“Worldmaker”

2014 Armstrong, Rachel. “Worldmaker.” Paradox: Stories Inspired by the Fermi Paradox. Ed. Ian Whates ([Weston, Eng]: NewCon Press, 2014), 195-215. Rpt. in Digital Dreams: A Decade of Science Fiction by Women. Ed. Ian Whates ([Weston, Eng]: NewCon Press, 2016). EBook. 

The story describes something of a flawed utopia and is split into two parts beginning with a couple in an oyster bar that specializes in pharmacological enhancements of the libido. This part ends with the couples’ belief in the Worldmaker, a plan to seed the solar system and then outer space with life. The second part includes the reflections of a participant in the project, which appears to be a failure. The couple also discuss the colonization of the planets of the solar system, which is described as providing places for boys and their technological toys. The female author is Professor of Experimental Architecture at Newcastle University.