I'm trying to find a better name for a group of unwanted genetic kids (living in an orphanage basically). Currently using "Marked Kids" but think Marked is too used. Genre is YA SciFi Dystopian. There are other genetic kids that will probably need a name change too...they're the "Pur Kids" right now. Any suggestions??
Might get some good ideas from reading up on some real-life disasters that caused reproductive health issues. Off the top of my head: Chernobyl Orphans Bhopal Disaster Thalidomide Babies Minamata Disease Edit: I should add, that naturally some pictures of these conditions would be NSFW or possibly distressing.
Good idea! I've been looking up more SciFi related "examples" but never thought of real world examples!
"Genetic kids"? You mean there's some common issue with their genetic structures? Or are most people in your world manufactured? I was thinking "The Misfits," but that's more social. Maybe think how their disorder or origin or whatever makes them stand out against their culture, or offend it, or fail to meet its expectations. How do they violate "the way things are 'sposed to be"? To take an extreme example--- and I hope this won't cause unhappiness, that's lightyears away from my intention--- the term that eventually degenerated into the N-word started out as a simple Spanish language observation about the amount of melanin in certain people's skins. That observation should have remained a neutral statement of fact, or even been a compliment. God makes people in all colors; diversity in skin tones is good. But in a society where whiteness was the expected thing, people with black skins were (and, tragically, to some benighted fools, still are) an offense. The original neutral word was twisted, mutated, took on negative baggage, and became the meanest thing one could call someone of African descent. So in your case, @Aj11, consider what your world expects in a child and how these kids don't meet it. Label accordingly. Unless it's a label they're giving themselves?
Can you clarify this? Are there kids who aren't genetic? Are you looking for a way for other characters to refer to these unwanted kids or a narrative description? For example, if you have a group of robots or cyborgs talking about humans they might regard them disparagingly as 'meat bags' or something like that. So for kids...
You could give them a name that is opposite of their condition. Something like "The Blessed Ones, Beautiful Creatures, Nature's Finest." This could show that they don't think their condition detracts from their humanity or that they have a sense of humor about it. Either way it would give them some character.
Yeah. This. Or something like "The Spawn" or "Bornies." Because "normal" people in this would are generated or built.
Sorry for the delay in replying! I'm new here and didn't see the updates So the genetic kids in my story are kids that are "created" because the other two "species" I have are humans and clones. Seeing as clones can't reproduce they use the DNA of a human and clone (called Carbons in my book) to create the genetic kids. There is a small group of kids who were abandoned by their parents (or so they think...spoiler) and are kept in an orphanage of sorts where they are trained and educated. The society outside their orphanage think these kids are crazy, and that's why they were abandoned (plus rumors and stories of kids going crazy...etc). So to ensure people know they are the "different" kids they are all marked with 2 black strikes (like tattoos) on their wrists so people know. The worse they are or the more they misbehave the more marks they get. There are other genetic kids in this world that are considered normal, but they do look different to regular humans or even clones as they were manufactured so they have inhuman features (brighter eyes, brighter hair, slightly faster/agile...). Soooo, as I said, the kids in the orphanage are currently referred to as the Marked. The ones who are "normal" living in society are called the Pur. I like the suggestions so far! if that helps clarify then keep them coming! The Marked may just be the best fit even if it is a tad generic... Thanks!
In Greek mythology, the God of the Forge, Hephaestus, was cast from Mount Olympus by Zeus for being too deformed for a son of gods. He was was the son of Zeus and Hera. Perhaps call them Herans?
The Purebreds and the Hybrids. Both of which are genetic terms. You can also use the Modified as that is a genetic term as well.
Okay. I was called the following by various social workers, attorneys, judges, cops, etc. Incorrigible Street Rat (didn't mind that one) Block Banger Free Rider Lot Lizard (wasn't but still) I'm sure more will come to mind today.
This sounds like something I read back in the 90s. The premise was cloning and raising the clones for use as organ donors. Wish I could remember the name. ... You might want to look that up. The author used a term for them but I don't remember what, only that it was both a surprising use of the word and most appropriate for the work. ETA: You might want to use Marked for now, then go back once your first draft is complete and see if the "normal" people tend to use a particular adjective while referring to the abnormal while talking amongst themselves.
Maybe? I'm pretty sure it was a short story because it was discussed in one of my English courses. I remember being frustrated by my classmates' scientific ignorance and the prof wasn't much better in that regard. Talk about irrelevant (sec^2)x. Yeah the concept isn't new but new approaches can be fun. The Host has gotten a bad rap as "romance." Yeah it has that in there because Meyer deals with human nature and relationships and romantic relationships are powerful motivators. She also goes into what it means to be "human," how the consciousness of the body directly impacts relationships romantic and otherwise, the impact of new sensory information on an entity which has no experience with it (scent in this case). ...Lots more.
