Comments on: THE CRUCIBLE OF EMPIRE — Snippet 25

By: pete m

pete m — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:01:16 +0000

@9 I thought the Bond’s careful study of and response to Krannt’s data pretty much showed that the Bond did not realize the Lliex were still around.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:19:18 +0000

In the last book, it was made clear that the Jao are not very original thinkers. Essentially their biggest problem with Earth was that they wanted to rubber-stamp it into the same shape as all their other contacts with “primitives”, but the Earth was resisting that. And the Jao were not really flexible enough to deal with it.

Furthermore, they are losing this war.

It was the Bond that realized the Jao will eventually lose the war, if nothing changes. And they are not good at changing things. So the Bond has decided to try and use the human ability to be flexible and change things in order to alter the Jao in ways they could not do internally.

It’s quite possible we will find out that the Bond knew the Liexx were there all along, but had no idea of how to approach them until after the experiment with the humans seemed to look successful.

By: Olin Anderson

Olin Anderson — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:31:14 +0000

Doesn’t have to be EITHER Tully or Caitlan – could be both. Also, the merging of Jao and humans beans BOTH sides – so, Wrot would be an example from the Jao side.

How does the Bond fit in? They seem above the normal Jao mentality/customs. Maybe it’s the Bond that’s moving ALL the Jao and the Bond sees merging with humans as a natural fit.

How will the Jao handle that eventually they will not be solely in charge. Is not what is evolving a civilization of multiple species and shared responsibilities/control?

By: robert

robert — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:18:01 +0000

@6 I thought that Caitlin was the merging of Jao and Terran. Hers was the mind behind the idea of the new whatchacallit, taif? that is the merger/association of the two races.

By: Summercat

Summercat — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:45:09 +0000

Tully, I think, may be at the crux of things. He is, in some ways, the merging of Jao and Terran.

By: pete m

pete m — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:51:41 +0000

@1- there was a sneak preview a while back of just that topic. What happens is Lexington and Tully. Especially Tully

By: robert

robert — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:31:53 +0000

Maybe I should have said that what happens next will be whatever happens when the flow is complete.

By: robert

robert — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:29:24 +0000

@1 Perhaps what happens next is the Lexington. And it is a good thing that Caitlin is part of the expedition. And Wrot.

My guess is that two things are going on: one is the obvious attempt by the Jao to expiate the guilt they must have for the horrors they committed under the Ekhat by saving the Lleix; and the other is the long-term task of gathering (“association” as the Jao would have it) of the remaining intelligent races of the galaxy by the Jao and now the humans, to defeat the Ekhat…and what else?

By: alejo

alejo — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:47:50 +0000

I wish they’d give a detailed description of what they look like. One gets hints and, naturally, one draws inferences from them but, it would be nice to have an actual bonified description supplied by the authors. I imagine humanoids with feathery tendrils framing their faces which resemble flower petals but that is it. Has anyone drawn an inference which I have missed?

By: Mr. Masterson

Mr. Masterson — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:39:54 +0000

When reading this latest chapter. A few questions come to mind such as who gets to go and who gets to stay. Maybe a lottery or the most skilled? Do they destroy all evidence so no enemy can locate this last surviving colony? And when the Lexington shows up finally, how will they recall them back? I knew this is only the beginning, but I can’t wait to see what happens next.