Captive universe

right from the opening pages of this work, you get a sense of stifled expression, of set ways and things not to be broken. the "Clan Taboo" applying to relationships mentioned almost at the outset and the expectant nature of Quiauh's punishment for her transgression of over a decade ago is a gripping entree.

Chimal is a different sort of character, though - Chimal Junior, I mean. The obvious inference is that the relationship - the forbidden, taboo, hither too unthinkable relationship has something to do with it. I suppose reading beyond the start of Chapter 3 might aid me in finding out precisely why...

The sacrificial nature of these people can't help but disgust me. perhaps I'm forcing my own religious views onto a work of fiction, but the description of the 'wriggling puppy's' sacrifice - "It looked up at
them, its tongue out and panting in the heat, while Citlallatonac, as first
priest this was his duty, plunged his black obsidian knife into the little
animal's chest. Then, with practiced skill, he tore out its still beating heart
and held it high as sacrifice to Tlaloc, letting the blood spatter among the
stalks of corn." makes me quite annoyed. I'm a sucker for furry, cute little animals.

By the end of the "inside" portion of the novel, it seems obvious that there's a lot to answer - and with 2 thirds of the book to go I assume I'm going to get my wish. Chimal's got his exit, we've confirmed his biological father to be someone from a neighbouring village rather than a local, and we have a mysterious, dangerous God who cannot see him when he hides underwater and a sun that won't rise if the appropriate prayers haven't been said. Chimal is the watcher, of course, he's discovered all this: but to corrupt Juvenal's words to our own context, Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? nothing about women or police here, perhaps; but who's watching the villages?


"She obviously had little curiosity about things unknown." We're well and truly "in", now; or outside, if you want to stick to it. Seems to be a motif, this lack of curiosity. People with advanced technology, vast stores,, vacuum-sealed equipment - all points at this stuff being kept until needed, with simple operating instructions for those who intend on doing the operating. Looks like they need it, too - they aren't the brightest bulbs in the candelabra. But the religious symbology is strong here, as strong in a way as it was in the village, which points to a conjoined origin for the two now very diverse groups. Whether that's origin-as-ancestors or origin-as-overseers... Time will tell.

So, as I start "the stars" portion with the final third to go, I will desist in this little commentary so as not to spoil the ending. I shall return to finish and post this upon my completion of this intriguing work.

And thus, but for the split of a paragraph, I return, the novel finished and the day an hour or so lost. As I wrote above, I daren't ruin the surprise of the ending, although I will say that it's a shame it ended the way it did - i.e. in such an open and "there may be more to say but I didn't bother" kind of a way. Still, the characters were interesting, the plot at least mildly gripping and the story, although not quite original, well-told.