The Barbie Murders
Encyclopedia
The Barbie Murders is a science fiction
short story by John Varley
. It was first published in IASFM in January/February 1978
officers in New Dresden, a domed city on the Moon
. They are assigned what initially seems an open-and-shut case of murder
, but are dismayed to realise that the crime was committed in a separate area attached to the city and occupied by people belonging to a cult
, nicknamed 'Barbies'.
The cult members have been physically altered and modified so as to be as identical as possible, as mandated by the founder of their church. They are genderless. They have abandoned names, and possess only ID numbers. They are psychologically conditioned to accept themselves as being part of a group of equals and have surrendered their individuality.
All Barbies being identical, no identification of the murderer is possible, even though the crime was recorded by security cameras. One of the Barbies confesses to the crime and offers itself as a token guilty party. Bach reluctantly arrests it, but cannot accept the inevitable outcome, even though her superior officer approves the situation.
Bach decides to go undercover and has herself modified by a body sculptor so as to superficially pass as a Barbie. She infiltrates the colony and manages to locate the real murderer.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
short story by John Varley
John Varley (author)
John Herbert Varley is an American science fiction author.-Biography:Varley grew up in Fort Worth, Texas, moved to Port Arthur in 1957, and graduated from Nederland High School. He went to Michigan State University on a National Merit Scholarship because, of the schools that he could afford, it...
. It was first published in IASFM in January/February 1978
Plot summary
Lt. Anna-Louise Bach and her partner Jorge Weil are policePolice
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
officers in New Dresden, a domed city on the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
. They are assigned what initially seems an open-and-shut case of murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
, but are dismayed to realise that the crime was committed in a separate area attached to the city and occupied by people belonging to a cult
Cult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
, nicknamed 'Barbies'.
The cult members have been physically altered and modified so as to be as identical as possible, as mandated by the founder of their church. They are genderless. They have abandoned names, and possess only ID numbers. They are psychologically conditioned to accept themselves as being part of a group of equals and have surrendered their individuality.
All Barbies being identical, no identification of the murderer is possible, even though the crime was recorded by security cameras. One of the Barbies confesses to the crime and offers itself as a token guilty party. Bach reluctantly arrests it, but cannot accept the inevitable outcome, even though her superior officer approves the situation.
Bach decides to go undercover and has herself modified by a body sculptor so as to superficially pass as a Barbie. She infiltrates the colony and manages to locate the real murderer.
External links
- Interview with John Varley at Republibot.com
- Review of Varley's "Eight Worlds" stories by Jo WaltonJo WaltonJo Walton is a Welsh-Canadian fantasy and science fiction writer and poet. She won the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer in 2002 and the World Fantasy award for her novel Tooth and Claw in 2004. Her novel Ha'penny was a co-winner of the 2008 Prometheus Award...