# Humanity and Artificial Life in Short Fiction

> Theme guide for Short Fiction by Walter M. Miller Jr..

The book explores the blurred line between human and non-human, particularly through genetically engineered animals like neutroids and cat-Q-5s, questioning what qualifies as a 'person' and the ethics of their treatment.

## Where it surfaces

- [Conditionally Human](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_57_se/chapters/conditionally-human): The chapter explores the moral status of intelligent neutroids, with Anne equating them to human children and Norris defending his role by calling them 'only animals.'

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_57_se/themes/humanity_and_artificial_life
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_57_se/themes