The Sword and Laser discussion
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The Snow Queen
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TSQ: Colonialism
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There are several real world examples of cultures/groups monopolising technology. Though a blanket ban, not the on/off monopoly as in TSQ.
China with silk production comes to mind. Chinese silk makers were banned by Imperial decree from letting outsider learn the secrets of where silk came from and how it was produced.
Trade Guilds of middle age and Renaissance Europe protected the secrets of their trades, mainly as a way of controlling supply and therefore prices of goods. Guilds in these days were basically organised gangsters. Freemasons are a leftover from that time. Most of the conspiracy theories on them are from a time when they were into shady practices.
I like your thoughts on possible real world parallels. I'll have to think about that for a while.
I was idly kicking around on this topic and found that the "Chinese Curse" bit is actually untrue. "May you live in interesting times" is at best loosely related any Chinese aphorism. It was reported as a Chinese saying back in the 1930s. However, I took it to be true as a kid so I'm thinking back in the late 1970s others did as well. Back in ye olden tymes before we could highlight, right click and search.
John (Taloni) wrote: "Colonialism seems to be one of the themes of the book...I'm not sure what's being implied since none of these line up with real world history. They are at best vaguely connected to actual events. Thoughts?"Just finished the book and I don't think colonialism was really meant to be a main plot point or parallel to any historical references. Neither the interview with the author nor the "Reading Group Questions" at the end seem to mention it. That's my take anyway.
Now that I have flown through the last third (once this book left the doldrums) I do see some parallels. Kharemough - India
Tiamat - UK
Tiamat is used for its natural resources and is not allowed to learn the secret of Kharemough technology.
In the past the UK took cotton and raw materials from India and banned the Indians from spinning it themselves. They then shipped back the final products (Manchester named after the city).
Vince seems to have swapped the base cultures and the technology levels.
The relationship between the Hegemony and Tiamat is absolutely colonialist in nature. I mean, it's pretty obvious:Tiamat is a less technologically developed culture than the rest of the Hegemony, that happens to have a particular resource that's valuable to the Hegemony. The Hegemony exploits the native population in order to obtain said resource.
The Hegemony also oppresses the native population of Tiamat, in this case by ensuring that Tiamat doesn't develop a technological base that might make them more capable of resisting the Hegemony's authority.
I feel that's kinda the textbook definition of colonialism.
Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if some colonial governments even fostered a degree of rivalry between native groups in order to prevent said groups from joining together and revolting.
That said, I don't feel that there's any exact historical parallel being replicated.
very good we'll stated argument, Sean.
(view spoiler)[Early on the Kharamoughi are described as precise and good with technology. I flashed on the German stereotype, but historically they didn't have colonies. The Tiamat people seem Irish influenced, or at least Sparks and many others have conspicuous red hair.
On Kharamough the population wears heavy cover up clothing implying a Muslim influence, with the caste system suggesting India.
Later in the book the police commissioner first references tea, asking an android to get some for her group. At that point I thought Vinge was pointing to a British colonial reference, but later on the same character says her people have an old saying, "May you live in interesting times." So they're of Chinese extraction, or at least Asian.
I'm not sure what's being implied since none of these line up with real world history. They are at best vaguely connected to actual events. Thoughts? (hide spoiler)]