Zhodani Dreams

[alex_greene]

Now I know for a fact that I've been working on this project for too long. I dreamed that I was actually a member of the Zhodani Tavrchedle' Thought Police.
I was dreaming that I was outside, patrolling. There was a young woman, sitting on a bench, wearing an unauthorised T shirt - it had an Ace of Hearts on the front, depicting a symbol of gambling, forbidden under the Path of Morality. And she was reading an actual book - I got the impression it was Fahrenheit 451.
Turns out that she was part-Zhodani. Her mother was Zhodani, and her father an Imperial Free Trader Captain. No idea where he was, naturally.
So she looked up at me, no guile in her eyes, just curiosity. Then she saw who I was, and I saw fear for a moment. But then I said "Otre'. Otre'." "Peace. Peace." and the fear became apprehension, until I told her that I had found the book to be a fascinating insight into how Imperials thought of Zhodani.

I get the impression that a lot of Imperials who live in the shadow of the Consulate go all out to buy this book in particular. That, and Huxley's Brave New World and Orwell's Nineteen Eighty Four. Those three books.

And I understood what the Ace of Hearts symbol meant to her - that she is a biromantic asexual. Naturally, since that's kind of my orientation.
Yup. Sooner I can offload this thing, sooner I can get on with my other Traveller project.

Which will offer even more Zhodani.

What do you mean, I'm a natural Tavrchedle' agent?

 

[AndrewW]

What do you mean, I'm a natural Tavrchedle' agent?

Maybe not if you let her off.

 

[Infojunky]

What do you mean, I'm a natural Tavrchedle' agent?

Nope, you would mostly confused if you were.....

Also note Fahrenheit 451 would be a fairly obscure book 2,300 years from now, academically it would be in the niche of ancient Solomani Philosophy.

 

[alex_greene]

Re-education doesn't delete memories. It just reframes your perspective, so you look at their meaning differently.

Oh no. I've gone native.

 

[Condottiere]

Currently half way through The Giver with Meryl Streep.

It lacks the dynamism I increasingly look for in my entertainment choices, but it may give some ideas.

 

[hivemindx]

Also note Fahrenheit 451 would be a fairly obscure book 2,300 years from now, academically it would be in the niche of ancient Solomani Philosophy.

Probably, however it is possible that some old literature becomes resurgent and gets very popular, either because it turns out to be very relevant to something currently going on or just that some famous person thinks it is. Obviously there would be anti-Zhodani propaganda produced but if you could find an ancient solomani book that fit the theme then that's so much better since it has the air of authority simply from being old and it can't be accused of being anti-Zho propaganda because it comes from before any contact. Perhaps Imperial intelligence deliberately fosters the popularity of books like this for those reasons. You get the current super popular idol to casually mention they really like George Orwell because the books are still relevant today and they sell a billion copies and spawn a billion net articles drawing parallels with the Zhodani.

I'm not sure that Farenheit 451 is a good match though. Brave New World is better but still not perfect. In fact for some audiences I think BNW can be framed to show that an ordered society where people know their place is a better, happier one and people who try to change things ruin it for everyone. We are meant to think that happiness without freedom is worthless but I can see the Zho's publishing it to show that freedom without happiness is a bad deal.

 

[Tom Kalbfus]

Can Zhodani Dreams be shared? How about networked psions, would that be a treat to the Imperium?

 

[dragoner]

Some societies use video cameras and watch their citizens every move. The Zho's use people, and can only do "surface scans"; except instead of creating a society of mutual distrust and hatred, they have created one of peace, without the need for door locks.

The Zho's actually sound OK as far as it goes.

 

[alex_greene]

Some societies use video cameras and watch their citizens every move. The Zho's use people, and can only do "surface scans"; except instead of creating a society of mutual distrust and hatred, they have created one of peace, without the need for door locks.

The Zho's actually sound OK as far as it goes.

Quick note up the pyramid to HQ: Subliminal series QQ004 works. Roll out global distribution. Timeframe, six Terran weeks. Tavrian alekre'.

 

[Condottiere]

Establish a distant telepathic link, and they can eavesdrop a room visually and audibly like the NSA, or any other hacker, over your cell phone.