As civilisations go, the Seanchan one isn't the worst one to live in, as long as you aren't a channeler with the spark (0.01% of the population)
Yeah, just like Nazi Germany, as long as you aren't a jew, or a dissident.
(yes, yes, Godwin's law)
WWII Germany was trying to become an Empire, but unlike the Seanchan Empire, they took key decisions on a (seriously flawed) idealogical basis. The 'master race' crap meant that (i) they wasted time and resources attacking their own citizens, for ridiculous and arbitrary reasons, and so undermined their own strength; and (ii) they had to conquer and subdue every country they fought, unlike the Seanchan, who absorb the existing power structures and work through them.
The Seanchan empire is a totalitarian dictatorship, there's no glossing over that. But, arguably, so is every nation in Randland apart from Far Madding. In terms of how it treats it citizens, I'd argue Seanchan is better. Even damane and da'covale have a better life than a peasant farmer on the edge of ruin, or a dockworker in Tear strung up for looking the wrong way at a noble.
Seanchan Takeover of Randland
22/01/2011 11:25:36 PM
- 2147 Views
I would be mostly okay with it if they abolished slavery first
23/01/2011 12:19:48 AM
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Hopefully the Dragon's Peace (not the one Avi saw the effects of) those concerns. *NM*
23/01/2011 03:21:04 AM
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You mean utter anarchy and a dangerously stratified society?
23/01/2011 07:24:48 AM
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The situation in Seanchan isn't that unique
23/01/2011 07:49:28 AM
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there's tons of problems there, but 20+ leaders/royals killed? Disaster anywhere... *NM*
23/01/2011 11:38:57 AM
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Funny; Caemlyn's succession crises aren't nearly as bad. *NM*
23/01/2011 11:00:45 PM
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Rand deserves some credit, he did get involved early and held the Lion Throne for Elayne. *NM*
24/01/2011 08:47:42 AM
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The anarchy is what happens in the absence of Seanchan power.
27/01/2011 01:10:56 PM
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Yes. That is a flaw of Seanchan governance.
28/01/2011 01:54:00 AM
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It's not the Empire's fault, and that flaw is not being duplicated in the wetlands
28/01/2011 11:24:00 PM
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Wait... the indegenous Seanchan haven't changed in a thousand years?
29/01/2011 02:09:05 AM
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Re: Wait... the indegenous Seanchan haven't changed in a thousand years?
29/01/2011 01:10:36 PM
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Re: Wait... the indegenous Seanchan haven't changed in a thousand years?
29/01/2011 10:02:27 PM
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Re: Wait... the indegenous Seanchan haven't changed in a thousand years?
30/01/2011 03:56:23 AM
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It's like you don't even read anything when you post. My posts, the books themselves...
02/02/2011 06:41:10 PM
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They treat channelers like DOGS! so, No. *NM*
23/01/2011 07:56:22 AM
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Dogs never broke the world or created Shadowspawn, so they have it coming *NM*
27/01/2011 01:07:32 PM
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The Pattern certainly has some plan or purpose for the Seanchan.
23/01/2011 10:59:33 AM
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That's what's scary. In many ways, the Seanchan embody the goals of the Pattern
23/01/2011 11:41:35 PM
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If we're going to personify things, we should be personifying the Wheel, not the Pattern.
24/01/2011 12:13:49 AM
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I think it's interesting
24/01/2011 09:23:40 AM
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Re: That's what's scary. In many ways, the Seanchan embody the goals of the Pattern
24/01/2011 12:38:38 PM
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Um, no
23/01/2011 11:36:24 AM
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look around you again
23/01/2011 03:24:01 PM
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Seanchan equality before the law
23/01/2011 04:09:54 PM
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Mostly, yes.
23/01/2011 05:57:17 PM
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Re: Mostly, yes.
23/01/2011 06:10:10 PM
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I see them as neccessary evil to eventually eliminate channeling.
24/01/2011 08:04:21 PM
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Re: I see them as neccessary evil to eventually eliminate channeling.
25/01/2011 10:40:58 AM
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Re: I see them as neccessary evil to eventually eliminate channeling.
25/01/2011 05:55:13 PM
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Re: I see them as neccessary evil to eventually eliminate channeling.
26/01/2011 12:10:54 AM
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"We" don't know of the One Power existing, so obviously it disappears. *NM*
26/01/2011 12:14:19 AM
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Lack of knowledge doesn't mean the One Power vanishes or is destroyed.
26/01/2011 04:03:22 PM
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If OP still existed, you'd still have sparkers even "today". *NM*
26/01/2011 06:34:50 PM
- 441 Views