Jin, and everyone who helped her project, screwed up hard, so it is easy to see her as having committed some sort of crime, yet she is also a victim of circumstance. In light of the future folk’s belief in magically enforced destiny there is no reason to have shanghaied Jin rather than simply rescue her, making it seem that the future folk merely want a press ganged slave for anachronistic tech salvage. Forcing an implant on Jin comes off less like further correction, and more like ensuring Jin’s compliance as a collector.
The impression is stronger due to the lack of any visible due process, or other traditional trappings of law systems. The situation appears as if Nadifa is making the decisions on her own, despite us having knowledge of the implants and the implication that there might be no secrets, and that society as a whole supports the decisions.
There are lots of parallels to enforced conformity both today and yesterday. Politicians do it, Missionaries do it: “I know better what you need because I know I’m right. You’ll understand once you’ve been enlightened/indoctrinated/brainwashed”.
That said, it’s been very apparent to me from the opening that this story is a farce, and a jab at some social trends and Star Trekkian ideas. The 29th century portrayed is a Trekkian Laputa—that Swiftian kingdom devoted to the arts of music and mathematics but unable to use them for practical ends. Enjoy it for what it is: satire.
I bet I know where this is going, I bet I know what Jin will do…….
Jin, and everyone who helped her project, screwed up hard, so it is easy to see her as having committed some sort of crime, yet she is also a victim of circumstance. In light of the future folk’s belief in magically enforced destiny there is no reason to have shanghaied Jin rather than simply rescue her, making it seem that the future folk merely want a press ganged slave for anachronistic tech salvage. Forcing an implant on Jin comes off less like further correction, and more like ensuring Jin’s compliance as a collector.
The impression is stronger due to the lack of any visible due process, or other traditional trappings of law systems. The situation appears as if Nadifa is making the decisions on her own, despite us having knowledge of the implants and the implication that there might be no secrets, and that society as a whole supports the decisions.
There are lots of parallels to enforced conformity both today and yesterday. Politicians do it, Missionaries do it: “I know better what you need because I know I’m right. You’ll understand once you’ve been enlightened/indoctrinated/brainwashed”.
That said, it’s been very apparent to me from the opening that this story is a farce, and a jab at some social trends and Star Trekkian ideas. The 29th century portrayed is a Trekkian Laputa—that Swiftian kingdom devoted to the arts of music and mathematics but unable to use them for practical ends. Enjoy it for what it is: satire.