On Abortion in the Shmuley Myers Universe

When I started writing the series in 2016, Roe v. Wade wasn’t a political discussion point (except with Christian conservatives). Talking about abortion being unavailable to women at all, in all states, was seen as a dystopia on par with Margaret Atwood’s A Handmaid’s Tale. The underlying point this series is making is twofold: first, that there are unforeseen consequences to a crudely-written law (or constitutional amendment in this case). Secondly, a love story can start (or continue) with marriage and not be consigned to the vague HEA (Happily Ever After) of romance novels.

I could have chosen a number of American laws and protections for the series, including slavery or gun rights. The former exists aplenty here in the US, from mandatory work in jails for the profit of companies to restricting movements or legal rights. To say nothing of the human trafficking taking place within the US, and the influx and outflow of slavery from the country.

To those who choose the easy path, condemning the character, the book, or the series, solely because their view of “life” differs from that of others, I have little to nothing to say other than to perhaps take a step back and think about life from a point of view wider than your own.

As a Jew, I do have a different perspective than the anti-abortion folks. A fetus is called an “u-bar” — “not yet present.” If a woman’s physical or mental life is threatened by the fetus, its name changes from “u-bar” to “rodef.” Which means pursuer or stalker. That’s how strongly a woman’s life is measured against that of a fetus. Various religious sects have their own opinions and slants on when and whether an abortion should be allowed, but a woman’s life always takes precedence over that of a fetus.

So, enjoy the dystopia of Shmuley’s universe; the loves, criminal pursuits, and arrests. While simultaneously considering the impact of unintended consequences of any sort on our reality.