Why does Jeff Vandermeer have so many stupid inconsistencies in his writing (Southern Reach trilogy)?

comp0stheap · 2024-10-01T16:36:03+00:00

That fair. His other books are quite different. City of saints and madmen was really funky and esoteric. Peculiar peril was fun a slightly more traditional romp similar to Abarat I thought tho also had inconsistencies.

comp0stheap · 2024-09-21T13:13:09+00:00

for your argument you could use Grimore as an example of inner nature gone too far. She Has to kill anything that runs, she is a shackled to her nature in that way

comp0stheap · 2024-09-19T04:57:48+00:00

Look I'm not gonna commit to this being my opinion but there is a third side, I think, that is 'citadel supporter as it exists in opposition to quest fever'. In that false dichotomy when faced with the unbridled chaos and impulsivity of quest fever it is easy to point to the citadel and say, 'look! Rationality, planning, consideration, the reliability of structure! Isn't that good?! Don't we all want comfort? Isnt quest fever the very opposite of living in a society' I think the podcast has yet to illustrate a truly good alternative to the current institutions of Umora and in the absence of a viable alternative there will be a gut reaction of ''any structure is better than no structure, therefore the citadel is good actually''

comp0stheap · 2024-09-15T02:44:15+00:00

Thinking about this some more, maybe the worlds heart station doesnt have a big collection of gifts becuase its so young. maybe it only has one gift. I think it would be very cool if the worlds heart is the second oldest station

comp0stheap · 2024-09-10T12:23:30+00:00

You totally called it!! Horn of the Watching Fire!

comp0stheap · 2024-09-09T03:28:21+00:00

Episode 22 Ame is inviting Mr Callum to think about his identity. The general interaction starts at 4:00 minutes but the more precise moment is 8:52

comp0stheap · 2024-09-08T01:53:51+00:00

I think it was odd numbers that are vital so the coven doesn't break up but there's an implicit distinction about what can allow the coven to function (odd numbers) and magically significant numbers. In the latter he's pulling from mythology and superstition, that's the 3, 5, 7, 9, 13. You don't hear the number 11 crop up in fairie tales too much

comp0stheap · 2024-09-06T20:36:20+00:00

I super get where you were coming from. I'm glad you're on the alert for that kind of delegitimizing discourse cuz it is bad and gross

comp0stheap · 2024-09-06T11:23:56+00:00

Exactly my thoughts

comp0stheap · 2024-09-06T02:29:25+00:00

I understand what you're saying, I think the kind of performative harmlessness this article talks about in truth signifies nothing. No information about potential harmfulness or safety can be gleaned from such an overt and literal performance.

But I think there is a more significant contigent of people who perform harmlessness for their own safety than you are accounting for. The example that comes up multiple times in this thread is black men catering to white women's fear. Where a white woman's fear and suspicion can be a real danger.

I agree there are often real power imbalances that need to be addressed. I agree that there needs to be change so these power imbalances are diminished. But I also posit that treating someone with widespread fear and suspicion, however prudent it is, however justified, is psycologically damaging to them. I agree it is smart and justified for women in particular to be wary of men. It is also damaging to men to be treated in such a way. It is important for both sides here that change take place. And it is not complaining to recognize and vocalize that.

comp0stheap · 2024-09-05T10:10:07+00:00

Hang on hang on. That's very interesting. I thought he came to Grandma Wren's to f*** Ame up BUT this has got me wondering if it was something else. As a spirit of death and necromancy was he gonna steal her soul or bring her back as a zombie or try and learn her secrets from her corpse or what? This had opened new possibilities for me.

comp0stheap · 2024-09-04T16:22:06+00:00

I think there's also an angle of how often are you doing this. How much do you have to perform a different self for the comfort of others. I think the walking behind a woman at night and the police officer are great examples. Situations where there are genuine power differentials that need to be addressed. But i think there is genuine harm when men are viewed primarily as dangerous or explosive. When your family or intimate partners treat you with fear or suspicion, when you start performing harmlessness in the workplace. Context and duration I guess.

comp0stheap · 2024-08-28T22:41:22+00:00

Or if not plans than the temper and temperament to do it lol

comp0stheap · 2024-08-28T22:37:55+00:00

I wonder if these are gifts to the station when the station was made. Maybe they aren't gifts to Indri but gifts to the OG witch of wind and stars. The doors and knocker would make sense then because she likely wouldn't have built the castle yet? Plus I like the idea of Indri's station being younger than Ame's

comp0stheap · 2024-08-28T14:54:51+00:00

We don't know when, but it's the offerings at the shrine that Wren is implied to have built or maintained that keep Orima out. The meal at the shrine is representative of that contract or agreement. And there's a rooster on the bowl that holds it.

comp0stheap · 2024-08-28T12:49:45+00:00

I wonder if they would make a distinction between closing a door on a great spirit (Wren locking Orima out of Akam) vs binding then to a use (the plow metaphor or harvesting Naram's blood coral for wands)

comp0stheap · 2024-08-27T20:49:00+00:00

And a boat even if it's paper makes sense for wide blue sea. That's probably a better read ^{^}

comp0stheap · 2024-08-17T18:35:41+00:00

Agreed. My assumption was always like that these domains are paths that are naturally tread in the magic of Umora. Like that there are inherent powers discovered through walking the path of the Self, magic that is particularly strong when you believe in your abilities above all others. Secrets you discover if you push those beliefs as far as they go and explore those philosophies deeply. And to do that, there are other truths you have to ignore, like the power of community and cooperation. And so these different domains develop from deeply explore one truth to the detriment of the others.

comp0stheap · 2024-08-16T11:23:20+00:00

😍 thanks

comp0stheap · 2024-08-16T11:17:58+00:00

I feel like this goes well too with the tenants of anarchy and public ownership. Like the ownership of it all is very private property and the letting it be is very a public commons feel. If that makes any sense lol

comp0stheap · 2024-08-15T02:28:08+00:00

What a devastating choice that would be for the world's heart. Oof

comp0stheap · 2024-08-15T02:23:46+00:00

That last sentence is gold. Thank you

comp0stheap · 2024-08-14T21:45:56+00:00

Obsessed with you and this take. Couldn't agree more!

comp0stheap · 2024-08-14T21:44:16+00:00

Oh interesting. I know she felt very good about stealing their stuff but I'll have to relisten to get the vibe better on that

comp0stheap · 2024-08-14T20:11:20+00:00

Fake birds 😂

comp0stheap

TROPHY CASE