Jews In Space, or "OMFG, Cohen's Jewish!"

[rydra_wong]

So I was reading Chris Moriarty's (very enjoyable) science fiction novel Spin State recently, and, somewhere around page 248, I sat bolt upright and shrieked words to the effect of "OMFG, Cohen's actually JewishOkay, I realize that the fact that it took me half the book to consider that a character named Cohen might be Jewish might seem to indicate

Comments

[rydra_wong]

There ought to be religion in the Stargate universe

Well, there's poor doomed Doctor Rothman -- whose actor, Jason Schombing, said that he had to die because there are no Jews allowed in space.

Which is another part of what sparked this post *g*.

if they have two religions they are always at war with each other and the Earth people have to intervene.

In a Very Special Episode where we learn that religious wars are wrong! But not too complicated to be resolved within 45 minutes (including commercials)!

[executrix]

Replying to jadelennox: there is definitely Christianity in the Firefly 'verse--Book is a Shepherd (minister) and is shown functioning as such, and he has a Bible until River edits it. In Serenity-the-Movie, Mr. Universe wears a yarmulke and smashes a glass when he marries his LoveBot. There are pebbles on the grave markers in the funeral scene at the end of Serenity.

I haven't seen Deep Space Nine myself, but I understand a major arc is about Sisko learning that he is a Messiah.

[mofic]

joel-rosenberg (who, in the interest of full disclosure, I ought to mention is my brother) wrote a couple of books about a planet of mercenaries called Metzada and populated by people with Israeli names. They're Jewish :-).

I just reread Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land for my book club and he has Jewish characters in it. They're a married couple in Mike's inner circle, clearly thrown in to show that Mike's new church appeals to people of all religions.

Another couple of well known science fiction books (that I also recently read for my book club) are The Sparrow and its sequel Children of God. Russell is Jewish and one of the central characters is, as well.

Those are off the top of my head.

[janedavitt]

Joel's your brother? Cool. He was a chat guest of mine many years back, way before I was on LJ, when I was co-hosting a bi-weekly AIM chat for members of the Heinlein Reading group; Ginny Heinlein usually joined us and Joel, Robert Crais, Poul Anderson (who sadly died not long after), and others came along at various times.

Joel sent me an ARC of one of his contemporary books to read and give some con-crit on, which was a fascinating experience though I'm not sure how helpful I was! Love his books and own them all.

[mofic]

I'm glad you like his books! I have a particular fondness for the Sparky Hemingway ones for the scenes that are reminiscent of our early childhood in North Dakota. Maybe that's what you reviewed?

[janedavitt]

It was one of the set in Harwood but not fantasy ones, yes; Home Front. I loved the exploration of the small-town dynamic.

[mabfan]

Isaac Asimov once said that all his characters were actually Jewish.

I myself have written a bunch of Jewish characters in my stories. "Kaddish for the Last Survivor" is obviously about Jews, and "The Great Miracle" is a science fictional retelling of the Chanukah story. And I made sure to put a rabbi in "Sanctuary," even though the story is mostly about Catholicism.

this really begs the question...

[prezzey]

Including the robots?

Re: this really begs the question...

[mabfan]

Both R. Daneel (Daniel?) Olivaw and R. Giskard Reventlov seem to subscribe to the philosophy of tikkun olam, so I would say yes.

Re: this really begs the question...

[rydra_wong]

Hey, if the AI can be Jewish ... *g*

[eumelia]

In the latter "Dune" series - from Heretics to Chapter House (and also the new ones written by Herbert's son) there are Jews and one of them is Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother.

[rydra_wong]

Ooh, thank you -- I've only read the first two Dune books.

[technocracygirl]

In Lyda Morehouse's cyberpunkish books (Apocalypse Array, Messiah Node, etc.) the world is entirely made up of theocracies, and it's illegal to not have a religion. And angels walk the earth.

At least one of the main characters is Jewish. (It might be more; I need to read more than just Messiah Node.)

[rydra_wong]

Oh, man, I may have to check those out. Theocracy/cyberpunk sounds very much like my kind of stuff.