By taking the time to think through their worlds scientifically, authors might not just find striking images and new apocalyptic possibilities, but will be able to engage their readers� interest more thoroughly in speculation that presses beyond the pages of fiction.

[A] woman who had been a biology major confided in me that when she felt bad about killing baby mice for a biology research project, her professor (a woman, also) said something like: "How can you become a scientist if you are going to get so emotional?"

as he drowned unknowing, / pursued her murmur down into the deeps.