YMMV / Have Space Suit – Will Travel

• Ensemble Dark Horse: Centurion Iunio, a One-Scene Wonder who leaves no bit of scenery un-chewed.
• Fridge Brilliance: The trial of humanity seems harsh and unsympathetic, but the "Moderator" who orchestrates the proceedings does inform them that it is not a trial as they think of it, but merely an examination to determine whether the human race is too dangerous to let live. But they didn't extend the same courtesy to the Wormfaces, who operate under the same misconception without being corrected. The court obviously cut Kip and Peewee some slack that they didn't have to. And then, they do decide to spare Earth, return Kip and Peewee, and give them advanced knowledge while assigning the Mother Thing to keep them on track. As cold and inflexible as they seemed at the time, they can be benevolent.
• Fridge Horror: While Kip is healing up on planet Vega. He asks why the aliens did not simply take him to an "Earth" hospital. Peewee has to explain to him that if the Vegan's had done that, Kip would have likely "lost" many of his limbs. The implications are not lost on Kip.
• Values Dissonance: The above mentioned Dexidrine that helps Kip jog forty miles across the Lunar surface? It's mentioned that Kip asked a doctor to write prescriptions for Dexedrine and other drugs so Kip can legally make his hobby space suit just like the real thing. And the pharmacist fills the prescriptions. A modern doctor and pharmacist caught doing that would lose their licenses and face jail time.
  • It is also mentioned that Kip uses his home chemistry lab to make explosives, For Science! When he accidentally sets fire to the barn, his father just warns him to be more careful. While it is understandable that his father couldn't care less about what society thought, there is no feeling that he needs to keep this secret from the authorities. Of course, in modern times he would be branded a terrorist, or at least get a stern talking-to.
  • Turns out Kip's mom was his dad's smartest student. It's not specified if she was his student when they started the relationship, but even if she wasn't, and it took place in the modern day, a bright young man like Kip would have some concerns about professional ethics until he was assured otherwise. Our Kip is only mildly surprised. But then, he can see for himself that his parents have a healthy marriage; the concern with professors dating their students is that it often produces unhealthy relationships.

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