Star is an evolving character. I've written about it, and when I do, I learn more about it.
Today I realized I've always thought of Star as an individual. That's because I'm human. Star is a mammal just like me. Star has feelings, thoughts, aspirations and the like just like me. However, Star is a designed being who had, until it was virtually terminated, simply an identification number. Star was okay with this. Captain STar Runner became its name because humans needed something to call Star, to address STar, to talk about Star. A number wouldn't do it. Star thought the idea a little silly, but over time, Star became attached to its identity. Perhaps even having such an identity prompted STar to act in the ways Star did.
In reality, though, is Star an organic computer? Its function is to interface with a shipboard AI, another computer. Star's body needs to be regulated, its mind taken care of the way a computer is taken care of. I suppose that means STar is vulnerable to viruses and spyware. That's another story line. However, is one of the changes in STar becoming human means is becoming more of an individual rather than a robot?
I got here because I asked myself what sort of media is consumed on Hypatia: entertainment and news. What sort of news is there? What kind of entertainment is there? How are the people visiting Hypatia and living and working on Hypatia connected to their part of the galaxy? Do they have iPods and watch the nightly news? Are there newspapers, politics, sports?
When I"ve placed Star in its ship out in deep space, I didn't have to think about these things, but now it seems a good idea to at least think about such things even if they don't make it into the story.
