It was a Nebula Award Nominee for Best Short Story (1991).more Mr Bisson's short story had first been published in the science-fiction magazine Omni in 1990. How I wonder what would happened to the aliens had they seen meat eating meat and meat killing meat! The story's absurdity is what makes it funny and interesting.
I was immediately reminded of the absurd dialogue going on between Vladimir and Estragon in Samuel Beckett's play "Waiting for Godot". You know, a carbon-based intelligence that goes through a meat stage." These creatures are the only sentient race in that sector and they're made out of meat." How can meat make a machine? You're asking me to believe in sentient meat." The only characters in it are two aliens from an unnamed planet who are arguing with each other about humans. EVEN though Terry Bisson's "They're Made Out of Meat" is a science-fiction short story, but it is more akin to theatre of the absurd. How can meat make a machine? You're asking me to believe in sentient meat." "I'm not asking you, I'm telling you. Meat made the machines." "That's ridiculous. I've just discovered that even short stories can touch you in the most unbelievable ways.moreĮVEN though Terry Bisson's "They're Made Out of Meat" is a science-fiction short story, but it is more akin to theatre of the absurd. If you have 5 minutes to spare, I recommend this. And it might as well be the reason why we think we're alone in the Universe. It consists of a short briefing between two aliens regarding the human race. This is a very short story (only 5 pages long) that was a Nebula Award Nominee for Best Short Story in 1991. So, I came upon They're Made Out of Meat. I've just "We're supposed to talk to meat."Īfter reading The Egg by Andy Weir, GR had some nice recommendations for me. "We're supposed to talk to meat." After reading The Egg by Andy Weir, GR had some nice recommendations for me. They can even sing by squirting air through their meat.”įree short story is here, on the author’s website. “You know how when you slap or flap meat, it makes a noise? They talk by flapping their meat at each other. And very appealing to your inner misanthrope - or at least to mine. It’s worth the three minutes it takes you to read and laugh.
It’s very short and pithy and absurdist, and very much satisfying. How can meat make a machine? You’re asking me to believe in sentient meat.” It’s like us finally finding another civilization across intergalactic void just to discover that they are sentient soup. Hahahahaha! I feel for the plight of aliens, realizing that humans are beings made out of meat. And very appealin “We’re supposed to talk to meat.” How can meat make a machine? You’re asking me to believe in sentient meat.” It’s very short and pithy and absurdist, and very much satisfying. “We’re supposed to talk to meat.” Hahahahaha! I feel for the plight of aliens, realizing that humans are beings made out of meat.