#despite the whole seaborn thing not being my cup of tea

[gailiag]

The Stultifera Navis Post

Well here it is. My scene analysis-turned-character analysis-turned-event analysis of Stultifera Navis. SN story spoilers and descriptions of being eaten alive ahead. This is a long one, so strap in. Ye have been warned.

Of all the things that happened in Stultifera Navis, the one I keep coming back to is the scene in SN-10 before where the Endspeaker, Will of We Many, tells Laurentina of Amaia's sacrifice. This isn't my area of expertise, but there's something about its writing that's just so intimately visceral. The contrast between the imagery of her being devoured, still conscious even as her flesh is stripped from her bones, all the while comforting the Endspeaker as one might comfort a child, makes for an incredibly powerful scene.

[Image ID: A screenshot of dialogue between a Seaborn and Specter. The text is white on a greyed-out background, which depicts the Seaborn, an angelic jellyfish-like creature, floating in the air. The dialogue reads:

Seaborn: Laurentina, that is the name of our scaleless kin, the Liberi, the Iberian.

Seaborn: As I consumed her, she kept stroking my head. She spoke of many things. Time itself was like frozen dust, an eternity seeming to pass as I listened to her.

Seaborn: Until she could no longer speak, until even her bones were digested by our smallest kin, she nurtured me with both nutrition and time. She taught me everything I know.

Specter: Since when were you so sentimental towards your food?

Seaborn: Such was her request, I merely granted it. If there is purpose to such emotions, we are willing to experiment.

End ID]

In SN-ST-11 “Main Mast,” Amaia tells the Endspeaker that there is no grand purpose, no glory, no honor in sacrifice, and that the shred of humanity she gives it is purely for the survival of their kind. But despite her going on and on about how humans are not so different from the Seaborn, I think we also see sentimentality in how she nurtures it and in her request to be remembered. There is still a glimmer of humanity left in Amaia, and she gifts this to the Endspeaker. It's not lost on me that the Endspeaker is referred to as "it" before consuming Amaia, but "he" after.

It is clear throughout this event that Amaia’s view of humanity is reflective of the Seaborn’s view as a whole. The Endspeaker is continually baffled with the Hunters’ refusal to join their “kin.” Amaia explains this belief more fully than any other character. In her eyes, idealizing things like sacrifice and dedication is merely a delusion that lets humans pretend that they are somehow more noble than the animals that they are. The Endspeaker says she taught him that laws are much the same. To the Seaborn, there is no inherent meaning to life or death or duty or pain. Any attempt to create meaning from this is a delusion, a denial of the truth that humans and Seaborn are fundamentally no different from each other. In a world devoid of any inherent meaning, the only rational goal is survival. 

When Amaia and Laurentina share a dance in Main Mast, Amaia tells Laurentina that the part of her that keeps her awake and alive, that makes her Laurentina, is the Seaborn part of her. That she is, at heart, no different than them. But Laurentina rejects this. In what I would argue is the most important line of all of Stultifera Navis, Laurentina says, "Because, during the process of carving, chiseling, and shaping, we give meaning to the forms of the dead, liberating them from the void of meaningless." Laurentina does not reject Amaia’s premise that there is no meaning inherent in sacrifice or life. But she concludes instead that sacrifice is meaningful because we remember them, and the meaning of sacrifice or of life is the meaning we give it. Amaia calls this delusion, but Laurentina suggests that our ability to make meaning from a meaningless world is what makes humans unique. Looking at the characters in this light, I think we can see what Stultifera Navis has to say about what makes someone human.

 To the contrary of Amaia’s perspective, Laurentina believes that, much like what separates a sculpture from a rock, it is the act of remaking herself as an Abyssal Hunter from the unstable, originium-infused body she has been given that makes her human. Skadi lays her own claim to her identity. "...No. I am the Abyssal Hunter, Skadi." Not Ishar-Mla, not seaborn, but a Hunter. Gladiia's concern at her physical transformation is at some level self-fulfilling. She sees the physical transformation as synonymous with becoming Seaborn, and so it is. Opposite Gladiia there’s Captain Alfonso and First Mate Garcia, who resisted assimilation into We Many for sixty years, remaining human only through continuing to define themselves as human, even as their bodies were twisted beyond recognition. 

And in the end, this goes both ways. Amaia asks that the Endspeaker assign no meaning to her sacrifice, no greater purpose beyond the simple instinct of a species to survive. But she asks that the Endspeaker remember her, and the Endspeaker makes its own meaning of her sacrifice in doing so. It recognizes the gifts of knowledge, of feeling, of time, she has given him. Even Amaia understands the implications of this act. In the flashback to her conversation with Bishop Quintus, she says, "[y]ou have to admit, that we're more like them, more like humans, than we are like Seaborn.” The Endspeaker shows signs that he, too, has the capacity to become human. 

It's not that we humans aren't so different from the Seaborn. It's that now, the Seaborn aren't so different from us.

#long post #sometimes you have zero thoughts about an event story for two weeks straight and then have every single thought all at once #despite the whole seaborn thing not being my cup of tea #i really liked this event #also apologies if none of this makes sense all of this was written in a fugue state over a 3-hour train ride #arknights #specter (arknights) #amaia #seaborn #stultifera navis #specter #arknights analysis #abyssal hunters

[ladyherenya]

Books read in December

I set myself some reading goals for the end of the year -- finish any books I’d already started, read the books I'd already borrowed, and to read ebooks I’d bought before buying any more. But I guess most of those books just weren’t the right genre? A few exceptions aside, this month I read a bunch of other things instead.

Also read: The Frost Fair Affair and Holiday Brew by Tansy Rayner Roberts, and Sweetest in the Gale and 40-Love by Olivia Dade.

Reread: Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn and Bookish and the Beast by Ashley Poston.

Total: thirteen novels (including two audiobooks and two rereads), three novellas, and three story/novella collections.

Favourite cover: The cover was what caught my attention for Finding My Voice and Old Baggage.

Still reading: Between Silk and Cyanide by Leo Marks, Or What You Will by Jo Walton and The Disorderly Knights by Dorothy Dunnett.

Next up: A Most Improper Magick by Stephanie Burgis.

*

Queen’s Play by Dorothy Dunnett (narrated by David Monteath): In 1548, Francis Crawford of Lymond arrives in France, incognito in order to protect Scotland’s queen, seven-year-old Mary. I enjoyed this, even though I am not very interested in the antics of the French court and thought The Game of Kings benefitted from having more characters who I found wholly likeable and/or who matter, personally, to Lymond. Dunnett is an impressive storyteller -- vivid descriptions, lively dialogue, nuanced characters and twists that take me by surprise. Moreover, those satisfying puzzle pieces explain the plots and intrigue, give insight into personalities and develop the narrative’s themes (here, the consequences of power). 

The Kinship of Secrets by Eugenia Kim: In 1950, four year old Inja lives with her grandparents and uncle in Seoul, while her sister Miran is in America with their parents. War delays the family’s reunion. This is a fascinating portrayal of two sisters growing up in different countries, and an incredibly poignant story about a family separated. Compelling, and beautifully written, and despite moments of intense grief, hopeful. I liked how, in the end, Inja and Miran didn’t have all the answers.. But I wonder if I’d have found the ending more satisfying if I had a deeper understanding of who they both were as adults.

Teacup Magic series by Tansy Rayner Roberts:

Tea and Sympathetic Magic: Stephanie Burgis recommended this novella as something similar to her Harwood Spellbook series and it certainly has a similar appeal: romantic fantasy, bordering on comedy-of-manners territory. Like Georgette Heyer but with magic and diversity and an intention to challenge problematic and outdated attitudes. Charming and cosy, like a good cup of tea rather than a frothy hot chocolate. Miss Mnemosyne Seaborne, a reluctant guest at a houseparty. She joins forces with the other guests after an unexpected abduction occurs. Entertaining, and even though it was too short for me to really become invested, I immediately wanted to read the sequel.

The Frost Fair Affair: After her previous adventures, Mneme has new friends, a suitor and a campaign: overturning the social conventions which prevent women from travelling by portal. After someone in Town steals her political pamphlets, she gets caught up in a mystery. I enjoyed this oh so much! I found myself caring a lot more about Mneme and her relationships; I liked the mixture of intrigue and danger, and how in the cause of dealing with these, Mneme learns more about the man she hopes to marry; and the Frost Fair, on a frozen river, makes a delightful setting. I'd love to read more.

Belladonna U(niversity) series by Tansy Rayner Roberts:

Unreal Alchemy: Oh, this is my new favourite! Urban fantasy about Australian uni students who are connected to an indie rock band, Fake Geek Girl. These stories are funny, geeky and romantic, with great chapter titles and lots of fandom references. They employ different points of view and different narrative styles in a way that’s really effective. I love the characters and how important and intense their non-romantic relationships are. Between them they have a variety of romantic/sexual relationships and feelings, but friendships and familial relationships, like the one between twin sisters Hebe and Holly, also drive the narrative. The first collection contains four stories/novellas.

Fake Geek Girl -- Ferd moves into the Manic Pixie Dream House; Holly and Sage argue about the future of the band.

Unmagical Boy Story -- Viola has feelings about her best friend losing his magic, transferring colleges and making new friends.

The Bromancers --  The band and frriends spend a weekend at a magical music festival.

The Alchemy of Fine -- A prequel about the band’s origins.

Holiday Brew: This collection is more serious and less overtly fandom-y than the first, but arguably still very meta (especially if you consider Viola, Jules and Ferd as a response to the trio in Harry Potter). I sat down intending to read just one of these stories -- and ended up reading them all.

Halloween Is Not A Verb -- Holly invites various people to their mums’ place for Halloween.

Solstice on the Rocks -- A short story about university graduation.

Kissing Basilisks --  Begins on New Year’s Day, is compelling, and picks up the non-band-related narrative threads from Fake Geek Girl.

Missing Christmas by Kate Clayborn: This novella is loosely connected to Beginer's Luck but stands alone. It's sweet. Business partners and best friends Jasper and Kristen pay a last minute trip to a client and get trapped by a blizzard, which pushes them to reconsider the boundaries they’ve drawn in their relationship. I liked the moments which showed that they’re an effective team because they know each other so well and can communicate through subtle body language. 

Finding My Voice by Marie Myung-Ok Lee: Ellen is a Korean-American teenager in her final year of high school. Her story is about applying for college, gymnastics training, Ellen’s relationships with her best friend and her first boyfriend, dealing with racism at school and with her parents’ expectations that she will follow her sister to Harvard. It’s very short, first published in 1993. I was aware of all the places where a YA novel written today would be allowed to give more details and to expand the story, but it was still interesting.

The Magnolia Sword: A Ballad of Mulan by Sherry Thomas: I’ve borrowed this several times this year, only to return it unread each time, and I was starting to wonder if I really wanted to read it. But once I actually sat down and focused, I quickly realised that I definitely did! I became completely engrossed in this Mulan retelling. It’s a tense adventure. I enjoyed the characters and their interactions, particularly the elaborate courtesy of formal conversations, and the way Mulan and her companions value loyalty and camaraderie. I thought this was a very believable take on the whole girl-disguised-as-a-boy thing too.

Dear Mrs Bird by AJ Pearce: In 1940, Emmy wants a newspaper job but is instead typing up letters for a women’s magazine and discarding mail from readers whose problems are Unacceptable. Frustrated that Mrs Bird won’t offer advice to so many women in need, Emmy's tempted to take matters into her own hands. Her optimism means she makes some naive mistakes, some of which made me wince, but it’s also an incredible strength. She's delightful company. I really like how much of this story is about her friendship with Bunty and I enjoyed the insight into women's magazines and the Auxiliary Fire Service.

The Lonely Hearts Dog Walkers by Sheila Norton: Recently separated, Nicola moves back in with her mother, starts as a teaching assistant at her daughter’s new school, gets a puppy and joins a group of dog walkers, who embark upon a mission to save the local park. This was very low-angst and, once I realised the sort of story it was, kind of predictable. I can recognise the appeal of this brand of realism, but personally would have preferred more humour or more emotional complexity. Were Nicola a colleague, it’d be easy to find things in common to discuss, but her story wasn’t quite what I was looking for.

Chasing Lucky by Jenn Bennett: When Josie and her mother return to Beauty to look after the family bookshop, Josie has plans -- keep to herself, finish high school, secure a photography apprenticeship, move to LA. But after Josie accidentally breaks a store-front window and her childhood friend Lucky takes the blame, Josie’s priorities change. I enjoyed this more than I expected to. I particularly liked how Lucky subverts people’s expectations, and how Josie’s family works at communicating better with each other.

Old Baggage by Lissa Evans (narrated by Joanna Scanlan): It’s 1928 and Mattie Simpkin, a now-middle-aged militant suffragette, lives in Hampstead with her friend Florrie Lee (aka The Flea). Mattie gives lectures about the suffragettes but realises she’s not reaching the younger generation. So she starts a club for “healthy outdoor fun” for teenage girls. Mattie is wonderfully forthright -- amusing, engaging and informative when it comes to things she’s passionate about -- but she’s also fallible.  A really delightful yet bittersweet story about friendship and loss and the opportunities available for women. I liked its awareness that being able to loudly be yourself is a privilege not everyone has. 

There’s Something About Marysburg series by Olivia Dade:

Teach Me: Rose is unimpressed -- not only must she share her classroom with the new history teacher, he’s been given her Honors World History class. There’s something particularly satisfying about people who have been hurt and lonely finding support and love in each other. I like that they get to know each other over many months. I like Martin’s relationship with his teenage daughter and Rose’s relationship with her ex’s parents is so touching that one scene made me cry. And it was interesting seeing the US school system from the perspective of experienced teachers; I appreciated the details about their jobs.

Sweetest in the Gale: a Marysburg story collection contains three novellas about couples in their forties.

Sweetest in the Gale -- Griff is worried when Candy, a fellow English teacher, returns for the new school year uncharacteristically sombre and subdued. A really sweet romance about people who are navigating loss and grief.

Unraveled -- Maths teacher Simon is assigned to observe and mentor the new art teacher, Poppy. I enjoyed the threads of mystery.

Cover Me -- After a concerning mammogram result, Elizabeth marries an old friend so she’s covered by his health insurance. Predictable as anything, but that made it a safe position from which to explore serious and sobering topics.

40-Love: I’m not interested in tennis or holiday resorts; I was disappointed that this novel wouldn’t show Tess being an assistant principal; and even though some of my favourite fictional couples have a significant age-gap, I’m wary about age-gap romances (and socially-programmed to think it’s odd for a woman to date a much younger guy). But I liked the other stories in this series and I was curious. It’s Not really My Cup of Tea, but I was convinced that Tess and Lucas were both capable of making their (somewhat unconventional) relationship work. An interesting exercise in challenging my social-programming.

The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn: After watching Bridgerton (not always to my tastes but mostly fun), curiosity prompted me to read the opening of the second novel, and I was so entertained by Kate Sheffield verbally sparring with the viscount, whom Kate is determined to prevent from marrying her younger sister. I continued to be entertained up until the viscount acts a bit too entitled on his wedding night (that’s unattractive, if outrightly problematic). Which left me in rather an uncharitable mood for the final act, so I can’t identify if the drama of dealing with past traumas didn’t meet the standard of the earlier comedy or if I just hold such scenes to differing standards.

#Herenya reviews books #sooner or later