kate_nepveu | Bad Empires in Fantasy

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kate_nepveu

How common are empires in fantasy that are oppressive or unjust (ETA:) and whose oppressions are a plot concern, but are not run by Evil Deities etc. and do not exist to be the opposition for the protagonist's polity? I'm thinking of David Anthony Durham's Acacia trilogy, a book that's not out yet so I'd prefer to avoid discussing it in case it's a spoiler, and . . . ?

I suspect, not very, as fantasy is well-known for its aristocratic preferences, but I thought I should ask.

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From:

tool-of-satan.livejournal.com

Well, another book which you have read and which likely isn't the sort of thing you have in mind is The Sarantine Mosaic, with the invasion of pseudo-Italy being cancelled and all.

I can feel a better answer lurking around the back of my brain...

From:

kate_nepveu

It's approaching it, at least--the idea that vioent conquest is bad (duh), though it doesn't question imperialism, err, at all as far as I can remember.

From:

tool-of-satan.livejournal.com

Well, no, but then everyone in the book is a citizen of an empire or a former empire, so I wouldn't expect them to.

Imperialism is much more of an issue in Tigana, but that's more in the mold of Empire-vs.-protagonists.

How about The Dragon Waiting?

From:

kate_nepveu

Doesn't stop the people in the books referenced in the post, which is what interests me about them.

Hmmm. Interesting. Will have to ponder. Thanks!

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