even if we stepped far enough back to view an alien species debating our future and how we should be treated by a superior species and civilisation.
Look in the mirror for long enough and we might start to see who the real aliens are - and the invasion of every part of the Earth has been underway for some time. Sometimes amusing, other times uncomfortable and a blend of both too, this story is not so close to home - it actually is home! Reads like this can encourage whole of species introspection - well overdue for us humans.
Where are we going if we don't take stock, don't read the signs, don't acknowledge the need for drastic change and emergency evasive collective action? It's definitely a good read, Marqv - a debate that should be mirrored on Earth.
Look in the mirror for long enough and we might start to see who the real aliens are - and the invasion of every part of the Earth has been underway for some time. Sometimes amusing, other times uncomfortable and a blend of both too, this story is not so close to home - it actually is home! Reads like this can encourage whole of species introspection - well overdue for us humans.
Where are we going if we don't take stock, don't read the signs, don't acknowledge the need for drastic change and emergency evasive collective action? It's definitely a good read, Marqv - a debate that should be mirrored on Earth.
December 28, 2024
Centering around the idea of advanced telepathic aliens debating the ethics of consuming humans, this book holds up a mirror to our own arbitrary rationalisations and justifications for exploiting and abusing animals. At turns humourous and disturbing, it is an enjoyable and thought-provoking investigation of human morals and ethics with regard to our abuse of animals.
As a vegan I've already thought a lot about the animals pov and realise there is no justification for the suffering we inflict but I wonder how I would have reacted if I'd read this 10 years ago, my brain twisting into knots as I tried to push back against the aliens' logic.
Knowing how it feels to be prey gives us a whole different outlook on the views of the predator.
As a vegan I've already thought a lot about the animals pov and realise there is no justification for the suffering we inflict but I wonder how I would have reacted if I'd read this 10 years ago, my brain twisting into knots as I tried to push back against the aliens' logic.
Knowing how it feels to be prey gives us a whole different outlook on the views of the predator.
May 5, 2025
I was hooked immediately. Neves brings profound insights into issues with which many of us have grappled. By elevating the reader’s viewpoint from that of a flesh-eating, self-serving, anthropocentric vista to that of a far more evolved alien civilization examining ethical, albeit pragmatic, alternative food sources, Neve's satire caricatures the present state of our egoic society of conspicuous consumers mired in the dysfunction of pleasure-seeking, ego-gratifying habits and hidebound to the cultural biases of a grasping, winner-take-all, flesh-consuming, self-destructive global society racing toward the brink of extinction. If George Orwell were alive today, he’d lavish praise on this book.
February 20, 2025
The Jacksons' Debate is an entertaining yet deeply thought provoking read. It challenges us to critically examine the ways we exploit animals and the environment - to our own, animals and the planet's detriment. With sharp wit and unsettling insight, it asks: should humans be considered sentient beings worthy of moral consideration, or would we better served as nutritious meatballs for an ethically superior alien species?
Relatable, original, and impossible to put down, the novella forces us to confront uncomfortable truths while keeping us hooked with its brilliant storytelling. A great educational resource. Highly recommend - I just wish I'd been born a Jackson!
Relatable, original, and impossible to put down, the novella forces us to confront uncomfortable truths while keeping us hooked with its brilliant storytelling. A great educational resource. Highly recommend - I just wish I'd been born a Jackson!
January 27, 2025
The Jacksons' Debate is an entertaining story, that approaches the subject of veganism and animal rights in a unique and entertaining way. The characters are engaging, shining a light on sentience and human behavior. This thought provoking story would be a great addition to classrooms for discussions on ethics.
March 18, 2025
This is really good if you love animals and want to experience a story where humans are treated like animals. It gives a great insight into how our beliefs and perceptions allow us to dismiss actions that when done to humans, we would find despicable. It's a great message and with a splice of tongue-in-cheek humour to boot.
December 6, 2024
This book is really interesting, mixing fiction and current topics! I love that we can reflect on animal sentience, our relationship to all forms of life and the way we live individualistically. I recommend this book to all who have interest in building a better world!
January 23, 2025
Wonderful book! It checked all the boxes for me as someone who is in research around animal studies and loves fiction!
Really enjoyed the writing style, it was a nice easy read but gets one to question about real life ethics
Really enjoyed the writing style, it was a nice easy read but gets one to question about real life ethics
January 27, 2025
Marcus used a very creative way to make me think about issues in a perspective I haven't thought of before. The story is easy to read, entertaining and thought-provoking. This is a great book to see different perspectives while being entertained!
February 5, 2025
Reading The Jackson’s Debate was a wonderful experience! The book’s idea as a whole is already genius, but the nuances of the human society that it brings up take it to a whole new level. I loved it, and if Marqv ever writes a sequel I’ll definitely read it!
April 15, 2025
thought provoking novella with interesting philosophical discussions. Great for readers who also want to *think* about their entertainment. There's room for more advenures in the world that the author created.
March 11, 2025
Sharp writing. Fascinating how creative writing can illuminate a difficult concept clearly. Highly recommended - books like this are necessary!
March 19, 2025
A fascinating sci-fi exploration of what it might feel like to have your future (or lack of future) calmly considered then decided on by more powerful sentient beings.
April 8, 2025
I highly recommend reading it, as it was a worthy read. this clears all the concepts and confusion related to the fiction and gives you a clear understanding of a "what if scenario".
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