*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)
Series 9, Episode 2: Bruja Born - Zoraida Córdova
Series 9, Episode 1: Labyrinth Lost - Zoraida Córdova
Highlight 13: Graceling - Kristin Cashore
Stand-Alone 16: Thirsty - M.T. Anderson
Highlight 12: Unwind - Neal Shusterman
Interview 7: Kevin Klehr, Part 1 of 2
Stand-Alone 15: Early Departures - Justin A. Reynolds
Highlight 11: Shadow Rising - Robert Jordan
Stand-Alone 14: Bridge to Terabithia - Katherine Paterson
Highlight 10: Not Your Sidekick - C.B. Lee
Stand-Alone 13: The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea - Maggie Tokuda-Hall
Highlight 9: Soul of the Fire - Terry Goodkind
Stand-Alone 12: The Midnight Bargain - C.L. Polk
Highlight 8: Black Sun - Rebecca Roanhorse
Interview 6: Sara Codair, Part 1 of 2
Stand-Alone 11: Under the Pendulum Sun - Jeannette Ng
Highlight 7: So This Is How You Die - edited by Ryan North
Stand-Alone 10: All the Birds in the Sky - Charlie Jane Anders
Highlight 6: The Cat Who Sniffed Glue - Lilian Jackson Braun
Stand-Alone 9: Beneath The Citadel - Destiny Soria
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