Query

[felineranger.livejournal.com]

Hi everyone

I have an idea for a fic but before I run with it I just wanted to double check something with the hive mind!  As far as I can remember, there is no canon explanation for what happened to Listers adoptive mother - we know his dad died at 6 and between 11-13 he was living with his gran and after that ended up in an orphanage school but  I don't think we're ever told exactly why?  Have I missed something or is there a generally accepted fanon explanation?  Answers on a postcard please...

Comments

[bayliss.livejournal.com]

???? I don't know if he had an adoptive mom. If he did I don't recall hearing about her.

[janamelie.livejournal.com]

I can't remember his adoptive mum ever being mentioned, but I may have forgotten a book reference. I'm sure he probably had one, simply because adoption agencies tend to be pretty strict about who they allow to adopt. I can't see his gran and dad being considered suitable, simply because it's usually couples who adopt kids.

I stress this isn't MY opinion, just what I imagine an adoption agency would think.

[janamelie.livejournal.com]

Additional: Duh! Just remembered this dialogue from "Kryten":

Kryten - I was created to serve. That is my purpose, to serve others and have no regard for myself.

Lister - You're beginning to sound like my Mum!

[sunny-bexster.livejournal.com]

I'd always interpreted it as Lister was in the orphanage before being adopted, and sometime after his dad dying and his gran taking over raising him. His mother only gets the one reference I think. More references are made re his Nan.

I'd love to see this section of Lister's childhood explained. Rimmer harps on about his smeggy upbringing, but there's never been anything to suggest Lister's upbringing/family circumstances were any less dire.

[gemjam.livejournal.com]

You know, I never really thought of him as being officially adopted, more just taken care of and raised by one of the guys from the poolhall where he was found, so it would make sense for a mum not to be involved in that scenario but a gran to be in the picture. I don't know how well that actually fits in with canon now that I stop and think about it but somehow that's always the impression that I got from his childhood. I'm probably way off base. Wasn't there a mention of his mum when he was talking about his dad dying? Was his mum the one who said his dad had gone to the same place as his goldfish? I wish I had a better memory.

[felineranger.livejournal.com]

I was working on the basis that he was officially adopted because that seems to be the suggestion via canon (particularly Last Human) and unless adoption regulations are more relaxed in the future the likelihood is that he would have gone to a couple. I guess there's scope for me to go wherever I want with it then if there's no official backstory!

[alararose.livejournal.com]

I submitted a comment anonymously as I didn't have an account at the time, but it hasn't been posted, so I'll try to remember as best I can what I put. Basically, in one of the books (spoilers:) we find out why our Lister and psycho Lister are so different, and it's because of the adoptive parents he chose. Our Lister chose kind people; psycho Lister chose rich people and that adoptive mom was a bit... unbalanced. I don't remember the entire bit, but it might help someone know where to look to see if there's a bit more info on our Lister's mom there. And, of course, that depends on whether or not you want to pull book-verse info into your story or not. Good luck!