Eion McRae

The Irreality Show Eion McRae

"The Irreality Show" is a novel that deals with the question, What if we humans acted in accord with science and reason instead of lies and stupidity? The protagonist, Alenby Faintwether Hoggett IV, is a wealthy gourmet with a passion for French food and wine. He is in the process of boarding Air France flight 4 to Paris to start a gastronomical tour of France, when he unwittingly enters a parallel universe, called u, in which people have long been accustomed to act in accord with science and reason. Alenby's recollections of his transition to u are dominated by the small, disturbingly attractive person of the weaker sex in the seat next to his. Ada-so she introduces herself-raises the armrest to give him room to sit down. Then she snuggles up to him with a cry of "Oh, this is so exciting, to be close to a real man, a big man from the remote and rugged universe U!" She is quick to explain: Aware of the scientific evidence that the human biomass is approaching the limit the earth can sustain, u-people have nurtured a culture that recognizes smallness as a virtue. Smaller human population, smaller humans, smaller everything. "But when it comes to men," she declares, "we u-women don't go with the smallness thing. We don't care about science and reason. We all want a big man." Alenby raises his eyebrows, but otherwise his reaction is muted. He sees no way he can fulfill Ada's hopes. He's big, all right, but he's impotent. All of his medical team's attempts to deal with this dismal condition have come to nothing. He sees other problems cropping up in the universe u. Travel papers, insurance policies, credit cards, driver's license. Can Alenby find a way out of all his troubles? Yes he can, but it's going to take more than science and reason. It's going to take another woman, and love ... love of the whole world.