*This essay contains moderate spoilers for the first sixteen October Daye books, major spoilers for SLEEP NO MORE and THE INNOCENT SLEEP, and minor spoilers for Babylon 5 (S3 E4 "Passing Through Gethsemane").
Link to the original essay.
INTRO (00:36)
When reading SLEEP NO MORE and THE INNOCENT SLEEP by Seanan McGuire (the newest October Daye books), I was struck by similarities in the ethical framework of these two books and certain aspects of the 1990's sci-fi show Babylon 5, particularly the way that changes in personality or memories are treated with relation to assumptions of personhood. I am certain that Seanan McGuire is also very familiar with Babylon 5 because one of her telepathic characters in the Incryptid series uses specific aspects of Babylon 5 as a framework for ethical telepathy.
THE DEATH OF PERSONALITY IN BABYLON 5 (01:12)
UNDERLYING ASSUMPTIONS (04:46)
MAJOR CHARACTERS (06:45)
Toby - Nickname for Sir October Daye, titular character of the series, changeling (fae mother, human father)
October - Toby’s current personality in SLEEP NO MORE and THE INNOCENT SLEEP, remembers a different history from Toby of the first sixteen books
Tybalt - Cait Sidhe (cat fae), Toby’s husband (October doesn’t remember him)
Amandine - October’s mother
Simon Torquill - Daoine Sidhe, Amandine’s husband, October’s father (not by blood)
Titania - One of the queens of Faerie, cast the illusion which created October from Toby and distorted many people’s memories
Quentin - Daoine Sidhe, Toby’s squire in the previous books, currently squire to someone else
August - October’s sister, daughter of Amandine and Simon
Stacy - Toby’s friend from childhood, recently removed by Titania
PLOT HIGHLIGHTS (07:47)
TOBY VS. OCTOBER (09:57)
WHY TITANIA DOESN'T THINK THIS IS HARM (11:17)
WHY OCTOBER WANTS TO REMAIN (13:06)
THE RIDE AND TITANIA’S ALTERATIONS (14:04)
TITANIA'S TRAP ON THE RIDE (16:19)
ETHICAL PARADOXES - PERHAPS UNSOLVABLE (17:42)
THE RESOLUTION (22:00)
A MASSACRE OF MINDS (25:00)
Anatomy of Sequels - A Reviewer's Perspective
Why ”Immortal Longings” Isn’t Like ”The Hunger Games”
Queerness and Monstrosity in ”Night Shine” and ”Moon Dark Smile” by Tessa Gratton
Additional Reflections on ”Feed Them Silence” by Lee Mandelo
Reflections on ”Singularity” by William Sleator
Ensemble Heist Stories in Fiction
Stand-Alone 29: The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo
Highlight 29: “War Girls” by Tochi Onyebuchi
Stand-Alone 28, Part 2: Battle Royale by Koushun Takami
Stand-Alone 28, Part 1: Battle Royale by Koushun Takami
Highlight 28: A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz Meadows
Highlight 27: Ptolemy’s Gate by Jonathan Stroud
Stand-Alone 27: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Highlight 26: The Grace of Kings” by Ken Liu
Stand-Alone 26: Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots
Highlight 25: A Blade So Black by L.L. McKinney
Stand-Alone 25: The Storyteller’s Daughter by Cameron Dokey
Highlight 24: Queen of the Conquered by Kacen Callender
Stand-Alone 24: Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li
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