trepanning

[George]

>DATE:   Sun, 10 Sep 1995 10:53:50 -0400
>FROM:   Paul DiFilippo <ac038 at osfn.rhilinet.gov>
>
>A few years ago, in an SF anthology published by the PULPHOUSE
>folks out in Eugene, Oregon, I published a story called "Billy."
>The title character was an anencephalic child who managed to 
>survive with an entirely open skull and a tiny bit of brainstem
>(unlike, needless to say, such real life babies).  Eventually,
>he came to inspire a New Age-political movement in which his 
>followers opened their skulls and decorticated themselves.  
>Billy himself was eventually elected president.
>And I thought I was making all this shit up!
>

This reminds me of a novel my mother wrote me, titled "Freak Show" I 

.... err, mother recommended to me ......^^^^

think (I'll ask tomorrow), where the owner of a travelling freak show keeps 
exposing his wife to hard radiation to while pregnant to ensure a 
supply a freaks.  Eventually, one of them starts a religion based on 
self mutilation, the holiest followers being thosed who have removed 
the most limbs and sensory organs. I'll find more information tomorrow.

george