Kherishdar, M.C.A. Hogarth
I picked up the stories of Kherishdar as Kickstarter rewards for backing the process of turning the serial of Black Blossom into an e-book and print book.
Kherishdar is an alien civilization whose people are the Ai-Naidar. They value community over the individual, but as the Calligrapher points out, the point of community is to give the individual a space to live their lives to the fullest. They're a very, very old empire and very much not a human one.
There are three books - two novellas and a novel - The Aphorisms of Kherishdar, The Admonishments of Kherishdar, and Black Blossom. And they are all delicious, delicious Beckynip because they are all about the culture of the Ai-Naidar. *rolls in it*
The Aphorisms of Kherishdar is written by the Calligrapher. He uses it to illustrate various positive aspects of the Ai-Naidar culture in a series of 'incense' stories. They're absolutely lovely, and it's quite a short read. Easy to sit down with for a few hours and nestle into.
The Admonishments of Kherishdar is written by Shame, the priest of Shame who Corrects people when no one else can do so. It illustrates the darker sides of Ai-Naidar culture, as well as showing how the Ai-Naidar try to rehabilitate people. It's a longer read than The Aphorisms, but still something you could do in a few hours. It's significantly darker, however, and can be quite triggering. Pay attention to the chapter titles.
The Admonishments provide the best look at the fact the Ai-Naidar do not have our morals. I love it. I love it when people take an alien society and make them alien and fitting with themselves. Nothing of Kherishdar comes across as illogical, based on everything else we've learned of it. It's not a human society, but it is a society and it functions well.
Black Blossom is a novel where the Calligrapher and Shame are thrown together. It's a love story - platonic, filial, eros, agape. It's also a story of an attempted Correction, and it's the first story where the protagonists do a great deal involving the aunera, the aliens.
Fascinating stuff, especially since it continues to delve into the culture of Kherishdar. I stayed up way too late so I could finish it the same day I started it.
The stories are available as e-books. Her website links to the various places where you can get them. I know Smashwords is one of those places, and I believe she also offers them through Amazon.
Kherishdar is an alien civilization whose people are the Ai-Naidar. They value community over the individual, but as the Calligrapher points out, the point of community is to give the individual a space to live their lives to the fullest. They're a very, very old empire and very much not a human one.
There are three books - two novellas and a novel - The Aphorisms of Kherishdar, The Admonishments of Kherishdar, and Black Blossom. And they are all delicious, delicious Beckynip because they are all about the culture of the Ai-Naidar. *rolls in it*
The Aphorisms of Kherishdar is written by the Calligrapher. He uses it to illustrate various positive aspects of the Ai-Naidar culture in a series of 'incense' stories. They're absolutely lovely, and it's quite a short read. Easy to sit down with for a few hours and nestle into.
The Admonishments of Kherishdar is written by Shame, the priest of Shame who Corrects people when no one else can do so. It illustrates the darker sides of Ai-Naidar culture, as well as showing how the Ai-Naidar try to rehabilitate people. It's a longer read than The Aphorisms, but still something you could do in a few hours. It's significantly darker, however, and can be quite triggering. Pay attention to the chapter titles.
The Admonishments provide the best look at the fact the Ai-Naidar do not have our morals. I love it. I love it when people take an alien society and make them alien and fitting with themselves. Nothing of Kherishdar comes across as illogical, based on everything else we've learned of it. It's not a human society, but it is a society and it functions well.
Black Blossom is a novel where the Calligrapher and Shame are thrown together. It's a love story - platonic, filial, eros, agape. It's also a story of an attempted Correction, and it's the first story where the protagonists do a great deal involving the aunera, the aliens.
Fascinating stuff, especially since it continues to delve into the culture of Kherishdar. I stayed up way too late so I could finish it the same day I started it.
The stories are available as e-books. Her website links to the various places where you can get them. I know Smashwords is one of those places, and I believe she also offers them through Amazon.