Re: Review - Planet of the Ood

Tim Bruening wrote:
> 
> "pbowles@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
" wrote:
> 
>> Onto the Ood, then. This episode has seemingly been constructed
>> entirely to answer one question arising from the previous story - how
>> does a slave race evolve? Disappointing then that the answer involves
>> adding still more implausibility to Ood biology. An external brain I
>> can buy for the sake of visualisation - chop off this bit and the Ood
>> become slaves. Of course there's no terribly good reason humans
>> couldn't lobotomise them internally, but if there's an easily
>> detachable visible bit to remove it's more accessible to the viewer.
>> However, the idea that the Ood have a brain they have to carry in one
>> hand all the time stretches credibility too far, for all that I liked
>> the imagery of an organic system the 'Persil balls' replaced.
> 
> Why would the process of natural selection led to a brain that has to be
> carried in one hand?  Wouldn't Oods that don't have to carry their
brains
> have a big competative advantage over the brain carrying Ood?
> 
> When the modified Ood go on a rampage and start killing with their
> translater balls, why don't the soldiers smash the translator balls?
> 
> In the year 4126, why are humans still using projectile weapons which
look
> like 20th century machine guns and shoot bullets?  Why aren't they using
> lasers or phasers or disintegrators?

Because guns work and are efficient.  There's no proof that energy 
weapons will ever be handheld and workable on a small scale.  Especially 
lasers which don't work well in atmospheres.
> 
> The Oodsphere company packs Ood standing up into big boxes.  The Ood
aren't
> strapped in in any way, meaning that they will get hurt if the box tips
> over or is dropped.  Why aren't these valuable slaves better secured?
> Also, why aren't there any toilets in the Ood boxes or cages?
>