The Pirate King by Laurie King - a book review

    Laurie King's mysteries have Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes traveling to interesting places to solve befuddling cases. They lead us on adventures with suspense and danger, while introducing us to history, geography and foreign languages. Her descriptions are vivid, making the reader feel like part of the story. The experience of traveling the world is especially inviting to me.

    Pirate King told the tale of a film company making a movie about making a movie version of the Pirates of Penzance.  They start in England and take a ship to Portugal. After a few weeks, they sail to Morocco. When they arrive, the actors playing pirates kidnap everyone else for ransom.

    The real crime is the sale of cocaine and guns that preceeds the time period  of Pirate King. Very little attention is paid to solving this crime. We read about romances in the cast, the process of making the film, and Mary's introduction to sailing. She is too busy making movies to investigate crime.

    I didn't mind the different tone of this novel. It is lighter than The God of the Hive. I never worried about Mary's life. Instead I enjoyed her adventure and I suggest you give it a try. 

Reality vs. "Truth" The Basis of Dystopia

Reality vs. "Truth" The Basis of Dystopia

    The precepts shared by a group of people form the basis of society. In great societies, the laws reflect ideas time has tested and remain relevant. When a theory is suggested, it can be judged based on these laws. In dystopian societies, laws are written to manipulate and consolidate power into an elite cabal. Information is collected, manufactured, and disseminated to support the law and the despots.  "Facts" cannot be judged. Reality is experienced by the characters in dystopian novels and judging the difference between their reality and the government's propaganda is the germination of resistance. Every feeling a person has is real to them. Love, often the first emotion a person conciously experiences, is real and is a reference point for evaluating "truth". When the "truth" is disproved by reality, an exception is created to the rule. 

    In 1984, Winston has the job writing errors into the government news releases and correcting them later. He writes about production rates of food and clothing. He writes that boots are being produced by the thousand, knowing that he needs boots and none are or will be made. He also knows the news release will be revised in the future to show no boots were made.  Dwelling on this opens Winston's mind to resisting the power of Big Brother; then he is capable of falling in love.

    In Brave New World, Bernard is an alpha in a society where caste is created by exposing embryos to differing levels of alcohol. Segregation is reinforced with brainwashing that begins at birth. As the upper class, Bernard has the opportunity to travel and meet John, the Savage. John believes in experiencing sadness. He believes in God.  John's philosophy allows Bernard to doubt the Ford which leads to prison, punishment and pulling out Bernard's hair. Love is what Bernard seeks instead of soma.  "Truth" doesn't hold a candle to faith and love.

    In Hunger Games, the Capitol controls the information flow to the districts. They create the deadly games and splice pictures of horror with the sound of a sports commentator. That combination works until Catniss and Peta only show love for the camera. Without the imagery of death, the Capitol's "truth" of control is destroyed. 

    Love cannot evaluated based on facts, true or false. It cannot be regulated by a government. It is based on each individual's reality, created and known by them. In a dystopian society love opens governments to resistance. Revolution begins with a kiss.