The Genetics Lecture

From Turtledove

"The Genetics Lecture" is a short story by Harry Turtledove which originally appeared in the October 2005 issue of Analog as its "Probability Zero" feature. Set in a university genetics classroom, the story is a relatively straight discussion of genetics until Turtledove introduces specific details of the characters. In an interesting twist, one student asks his professor if it is possible that intelligent life could have evolved from something other than mollusks. The professor, whose name is revealed as Cthulhu, upbraids his student, Nyarlathotep, tapping one his eight tenticles for emphasis.

The story is brief, but Turtledove makes the most its length. The reader is lulled into a sense of security, as the professor explains in the importance of Hox genes. Then abruptly, Turtledove pulls the rug out from under the reader. To add to the fun, Turtledove pays homage to the most famous creation of H.P. Lovecraft by naming professor after Cthulhu and Nyarlathotep, two of Lovecraft's monsterous creations.