The Long way to a Small Angry Planet: Heresy - end

[Sheri]

Did the encounter with the Heretics change your opinion of the SInat pairs and the nature of the relationship between the virus and the host? Do you think Ashby made the right decision to leave the option of a cure up to Ohan, even when Ohan's life is in danger?

What is your reaction to the aftermath of the punch? Was the crew right to have taken the risk, or should they never have taken the job?

How does Lovey being an AI with a personalty affect the situation of her breakdown and reset? Is it the same as if another crewmate were lost? Were the crew right to attempt the reset?

How does Pepper's offer differ from Jenks' and Lovey's plan with the body kit? Is she right that her motivations make it acceptable? Do you agree with Lovelace's decision?

How do you feel about Corbin forcibly curing Ohan? Did it stay the same after Ohan began to interact with the crew?

[Megan]

I just took Ohan's word for it up to that point that separation wasn't possible, so I was really surprised about the heretics. My first thought was that Ohan was like so many of us that get caught up in what we think we know and our fear of the unknown that we keep clinging to things that are unhelpful to our lives - but I can see how this isn't something that can be undone. I understand why Asby wanted to leave it up to Ohan, but I'm not sure I would have been as patient as things started to look dangerous for the entire crew.

I feel like anyone who's willing to live this crew's lifestyle has to be somewhat risk-tolerant. I am not a risk-taker at all, so I wouldn't be in that situation to begin with - but given the way their world works, I think it made sense to go for the high-risk/high-reward chance.

I think by this point in the story, it is exactly like if one of the other crewmates was in danger/dying. And just like with Ohan's situation, it came down to doing nothing and ensuring "death" vs. at least trying and having a chance, so I don't think they really had any choice except for trying the reset.

I think that since Pepper is much less personally invested, and since she's doing it for the common good, rather than for herself or individually only for Lovey, it has a very different purpose than Jenks' plan. And I can't see even the reset version of Lovelace wanting to stay in that painful, awkward environment, so I think it was the best decision for everyone to let the crew start over with a new AI and let Lovelace have a chance at becoming her own person. I have a feeling those records she was keeping of Jenks might come up in the sequel, though...:)

I would have absolutely done the same thing in Corbin's situation - as much as it sounds noble to respect Ohan's beliefs above all, there were lives at stake other than theirs. I would have figured that they could be mad about it later after everyone survived. I think that this particular situation worked out well, but I still would have been fine with Corbin's actions even if Ohan had stayed upset about them.

Thanks again for the questions, Sheri!