I dislike reading about
Alice Hong's sadistic practices. I accept, of course, first that Hong is a fictitious character and secondly that the reader is not meant either to enjoy or to approve of these activities. Nevertheless, they remain unpleasant. On the other hand, fiction reflects reality which unfortunately includes people who are as unpleasant as Hong or as the same author's horrific Draka. Walker, Hong's companion, and the Draka bring up children to accept unspeakable cruelty as normal. This has to be one of their worst crimes against humanity.
SM Stirling goes a bit further than Poul Anderson or many others in spelling out what would happen if there were no constraints on someone like Hong. However, the spelling out of sometimes distasteful consequences is precisely the job of a science fiction writer. This post is brief because I want to acknowledge the issue without dwelling on it.
5 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
I agree with you in sharing your distaste for the sadism of Alice Hong. And even William Walker wondered a few times if it would be wise for him to get rid of the Lady of Pain. Despite her very real medical skills and administrative abilities.
I don't think I agree that Walker was bringing up his children "to accept unspeakable cruelty as normal." Recall the incident where discovered his daughter beating one of the grooms for no good reason. He stopped that and then punished his daughter for behaving like that. The point Walker was making was that punishment needs to be inflicted only when necessary and only in ways that would not bring contempt on the person doing or ordering the punishing.
Sean
Sen,
Yes, but I am thinking of an incident during the parley before the attack on Troy near the end of Vol II. Walker's kids witness what sounds like an appalling atrocity committed by Hong.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Ugh! I remember that too. No need for me go into details. But, I also recall one of Walker's children saying something like "Yucko gross, Auntie Alice!" That does not sound like something a child being brought up to approve of unspeakable cruelty would do.
Sean
Sean,
No but there is a nonchalance, a taking it for granted.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
A certain nonchalance, a to easy taking for granted? I can see that!
Sean
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