Author notes

Cactus Flower - 11

hushicho

on June 25, 2021

Malinda is a good person, as are all the Flowers. I thought it was especially important to note the differences between the completely utilitarian robots in the universe, and those that have an intelligence and personality. Oob and Bonaventure are both as much people as anyone else, and that is something we explore in this story.

Unfortunately, the universe is not entirely as enlightened as the Flowers or our heroes. But there is progress, and now it's people like this sinister Linus who are the outmoded, obsolete bigots who refuse to acknowledge other living beings and leave them alone so they can enjoy the rights that other living things have.

But there is good in the universe. The Flowers prove that just having one especially good person somewhere, that place is made better and lifted up by just their presence alone. Sometimes, living well and being kind, and good to others, can help encourage others to do the same and to reach those standards.