I knew something big was coming when the Tor re-read for the previous chapters emphasised repeatedly that no-one was to discuss what was about to happen to Hetan.
Having just read the relevant chapter I can see why they were so concerned and why they identified this is a provocative stand-out chapter that was likely to arouse some ire.
It's a tough torture and rape scene to read.... Graphic, unremittingly detailed and although you kind of hope that Erikson will give Hetan an 'out' (for example, successfully killing herself before the horrible tribeswomen get their hands on her)... Well, he doesn't.
Earlier this year I read Philip Meyer's The Son, an epic western set during various periods of Texan history (it follows the same family throughout). It deals heavily with the Comanche and the brutal two-way conflict between them and the white and Mexican populations they raided. For a literary novel it was pretty bloodthirsty, and I read a few non-fiction articles on the Comanche and the who period, including the establishment of the Texas Rangers, and found that, if anything, Meyer played the level of violence down a little.
I feel like Erikson definitely tapped into some of that for his depiction of the Wastelands and the warring factions that are competing in it for Dust of Dreams. The Barghast, the Khundryl Burned Tears and others all have more than a hint of the Comanche about them in terms of their treatment of women and children.
So, I don't think what Erikson does to Hetan's character ('hobbling', i.e having the front half of her feet chopped off and then a life sentence to be a sex slave for anyone in the tribe) is something twisted he came up with on his own. I feel like he's probably 'accurate' with what he depicts in a sense. I haven't read Erikson's comments on this chapter, but if he were to say "hey, this is what the reality of this kind of situation is" I'd have to agree that in a factual sense maybe he is right- tribal warfare and infighting probably was and is that brutal.
But the question is whether Erikson needed to go the whole way with this. Is it too much?
Should he have found a way to lead the reader right into the horror and then offset it just a little bit?
For example, even if he wasn't going to allow Hetan to escape or take her own life then perhaps he could have had an unexpected intercession - for example, someone in the tribe killing her shortly into her ordeal. Even that would be horrific but it wouldn't be the torture fest this chapter is.
I think what makes it worse for me is that Hetan and her kids have no agency here... They're just victims. Her husband is the big cheese, he gets killed (I think he has a lot of answer for in this whole situation, by the way) and what happens to the family is the consequence of being out of favour with the new and brutal regime that takes over.
Overall I will withhold my judgement on what I think - haven't had a chance to read the Tor re-read comments and discussion, I'm curious what the consensus is.
). Omniscient just feels simpler to me now. I'm still enjoying the book though and its funny how much what I recall differs from what is.
For example,The Dread Wyrm ebook is priced £9.99 and is 577 pages.
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