Bloodchild

1. I feel dirty after reading Bloodchild. Like I need a cold shower. I was almost relieved when they started explaining the meaning for the giant bug people and their fondness for plump humans, even if the truth was disturbing. The fact that the strange scenario wasn’t addressed until a few pages in is probably the most unsettling thing about this story. There’s something inherently creepy about a giant bug lady essentially molesting young children with her many legs, grabbing them and hugging them like pets whilst feeding them drugged eggs.  

1. So what I gather from the story is this: Humans or “Terrans” now live on an alien world inhabited by strange centipede monsters. These centipedes allow humans to live with them, but the price is that humans become vessels for centipede eggs. On top of that, humans are treated like lesser beings. Not like slaves, but very similar to symbiotic pets. The centipede we encounter in the story is “kind” all things considered, but if they are like any other intelligent species, many of them could be cruel. There is an unseen possibility of homes ran by aggressive and cruel centipedes. So the relationship with these aliens can range anywhere from strange grandma to evil slave owner.

1. For this story to work in another medium, there would need to be a proper introduction. The written story drops the reader in the middle of this strange plot with little explanation until much much later. If this were to be a film, for example, there would need to be an easing period before showing humans bleeding out on the ground, riddled with worm larvae. One major nitpick I had was with the mother. She’s featured prominently in the beginning of the story and then all but vanishes after things start to happen. Where did she go? She would most likely take part in all of the important scenes or at least have an explanation for her absence.