Auspicious Eggs

by James K. Morrow

With much of North America flooded from global warming, the government determines that God is punishing humankind for its sins. To prevent widespread starvation and control the size--and "quality"--of the population, the laws of Terminal Baptism are forced upon priests. Father Monaghan believes the souls of innocent babies are delivered straight into heaven--but his conscience cries out each time he lowers another baby into the baptismal waters. Locus Poll Award Nominee, Nebula Award Finalist

Genres: Short Stories, Ebooks, Science Fiction

28 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 25, 2003

About the author

Born in 1947, James Kenneth Morrow has been writing fiction ever since he, as a seven-year-old living in the Philadelphia suburbs, dictated “The Story of the Dog Family” to his mother, who dutifully typed it up and bound the pages with yarn. This three-page, six-chapter fantasy is still in the author’s private archives. Upon reaching adulthood, Jim produced nine novels of speculative fiction, including the critically acclaimed Godhead Trilogy. He has won the World Fantasy Award (for Only Begotten Daughter and Towing Jehovah), the Nebula Award (for “Bible Stories for Adults, No. 17: The Deluge” and the novella City of Truth), and the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award (for the novella Shambling Towards Hiroshima). A fulltime fiction writer, Jim makes his home in State College, Pennsylvania, with his wife, his son, an enigmatic sheepdog, and a loopy beagle. He is hard at work on a novel about Darwinism and its discontents.

Reviews

[Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

James Morrow continues to kill it. Or rather, destroy me.

The words. The words! Copulatorium. Terminal Baptism.

Muahahahahahaha

Okay, yes, I know this is officially a dystopian nightmare, what with the ovarian monitors and the nasty religious under/over/megatones and population measures, but damn, it was FUNNY, too. Like a taste of William S. Burroughs as writing the Handmaid's Tale.

[Staszek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful. More than a satire.

[stormhawk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interestingly written, if harsh, piece of speculative fiction, positing a near-future of reduced fertility, risen waters, and portable baptismal fonts.

[Ashley Knudtson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intro to Lit: Spr 2023
Rating: 2.5

What’s wild to me about this work is I could see some (though less….all that) (but not the isles part at all) reality of this come to fruition. The novel is like the exact opposite of China’s 1 child policy. I was most struck by the heavyhanded nature of their religion. It’s like if Christianity and the Bible got so twisted to the point of ridiculousness, but was still backed by some interpretation of biblical text.

Very odd read, but I suppose if one likes dystopias, they might as well read it once

[Danyel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the premise and I really enjoy dystopian fiction regarding reproductive rights. I did not love the writing style of this short story.

[Bekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ such an interesting short, like dystopians like this

[Steve LaForest · Rating 3 out of 5]

In anthology: Brave New Worlds: Dystopian Stories by editor John Joseph Adams, published in 2012. This anthology is highly recommended.