"Evolution" in Beaker's Dozen (1998)
By Nancy Kress
Adaptation; Dystopia; Epidemics; Evolution; Extinction
Short story about future effects of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Betty is saddened but not surprised by Dr. Bennett’s murder; as a doctor prescribing endozine, Dr. Bennett’s life was constantly in danger from underground groups who imagined that the conservation of this antibiotic would prevent endozine-resistant bacteria. In Betty’s society, hospitals are places people go to die, because deadly bacteria have become progressively resistant to nearly all forms of antibiotics. Those who do emerge from the hospital are shunned as potential carriers, and vigilante groups blow up hospitals and kill antibiotic-treated animals in hopes of preventing the over prescription of the one effective antibiotic that remains. When he son becomes enmeshed in the underground attacks, Betty turns to the only man who can help her: her former lover, the chief of medicine of the local hospital. When she finds Dr. Sadler, she learns that endozine no longer works and both Betty and Sadler are likely infected with antibiotic-resistant staph. The only way to fight these invaders is to spread bacteria with modified “Trojan horse” plasmids – to allow the bacteria to kill themselves.
In her preface to the story, Kress relates that her initial ideas for “Evolution” stemmed from recent articles deploring the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In a culture that promotes all forms of antibacterial products – from hand sanitizer to widely-prescribed antibiotic drugs – the danger of these bacteria lies in their capacity to mutate rapidly and incorporate genes from antibiotic-resistant strains. While it would seem that bacteria and humans are in direct conflict for survival, Betty learns that what distinguishes humans from bacteria is the capacity to look beyond mere existence to the greater pleasures of life. However, the vigilante groups belie this conclusion, in that they are willing to shun and kill other humans for the sake of survival.
Evaluation: Kress’s short stories present genetics in an accessible and humanizing way, forcing her readers to address their personal stakes in advances in technological advancements and applications. Because her characters and settings seem real, the potential futures Kress posits seem all too plausible.
– Natalie Champ