Welcome! These forums will be deactivated by the end of this year. The conversation continues in a new morph over on Discord! Please join us there for a more active conversation and the occasional opportunity to ask developers questions directly! Go to the PS+ Discord Server.

Schismatrix prejudice

9 posts / 0 new

Last post

Sun, 2014-03-09 01:55

Steel Accord Steel Accord's picture

Schismatrix prejudice

I've just begun reading Bruce Sterling's "Schismatrix Plus" and I have to say, I'm finding it kind of hard to root for Lindsay. Okay sure, he's a political prisoner, he's trying to make a statement for his people while being held captive, all well and good. But by the typical definition represented here, he's a HUGE bio-chauvinist! That and his first "on screen" political move involved the sacrifice of his friend and implied lover as well as a suicide attempt apparently because the Mechanists' aversion of death is something he's against. Maybe he gets better as the story goes on, but just from the on-set, let's just say he's no John Carter for me.

—

Your passion is power. Focus it. Your body is a tool. Hone it. Transhummanity is a pantheon. Exalt it!

Sun, 2014-03-09 11:32

nezumi.hebereke nezumi.hebereke's picture

He's definitely not what I

He's definitely not what I would call a Mary Sue. And by the end of the book, I don't agree with his previous decisions by any stretch. But I do feel affection for him; I've followed through his life, watch him grow, felt is triumphs and defeats, and (most importantly for our purposes), lived in his world. It's a good book, but not what I'd consider to be the classic 'good guy' book. (And yes, he does mature and lose some of his sharp edges as the book progresses.)

Sun, 2014-03-09 16:42

ORCACommander ORCACommander's picture

I have always wanted to write

I have always wanted to write a story from the villain's perspective. the damn trouble with it is how do you make a villain relatable since none but the insane can see themselves as villains

Sun, 2014-03-09 17:02

consumerdestroyer consumerdestroyer's picture

ORCACommander wrote:I have

ORCACommander wrote:
I have always wanted to write a story from the villain's perspective. the damn trouble with it is how do you make a villain relatable since none but the insane can see themselves as villains

Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo presented Joker and Lex Luthor in some ways that might help with inspiration for that kind of writing...

Sun, 2014-03-09 17:46

Kremlin K.O.A. Kremlin K.O.A.'s picture

Work out why they are doing

Work out why they are doing it. Villains rarely do stuff for the evuls... (That is my schtick) Look at the saints row series of games... the Protagonist is a Villain.

Mon, 2014-03-10 16:35

nezumi.hebereke nezumi.hebereke's picture

ORCACommander wrote:I have

ORCACommander wrote:
I have always wanted to write a story from the villain's perspective. the damn trouble with it is how do you make a villain relatable since none but the insane can see themselves as villains

They don't see themselves as villains; you answered the question yourself. (Although I would argue Frank Underwood would be a good example for you.)

Mon, 2014-03-10 17:21

ORCACommander ORCACommander's picture

not really. I tried working

not really. I tried working on this a few years ago for a character write up and this is the result. Lit prof loved it but in retrospect i think i went rather overboard https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WBFNvQX1ZfpnV3QdhGto1XrRKqg7C2ucWL7c... am i derailing the topic too much?

Mon, 2014-03-10 20:34

Arenamontanus Arenamontanus's picture

Steel Accord wrote:I've just

Steel Accord wrote:
I've just begun reading Bruce Sterling's "Schismatrix Plus" and I have to say, I'm finding it kind of hard to root for Lindsay.

Many of the best protagonists in fiction are anti-hero: somebody trying to be a hero but not succeeding too well, or not trying yet ending up in important situations. Their flaws make them both believable and relateable, despite us readers often shouting at them for their poor choices. Lindsay is a great transhuman anti-hero. Perhaps the best part is how he essentially lives numerous lives throughout the book as he and his society changes.

—

Tue, 2014-03-11 17:19

Steel Accord Steel Accord's picture

Anti hero

Yeah but usually an anti-hero is someone like Han Solo or Hellboy, someone who is either motivated primarily for selfish reasons but does good anyway, or someone who does have good motivations but is otherwise a flawed person. The difference I can see between someone like Hellboy and Lindsay is, while Hellboy mostly just comes off as a bit of an asshole, he still has kind of a charm to him. Lindsay is just a self-righteous douche from the get go. As I said, I've just started reading the book, and according to you and others he does get better so it seems.

—

Your passion is power. Focus it. Your body is a tool. Hone it. Transhummanity is a pantheon. Exalt it!