Homosexuality?

[CatBar]

I love the idea of Elijah and Daneel having warm feelings towards each other - why not? Of course I can see it would need to be programmed into Daneel first. If women can be affectionate towards each other, why can't men? One of the things I find most depressing is 'men's inhumanity towards (other) men'. So if the notion is that Daneel and Elijah are 'supressed homosexuals' I"m all for it!
In fact I'm all for pansexuality: men loving men, women loving women, robot loving either, vice-versa, and anything in between.
Anyway, from what I read and see on book covers, Daneel is so beautiful looking wouldn't (m)any visually-aware human of any sex go for him. I certainly have.
Life's too short to get stuffy about this.

[manephelien]

Originally Posted by MG1962

Asimov himself said he rarely had sex or even romantic connections in his stories because he himself felt uncomfortable around the opposite sex. Although he subsequently went on to meet the girl of his dreams, he never felt he had any prowess in the romance department

He did grow out of that later in life, though. Including earning a plaque at some con inscribed with LL. That stands for "lovable lecher". However, he did start writing (getting his first story published at 19), a few years before going on his first date, and by that time his writing style had set.

However, he did publish two volumes of dirty limericks, so he wasn't completely innocent in that department either.

[HanaBi]

I'm sure there was a general reference regarding homosexuality in one of the Robot books. More specifically that some humaniform robots were constructed with sexual organs and anuses primarily for the benefit of sexual intercourse with humans. And since robots don't have the same digestive system as humans (Daneel removes a plastic bag full of unedible food, from his "stomach" by clicking an area on his chest and a skincoloured "door" opens to his stomach), then the only valid point of constructing a rectum (IMHO) is for homosexual intercourse.

But having said that I don't recall ever reading or even interpreting a homosexual relationship between Daneel & Bailey in any of the Robot books

[CatBar]

"I love the idea of Elijah and Daneel having warm feelings towards each other - why not? Of course I can see it would need to be programmed into Daneel first".

I am now taking it back about 'programming [warm feelings] into Daneel first'.

From Asimov fan-fiction I've read on LiveJournal.com, a fan-fic website, I can now see that no such programming would be needed; Daneel is a sophisticated robot who is way smart enough to deduce this for himself!

Not only does he indeed feel warmly for Elijah but he is fully able (in every sense of the word) to carry out the appropriate act in order to consummate what is clearly a loving relationship between two sentient beings.

If anyone appreciates that sort of thing I would recommend the reading of these Asimov fan-fic postings on LiveJournal.com in order to get the best picture of what's going on between these two, who have had the guts to go ahead with what they believe in.

[CatBar]

I thought I posted a entry / comment / whatever in this thread (Homosexuality) a few days ago, and am wondering if it got deleted / removed, as being unsuitable or annoying?
If so, I apologize for coming back, and won't post anything again until I know whether my entry did get removed or not.

[zoran]

Originally Posted by Sai Baba

I must say I have read about 10 of his novels (few of those are with Silverberg).

Funny that you mentioned Silverberg, because HE wrote about homosexuality.

[pyan]

Originally Posted by CatBar

I thought I posted a entry / comment / whatever in this thread (Homosexuality) a few days ago, and am wondering if it got deleted / removed, as being unsuitable or annoying?
If so, I apologize for coming back, and won't post anything again until I know whether my entry did get removed or not.

Checking for you, Catbar....

[Teresa Edgerton]

CatBar, your post disappeared into moderation, not because it was offensive but because of the partial URL -- your post count isn't high enough for you to post a link.

I've just approved it, and if you scroll back you will see it there in sequence.

Apologies for the inconvenience, but the software can't always tell the difference between real links and almost links.

[pyan]

Originally Posted by CatBar

Not only does he indeed feel warmly for Elijah but he is fully able (in every sense of the word) to carry out the appropriate act in order to consummate what is clearly a loving relationship between two sentient beings.

Whereas I can see where the idea may come from, Catbar, I'm afraid I've always thought of Elijah as played by Gene Hackman, which makes the possibility rather remote.....

[CatBar]

Yes, I too can see how Gene Hackman would look the part for the rather dour dark Elijah. Don't know about [Gene Hackman] having or not having warm feelings or a particular sexual orientation.

I cannot think what actor I'd chose to play Daneel though. I often fear that central casting would come up with some corny beefcake lunk with Ken doll features and half a brain cell, and then have [Daneel] speak like some borderline Dalek!

Any ideas for Giskard?

[CatBar]

Originally Posted by Teresa Edgerton

CatBar, your post disappeared into moderation, not because it was offensive but because of the partial URL -- your post count isn't high enough for you to post a link.

I've just approved it, and if you scroll back you will see it there in sequence.

Apologies for the inconvenience, but the software can't always tell the difference between real links and almost links.

Thanks for response, Theresa. I get a bit paranoid in thinking that my (sometimes way-out) posts could be taken as 'offensive' - or just plain annoying.

[tangaloomababe]

Interesting threads posted in this one. I agree though I have read quite a few Asimov novels, The Naken Sun and Caves of Steel being two of my fav's and other than the "relationship", more a case of sexual tension I think, between Bailey and Gladia, there is no sexual content in them that I have noticed, however I have been told I am not terribly perceptive about these things.
I have never read anything homosexual into them though.


Originally posted by Sai Baba

quote]Well sorry I made some haste conclusions which were false and I opened this topic whiteout thinking. That's my problem and that's why I always have a hard time blending in in Internet forums because people seem to react on my posts and topics as they written by insane man

Never let insanity stop you from posting Sai, it opens the forum to discussion, just remember though that everyone has their own opinions and we need to realise that no one is saying your right or wrong but that everyone is entitled to comment on what you or anyone else writes. Just take it with a grain of salt.
Oh and enjoy yourself whilst you are here...........

[CatBar]

I agree totally: keep coming back Sai! It was thanks to you that this really brilliant thread on Homosexuality opened - when I'd rather feared that everything here about Asimov and robots had gone dead.

I too have difficulty fitting into forums - I seem to be just too way out; a bit of a heretic really, with a wierdo sense of humour, and way too emotional rather than logical!

It's good to see I'm not the only one.

[Urlik]

as far as Azimov's robot books having a high rating as gay books on amazon, I'd guess it could purely be because of the cover art.

[ghost8772]

I think I mentioned earlier, and this would be where it could come from. Currently homosexual relationships are not generally accepted, and homosexual male individuals are still susceptible to mob action against them. Daneel was dropped into the same situation where robots could and were torn apart by angry mobs. that someone who hated robots to become friends with one, that level of acceptance would likely appeal to a homosexual who felt the world was against him, and nobody could accept him for who he was. spiritual, not physical acceptance of someone being "different"