The Jamey Dodger Society

[ninedaysaqueen]

For prevention of cruelty to reprobates.

Current Members
ninedaysaqueen
smallsotong
inkasrain
an_english_girl
dannybailey
filkferengi
mikkaybear
agh_4
frosted_feather

*rings gong*

I call to order the first meeting of the Jamey Dodger Society, a group for those who have read a "Thick as Thieves" arc or want to become as spoiled as Varuca Salt.

Comments

Kamet’s journey

[smallsotong]

So, Kamet’s journey across the Mede empire is a physical one, but also a personal one. There are all these little events that build on each other as he learns things like how to have a friend, and how to live as a free man (which involves both free choice and the consequences/responsibilities associated with those choice), and also that free men don’t all behave like Nahuseresh. Which parts stood out to you? I’ll list some that I remember best (not strictly in order

Re: Kamet’s journey

[ninedaysaqueen]

YES! This story was as much a spiritual and emotional journey as it was a physical one. Largely about an abuse victim and his path towards recovery and recognizing his right towards self-autonomy

Re: Kamet’s journey

[smallsotong]

On Kamet: There’s the layer of abuse-victim that you talk about, but there’s also another layer of Empire and Power that is mixed in with it. Kamet (like Nahuseresh) does really believe that the empire is a great and good force in the world (it opens trade! it civilises the world! - the things that empires from ancient to modern have always believed of themselves

RE: Re: Kamet’s journey

[ninedaysaqueen]

Ow, that's a really interesting observation! He does honestly think that way. I felt that was in part a symptom of brainwashing and sympathy for one's captors. Maybe, that's why I sympathized with him more immediately. What he describes as "training" sounded a lot like brainwashing to me

Re: Kamet’s journey

[smallsotong]

I didn't quite see it as brainwashing, unless living most of your life in a society and internalising its structure and values is considered brainwashing. For example, I'm sure Nahuseresh genuinely believed that he cared about Kamet and that he treated his slave well. And he probably actually did, within the context of Medean hierarchical society (there are so many examples of less fortunate slaves...). Slavery was the norm throughout much of human history, especially in empires that took over other peoples, and I'm sure part of the 'obvious truths of life' that those societies held without questioning, is that some humans were worth less than others. Eddis and Attolia (and maybe Sounis? though it's less explicit) are outliers in that regard

Exceeded mass character length...

[ninedaysaqueen]

Something else, is the whole slaves don't do one another favors...which was also a theme in CoK. Kamet starts to get past that and asks for and freely offers help. That's a big deal for him!

Staying in Nahuseresh's apartments and waking up thinking he shouldn't be there followed by remembering he's free was very subtle but very poignant.

Re: Kamet’s journey

[empmai]

When the plot excerpt was released I was not happy that it was Kamet narrating, because I didn't like him and thought he was a littler slimy version of Nahusesh. But like you said the journey was also a journey for me of getting to know, sympathize and like Kamet.