Earwa > The Almanac: PON Edition
TDTCB, Ch. 11
What Came Before:
--- Quote from: lockesnow ---[size=200]Momemn[/size]
--- Quote ---Reason, Ajencis writes, is the capacity to overcome unprecedented obstacles in the gratification of desire. What distinguished man from beasts is man’s capacity to overcome infinite obstacles through reason.
But Ajencis has confused the accidental for the essential. Prior to the capacity to overcome infinite obstacles is the capacity to confront them. What defines man is not that he reasons, but that he prays.
—EKYANNUS I, 44 EPISTLES
--- End quote ---
Late Winter, 4111 Year-of-the-Tusk, Momemn[/b]
§11.1: Proyas arrives at the holy war, remembers an Ajencis quote on politics, bitterly reflects on politics and his faith, comes ashore and prays to the Prophet, greets Xinemus and is informed of the Vulgar Holy War, doubts the Holy War, trades barbs with Conphas, Conphas wins with an Ajencis quote on truth, Proyas doubts himself, is informed that Achamian is present.
§11.2: Achamian waits and ruminates, recriminates re Inrau, becomes an alcoholic, rereads the classics, ranges the encampment, remembers Proyas and Inrau as his sons, told by Xinemus Proyas will not see him.
§11.3: Achamian is being followed by a spy, tries to trap him, thinks about cooking, plans on using the Cants of Compulsion, the man he seizes does not have the face of the man following him, cooking is for slaves.
§11.4: Esmenet and Sarcellus have arrived at the Holy War, thinks of her dead daughter, wonders if she is dreaming, something inside declares she is truly a caste noble, remembers she is whore, Sarcellus tells her he found Achamian, reflects on her and Sarcellus' relationship, her scrutiny has consequences, she is safe but loves Achamian, the Gods punish love with dead daughters, Sarcellus questions her about Achamian, admits to him she believes in the Consult, he rebukes her that she will only be a whore to him, she knows.
§11.5: The thing called Sarcellus apologizes to Esmenet, she refuses to rut, he takes slaves thinks of killfucking her, is met by the Synthese Architect Father, is named Maëngi, Synthese totally controls Maëngi with a touch, physical pleasure, questions Maëngi about Achamian and learns he spotted Gaörtha, Synthese is enraged at the world when he hears Gaörtha shifted skins, eyes like twin Nails of Heaven, commands Maëngi show his true face which opens for the Synthese like a vagina.
§11.6: The encampment about Momemn rumbles with disbelief about the Vulgar Holy War, Emperor, Great Names, Indenture, scrap of paper, Conphas, the armies worship, fuck and wait, wait for glory.
--- End quote ---
What Came Before:
--- Quote from: Church ---Ok, thought I'd add a reply to this as it would be good to get the re-read going again. Though to be honest I don't find this chapter that interesting, apart from the bit with Sarcellus and the synthese. Take the bit at the end of this scene, where Maengi is being manipulated by the synthese and has the following thought pattern:
--- Quote ---HOW
Roared through what passed for Maengi's soul.
I HATE
Shattering whatever thoughts, whatever passions he might call his own.
THIS WORLD.
Crushing even the unquenchable hunger, the all-encompassing ache...
--- End quote ---
Is it a bit much to read this as the No-God, or a reflection or part of the N-G, speaking through the skin-spy. So effectively any instruments of the tekne have a little bit of the N-G programme determining their actions. Or am I just reading a bit much into some capital letters?
--- End quote ---
What Came Before:
--- Quote from: kalstone ---I read that as being the telepathic projection of the Synthese's thoughts.
This is the first time I've reread the series, so it's been about 7-8 years since I read TDTCB. Up to this point, I had assumed that the Synthese was being controlled by a Mangaeccan. This passage makes it seem like it must be an Inchoroi controlling it. I can't remember. Do we ever find out exactly who it is?
--- End quote ---
What Came Before:
--- Quote from: Madness ---Welcome to the Second Apocalypse, kalstone. Third google hit and rising.
I share your interpretation of that scene. Can't wait to find some time for the reread again. Almost done my chapter... 7, I think, reading.
The Synthese is Aurang's spy transport, Horde-General, one of the two twins, last of the Inchoroi Princes...
Lol... woe comes...
--- End quote ---
What Came Before:
--- Quote from: Callan S. ---
--- Quote from: Madness ---Lol... woe comes...
--- End quote ---
Something oddly great about that line...
--- End quote ---
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
Go to full version