Infertility as a Stage in Species’ Development and Aging Species

Abstract

Impotence and sterility linked naturally with age have frequently been a topic of science fiction (SF) narratives. Sterility in SF has also been depicted as a natural lost step in human development, up to and even beyond death. This article compares narratives from a variety of SF media that all deal with infertility as a stage in species’ development, or as an effect of the overall aging and loss of vitality of a species and attempts to determine common points and conclusions, with a view toward reassessing the practicality/desirability of indefinite life extension.