news and a question

[tagmeth]

This  past week I turned in the ms for Deathless Gods + the maps, close to the first anniversary of the murder/suicide of  my old friends, George and Judy.  The novel is dedicated to them, "Deathless in Memory."   Baen thinks that it will be due out around next fall, which is about what I expected.  Now I'm thinking about the next and probably last

Comments

[kjn]

Interesting question

[tagmeth]

I had thought that a lot of associations/habits, would linger, especially among the micro worlds of the randon and the scrollsmen. For that matter, it's hard to imagine that loyalists like Rowan, Marc, and Rue would leap for equality. Some lesser Kendar might, such as Rush in the current novel. I'm thinking of Tori trying to get some Kendar representatives on the High Council. There have got to be lots of historical models that I should research.

historical models

[mythmuser]

South Korea, Singapore, Peru all made fairly smooth transitions from dictatorships to democracy. In each case there was a "good dictator" who guided the change for a while. I can see Jame, Tori, & Kindrie doing this together. Jame could bring in elements of Tentir's meritocracy; I also see her dismantling the rules for Highborn women.

But I'm also wondering how far you want to take the story after the eucatastrophe of the Three destroying Perimal Darkling (if that's what they do). I can see an epilogue where they meet to talk about how things are going and recognizing that change won't come overnight.

I'm more interested in the psychological ramifications for the Kendar when their bond to their lord is broken.

Re: historical models

[tagmeth]

I wonder how far Jame will get against the Matriarchs. They're pretty hard-core traditionalists with their own base of power. We'll see. Tentir and Mount Alban can certainly set an example. The priests may turn a corner with Titmouse.

I've been thinking that there should at least be an epilogue along the lines that you suggest. There might even be a penultimate novel or short stories set some years after the eucatastrophe. I don't see the latter as a "happily ever after" situation. How boring.

And I'm more concerned with the Kendar reaction than with the Highborn.

"Homing" instinct?

[ext_2501233]

So after the unbinding, does the "live with other Kencyr" instinct still bind the Kencyrath together? If not, I can see dissident Kendar (and Highborn) splitting off entirely and living among other peoples. An obvious place would be Tai-Tastigon, the most cosmopolitan city you've shown to date.

Re: "Homing" instinct?

[tagmeth]

I think a lot of Kencyr would want to stay with their own people, if under better circumstances. Some, though, maybe not.

[ext_5493819]

There are a lot of skilled Kendar, so would guilds come about?

[tagmeth]

There could be more communication between craftsmen of various houses. Right now, they seem pretty isolated and limited. I could see Marc attracting apprentices to help him finish his stained glass map.

[heron61]

Given that the Kendar are simultaneously the Kencyrath's primary military force & all of their craftspeople, if they don't need to be bound to Highborn anymore, they suddenly have an impressive amount of practical power - if most of a lord's Kendar demanded concessions, and other Kendar weren't willing to go against them, there's little the Highborn could do. OTOH, I also expect any changes to be quite gradual, since there's millennia of tradition and cultural expectations

[tagmeth]

I don't know about the Arrin-ken either, other than an image of one on a Kencyr hearth, playing with an ounce cub. They really should rejoin the Kencyrath, though. Groups of free Kendar could be a thing, though, either living apart or joined by common interests (the guild idea).

[pyoro_2]

I recall a similar question about what people expect from the end at some point in the past; so I think I'll write down what I think now and then dig up that blog post and see what I thought then and whether I've changed my mind or not

[pyoro_2]

(You know you're in trouble when your replies get too long to post in one post

[tagmeth]

So much to respond to here

[pyoro_2]

Some people always want to attach themselves loyally to others--e.g. read about Sabbatai Sevi and how even after he converted to Islam, there were followers who refused to believe he was not the Jewish moseiach... OIr there is the reprehensible gangster Kevin Weeks, who was loyal to murdering mobster James Bulger, until Weeks found out that Bulger had sold Weeks out to the FBI, after years of Bulger saying "Never be a rat. Never cooperate with law enforcement," to Weeks and Bulger's other henchmen. Weeks then turned state's evidence and led law enforcement to the places he had very literally buried the murder victims' bodies...

I read -half- of him memoir of his time being Bulger's henchman, Brutal, and HAD to stop reading, because as FICTION it would be one thing, but it is NONfiction, and utterly chilling....