Lifeloop
Encyclopedia
"Lifeloop" is a short story by Orson Scott Card
. It appears in his short story collections Capitol
and The Worthing Saga
. Card first published it in the October 1978 issue of Analog Science Fiction and Fact
.
) actress on the planet Capitol she is sick of acting and wants to retire. Her manager tells her of an idea that for one last lifeloop that will make her rich enough to quit. She suggests that Arran do a nonstop loop from the time she wakes up from suspended animation
to the time she goes back to sleep using the fictional drug Somec twenty-one days later. Arran reluctantly agrees to this because she really wants to quit. On the last day of filming a famous lifeloop actor named Hamilton Ferlock comes to her apartment. Shortly after arriving he breaks character, tells her that he loves her and asks her to marry him. She assumes that he is just doing this to play a trick on her and rejects him very coldly before going to the Sleeproom to be put under Somec. When she wakes up she finds out that Hamilton committed suicide
a week after she went to sleep. She also discovers that she really cared for him.
, such as the sleeping drug Somec and the taping of memories. It takes place on the planet Capitol some time after the events in the story "Second Chance
". At the beginning of the short story "Breaking the Game
" there is a brief reference to a famous lifelooper committing suicide. Arran attempts to poison Jason Worthing and ends up being one of the colonists that goes with him to found a new world in chapter 5 of Card’s novel The Worthing Chronicle
.
along with a play based on it by Aaron Johnson who co-authored the novel Invasive Procedures
with Card.
Orson Scott Card
Orson Scott Card is an American author, critic, public speaker, essayist, columnist, and political activist. He writes in several genres, but is primarily known for his science fiction. His novel Ender's Game and its sequel Speaker for the Dead both won Hugo and Nebula Awards, making Card the...
. It appears in his short story collections Capitol
Capitol (collection)
Capitol was Orson Scott Card's second published book. This collection of eleven short stories set in the Worthing series is no longer in print...
and The Worthing Saga
The Worthing Saga
The Worthing Saga is a science fiction book by American writer Orson Scott Card, set in the Worthing series. It is made up of the novel The Worthing Chronicle and nine related stories...
. Card first published it in the October 1978 issue of Analog Science Fiction and Fact
Analog Science Fiction and Fact
Analog Science Fiction and Fact is an American science fiction magazine. As of 2011, it is the longest running continuously published magazine of that genre...
.
Plot summary
Although Arran Handully is the most popular lifeloop (reality showReality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
) actress on the planet Capitol she is sick of acting and wants to retire. Her manager tells her of an idea that for one last lifeloop that will make her rich enough to quit. She suggests that Arran do a nonstop loop from the time she wakes up from suspended animation
Suspended animation
Suspended animation is the slowing of life processes by external means without termination. Breathing, heartbeat, and other involuntary functions may still occur, but they can only be detected by artificial means. Extreme cold can be used to precipitate the slowing of an individual's functions; use...
to the time she goes back to sleep using the fictional drug Somec twenty-one days later. Arran reluctantly agrees to this because she really wants to quit. On the last day of filming a famous lifeloop actor named Hamilton Ferlock comes to her apartment. Shortly after arriving he breaks character, tells her that he loves her and asks her to marry him. She assumes that he is just doing this to play a trick on her and rejects him very coldly before going to the Sleeproom to be put under Somec. When she wakes up she finds out that Hamilton committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
a week after she went to sleep. She also discovers that she really cared for him.
Connection to the Worthing Saga
This story uses several plot elements also used in The Worthing SagaThe Worthing Saga
The Worthing Saga is a science fiction book by American writer Orson Scott Card, set in the Worthing series. It is made up of the novel The Worthing Chronicle and nine related stories...
, such as the sleeping drug Somec and the taping of memories. It takes place on the planet Capitol some time after the events in the story "Second Chance
Second Chance (short story)
"Second Chance" is a short story by Orson Scott Card. It appears in his short story collections Capitol and The Worthing Saga. Card first published it in the anthology Destinies .-Plot summary:...
". At the beginning of the short story "Breaking the Game
Breaking the Game
"Breaking the Game" is a short story by American writer Orson Scott Card. It appears in his short story collections Capitol and The Worthing Saga...
" there is a brief reference to a famous lifelooper committing suicide. Arran attempts to poison Jason Worthing and ends up being one of the colonists that goes with him to found a new world in chapter 5 of Card’s novel The Worthing Chronicle
The Worthing Chronicle
The Worthing Chronicle is a science fiction novel by Orson Scott Card set in the Worthing series. This book by itself is out of print having been published along with nine short stories in the collection The Worthing Saga .-Plot summary:...
.
Other editions
In 2005 "Lifeloop" appeared in Orson Scott Card's book Posing as PeoplePosing as People
Posing as People is a collection of three short stories by Orson Scott Card plus three plays by three different playwrights based on those stories.-Contents:*"Clap Hands and Sing" - short story by Orson Scott Card...
along with a play based on it by Aaron Johnson who co-authored the novel Invasive Procedures
Invasive Procedures (novel)
Invasive Procedures is a medical thriller by Orson Scott Card and screenwriter Aaron Johnston. This novel was based on the short story "Malpractice" by Card.-Plot:...
with Card.
See also
- List of works by Orson Scott Card
- Orson Scott CardOrson Scott CardOrson Scott Card is an American author, critic, public speaker, essayist, columnist, and political activist. He writes in several genres, but is primarily known for his science fiction. His novel Ender's Game and its sequel Speaker for the Dead both won Hugo and Nebula Awards, making Card the...
- Lifecasting (video stream)Lifecasting (video stream)Lifecasting is a continual broadcast of events in a person's life through digital media. Typically, lifecasting is transmitted through the medium of the Internet and can involve wearable technology...